12 Design Ideas From Martha Stewart's '70s Kitchen We Want To Steal

Martha Stewart's 1970's Turkey Hill home kitchen feels like the perfect blueprint for a lived-in and rustic country kitchen. If you're on a mission to decorate your home like Martha Stewart and you're after a traditional farmhouse look, why not draw inspiration from the lifestyle icon herself? Based on photographs shot by Susan Wood in 1976, we've pinpointed some of our favorite design features from Stewart's kitchen in her '70s home.

Clad with wood and chock full of cooking utensils and ingredients, Stewart's kitchen in this era is warm, charming, layered, and very practical. Unlike many contemporary spaces photographed today, it doesn't look like it's set up just for show — it's actually used for real cooking and entertaining, and its appearance reflects that. Shown in Stewart's first book "Entertaining," this iteration of Stewart's kitchen has an enduring charm. Ahead, we highlight the design features of Stewart's '70s kitchen that can bring a similar homey, pastoral aesthetic to the heart of your home.

A ceiling-mounted pot rack is a popular feature in vintage-inspired farmhouse kitchens. They crop up in several different time periods because they are so practical, as well as charming. Stewart's kitchen from the '70s doesn't just have one ceiling pot rack — the photos show at least two. It's a fairly common feature of the time, as '70s kitchens enjoyed functional decor, displaying items like cookware and serveware as decoration. Stewart's kitchen pot racks don't look exactly like similar racks shown today: hers are absolutely chock full of cooking utensils. Though traditional elements are coming back into modern spaces (you've probably seen a ceiling pot rack recently, whether in a store catalog or on social media), Stewart's is notably crowded. The excess of pots and pans makes this feature look very lively and well-used, rather than mostly decorative, like in some modern-rustic kitchens that only have a few hanging pots and pans.

For a similar '70s farmhouse look, metal pot racks are the way to go. You can find them in materials like wrought iron, cast iron, copper, and steel. If you prefer, you can also find racks with wood elements, which add some softness. Ornately-decorated racks are beautiful, but simpler industrial-style options look great too. The pot racks in these photos look fairly plain. One is clearly a round rack — this Antique Hanging Wrought Iron Pot Rack from Voodookitties can offer a similar look. Rectangular racks can be more practical in some areas, like over a kitchen island or in a galley kitchen, and the Enclume Gourmet USA Premier 3 Bar Rack would suit an old farmhouse aesthetic. If you want something more affordable, the Cuisinart Octagonal Hanging Cookware Rack is a satisfactory pick — while it does look a lot more modern than the other two, but comes at a much more affordable price.

A home decorated in plants is one of those decor trends from the '70s that looks even cooler today. While loads of greenery is beautiful, there's a way to embrace earthy interiors without a bunch of potted house plants. Dried plants can offer a more rustic feel, and they're low-maintenance too. Stewart's kitchen shows a creative styling option, with one of her ceiling pot racks clad in dried botanicals. In a time when natural textures, earthy tones, and boho styling were in, this was a great way to bring an element of nature into the kitchen. It can help soften a space full of angular appliances and cabinets, and is an easy idea to try in your home. If you don't have a ceiling pot rack, find other spaces to hang dried plants around a kitchen or dining room. For example, Stewart also has bunches hanging on the mantle in the background of this photo. 

Again, a notable feature of Stewart's styling is just how full and lush she chooses to go with the dried plants. It's far from the typically reserved and sparse look of more contemporary flower displays. Instead, it has a feeling of abundance that suits the relaxed and lived-in look. It's possible to make your own dried herb bundles and stylized dried flower bouquets, or there are plenty of options you can shop. For a floral-forward display, the Wild Autumn Dried Flowers Set is a colorful choice. For a neutral, boho style, the Naunauya Pampas Grass Decor is a pretty pick.

Open shelving has been all the rage in recent years, though it's often decorated lightly to suit modern minimalist spaces. Some homeowners say open shelving is a kitchen cabinet trend they wish they'd skipped, with over-cluttering cited as a major concern. Stewart's kitchen shows this concern is unfounded, featuring jam-packed open shelves. Yes, it looks a bit cluttered, but it also makes the room look more charming and established, like a kitchen lovingly used to cook and bake.

