Even if she's not your icon, there is no denying that Martha Stewart is an icon. Since the 1970s, her high standards have defined the aesthetic of homemaking. Though she's a household name now, it's clear Martha has had taste since her not-so-humble beginnings.
An archival image of Martha Stewart in her kitchen in 1976 shows a space filled with chic French country decor. It has a wood and brick panelled fireplace, an antique wood table, and a mantelpiece filled with small baskets. The most standout feature is a hanging rack on the ceiling filled with copper pots and dried herbs.
Martha's choice to hang her cooking supplies goes beyond what we think of as pan storage, and transforms her kitchen into a welcoming jewel box. I for one, can't get enough.
Martha Stewart in the kitchen in 1976
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Functional
These kitchen racks may double as kitchen wall decor, but they're also highly practical – keeping cooking supplies and other kitchen utensils where we can easily reach them.
Antique copper
If you want the authentic feel of antique crockery, these 19th century copper pots are perfect. Proof that this look can last absolutely forever.
Complete Set
If there's ever a time to follow Jenner's example, it's now, when this inspired cookware is enjoying large price reductions for the holiday shopping period. The Gotham Steel hammered collection is beautiful and makes a statement in every kitchen, as well as being oven and dishwasher-safe.
Last weekend, I took a trip to Europe's largest antiques market, The Hemswell Antique Center in Lincolnshire, UK. My eyes widened as I moved through the rooms bursting with vintage diamond jewelry, mid-century furniture, and centuries-old fossils. Even buried among flashier treasures, the varied collection of antique French copper crockery stood out. Their lived-in feel and shimmery surfaces were immediately appealing; this is the timeless allure of antique pans. They are at once quotidian and valuable.
When you add them to a kitchen, it immediately feels like a home. Martha has long been in love with copper pots, but she takes innovation to the next level by hanging them from the ceiling. Though antique crockery is beautiful, it doesn't always have the same 'packable' quality as modern cookware. By placing the pieces here, she saves valuable cabinet space while producing design benefits.
50 years later, her idea is just as stylish, replicable, and brilliant.
Decorating with antiques in the kitchen is a simple way to upgrade the space. Our homes are as beautiful as the stories we create in them. Martha Stewart has always known exactly how to tell a story.
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