Jars and canisters are an essential decor item for kitchen shelf styling of this type. It makes the open storage look polished — much more so than keeping flour, cereal, and other items in their original bags or boxes. Glass, ceramic, and stoneware fit an old-school farmhouse aesthetic best. The Anchor Hocking Heritage Hill Gallon Glass Jars are a lovely pair that look similar to some of the jars on Stewart's shelf. For a more decorative touch, the Cerkik Ceramic Kitchen Canisters have a delicate floral design and the Omniware Simsbury Canister Set offers a bright pop of color. Also consider using tins and boxes to add variety. The Nostalgic-Art Retro Storage Tin is ideal for dried goods like pasta.

The cabinet doors in Stewart's '70s kitchen are quite distinctive and rustic. It looks like they are made of several vertical planks, attached side-by-side to create the door. There's a conspicuous lack of framing around each door, which is a feature commonly seen in traditional-style doors. This design is another way to have old-school wood doors, but they look different from popular styles like shaker or recessed cabinet doors with a border. The planks make them more rustic and handmade than slab cabinet doors, which are fashioned to look like a single piece of wood.

This type of door isn't widely available, so you might have to have them custom made. It's possible to order some options online, like these Handmade Reclaimed Pallet Wood Cupboard Door Fronts by UpcycledByMatthew. If you want to trial the look or if you're a renter and don't want to replace the doors, you can cover them with peel-and-stick wallpaper that looks like wood planks. The EeeComing Weathered Wood Wallpaper is a weathered-looking option.

There's something about a freestanding, solid wood island in the middle of a kitchen that feels perfectly pastoral. They look handsome and really suit old-fashioned country homes. Once upon a time, they were used by servants for preparing food. Often taking the form of a table, rather than the island shapes we think of today, they continue to feel like a hardworking piece of furniture in the kitchen. It's a stark contrast to something like a waterfall marble island, which looks very polished and primed for entertaining. Stewart has a small wooden island in her kitchen that's easily portable. It adds an extra work top, whenever and wherever you need it, and the fact that it exists more for function rather than aesthetics contributes to the lived-in feel of this kitchen.

The Home Aesthetics Rolling Kitchen Island Cart and IKEA's FÖRHÖJA Kitchen Cart are two examples of smaller wooden carts, ideal for tight kitchens. These are easy to roll out of the way and have built-in storage space, so they're very utilitarian. A freestanding island without wheels is great for larger kitchens. They tend to look more stately and can be a stylish permanent feature. The Birch Lane Erickson Solid Wood Kitchen Island and Birch Lane Darian Kitchen Island are two examples of larger kitchen island tables that have a lovely traditional look.

Wood cabinetry and paneling were popular for '70s kitchens and are defining features of Stewart's farmhouse kitchen. It helps create the warm, natural, and earthy atmosphere that was trending at this time (and that is back in style now). Stewart's kitchen features a medium, warm wood tone. Medium to dark wood stains were popular at this time, on top of woods that had a noticeable grain pattern. In Stewart's kitchen, she chose sycamore wood for the cupboards.

The room has an enveloping feel, with all of the wood cabinetry and doors a similar (if not the same) tone. The end result feels old-school and homey — it's not very light or white like modern minimalist kitchens, or too dark like very traditional kitchens. The in-between honey-ish hue feels of-the-decade and is a good choice for designing the beautiful '70s-inspired kitchen for your dreams. Notice how wood is the dominant material — it's not only the cabinetry, but also some of the countertops, open shelving, and a freestanding island. Together, it all makes the space feel extremely rustic.

Look carefully at Stewart's '70s kitchen and you'll notice that there is rarely decoration for the sake of decoration — almost all of the items on display are also functional. One creative way to take this idea is to mount cake molds or prop them on open shelving as decor. They make for functional and pretty decor that does double-duty in a cozy home kitchen. Hanging pans on the wall can also free up storage space in your cupboards.

Metal bundt cake pans and molds are an excellent choice for this decor idea. Essentially, you want a pan that has an interesting shape on the outside, rather than just a typical round or square pan. It's possible to thrift for options to turn into wall decor, but there are plenty of new products with a vintage look too. The Nordic Ware Wildflower Heart Bundt Pan and Nordic Ware Vintage Ornament Cakelet Pan are two very pretty choices. Or, for something more whimsical, the Nordic Ware Easter Bunny Cake Mold is adorable.

Wicker feels so cozy, so it absolutely belongs in a homey farmhouse kitchen. Stewart has it displayed all around the space in the form of wicker baskets. Wicker is another accent material that was popular in the '70s because of its earthy and natural appearance. It pairs wonderfully with wood, adding a bit more texture and decoration. Following Stewart's lead, you can hang wicker baskets from the ceiling, line them along the top of upper cabinets, or use them as functional storage on open shelving. They're excellent for storing potatoes, onions, table linens, and anything else you want to tuck away, but don't have the space for inside your cabinets.

There are product options aplenty. The most budget-friendly is to check your local thrift store, where you might find baskets for a couple of dollars. Otherwise, shop a variety of sets in boho styles, like the 84ECO Set of 3 Wicker Storage Baskets and Casafield Set of 3 Multipurpose Boat Baskets. For hanging from the ceiling or a wall, look at the Quincry Woven Hanging Wicker Basket or Quincry Scalloped Wicker Wall Basket, which have loops for hanging. 

Good task lighting is important in the kitchen. If you don't always want to reach for the light switch, skylights provide natural overhead lighting throughout the day. Not only that, but skylights also make this small kitchen feel bigger, helping to open up the boxed-in feel that all the wood can create. It's an especially useful design feature in a kitchen that doesn't have a lot of space for windows, but does have access to the roof to let in light from above.

Skylights add some airiness to an earthy, wood-clad '70s kitchen like Stewart's. Installing skylights is a big project and requires professional help, but can be worthwhile for those who want a lot more light. For those with limited space and budget, you can consider a compact and cost-effective skylight alternative that brightens any gloomy space called a sun tunnel. Or you can get creative with LED light strips to make a fake skylight: It might not be bright enough for task lighting, but it will boost ambiance.

Even with the shift back to more traditional and ornate kitchen cabinet styles, hidden cabinet hinges still seem to be all the rage. It makes some sense, since styles like shaker and raised panel kitchen cabinet doors can look a little bit too busy with elaborate hinges. However, Stewart's old kitchen shows the potential charm of visible cabinet hinges. These tend to have an antique feel, and even if they're small, they can give the kitchen an old-school look overall. In particular, this image shows how nice they look with a plain kitchen cabinet door. Since it's a simple plank door, the metal L-shaped hinges are the main design feature that adds visual interest to a very wood-heavy area.

The iron, L-shaped Acorn Forged Iron L-Style Cabinet Hinges is most similar to the hinges in Stewart's kitchen. They have a heritage look, without looking overly elaborate. There are lots of choices with more intricate designs, like the Renovators Supply Manufacturing Cabinet Door Strap Hinge and Amerock Cabinet Hinge, both of which bring a more decorative touch to kitchen cabinets.

Contemporary minimalism brought us kitchens with almost all signs of life tucked away — this was not the default in many other decades. A '70s kitchen was likely to have functional items and gadgets on display, for example, the full pot rack and stuffed open shelving in Stewart's kitchen. Keeping to a lived-in look and making sure appliances were easy to access, Stewart doesn't hide away a food processor or KitchenAid mixers in these photos. Beyond being practical, it also makes it look like she can come in and start baking at any time, so the kitchen truly feels like the heart of the home, rather than a room for display.

There are products you can use to help protect appliances, decorate them a bit, or make them even easier to access on kitchen counters. The KitchenAid Fitted Tilt-Head Stand Mixer Cover is a fitted dust cover from the brand. The CEMGYIUK KitchenAid Mixer Cover with Pockets is an alternative that comes in a range of decorative patterns. For frequently-used countertop appliances, the Ibyx Appliance Round Sliding Tray is a useful accessory, which lets you slide the appliance around the counter more easily.

Vintage-style kitchen accessories are a nice finishing touch to add charm to any kitchen. A notable item from Stewart's '70s kitchen is a rustic wire egg holder. This style of egg holder is not commonly seen today, so it feels like a traditional farmhouse piece. They're intended to store eggs nicely on the counter, but you can also place them in the fridge, if you have the room. Just keep food safety in mind — refrigerated grocery store eggs shouldn't be stored on the countertop. But if you source your eggs locally and they do not need to be refrigerated, this is an endearing storage option.

We weren't able to source an egg holder exactly like this one pictured, but a wire egg skelter has a similar look. Consider the QUTREY Black Metal Egg Skelter if you want a large holder, or the Flexzion Egg Skelter as a shorter alternative. Simpler wire egg baskets can also offer a homestead look, so if a skelter doesn't appeal, consider the Tag Chicken Wire Egg Basket. Lastly, if countertop-stored eggs aren't a common grocery item in your household, you can still fake the look with YunKo Fake Eggs, faux wooden eggs that look like real chicken eggs (these you can definitely keep on the counter!).