25 Years On, Martha Stewart’s Skylands Servery Remains the Gold Standard for Stylish, Functional, and Timeless Kitchen Storage
Martha transforms a purely functional space into a design moment – after more than two decades, her servery still feels like a stroke of genius
If there's one person you can count on to provide kitchen inspiration, it's Martha Stewart. In her Skylands home – a sprawling estate in Seal Harbour, Maine – she showcases plenty of design wisdom, but there's one space that feels particularly timeless: the meticulously organized 'servery'.
While a traditional servery is simply an area in which meals are served, Martha's is more comparable to a butler's pantry. Tucked away next to the kitchen, it's a space dedicated to storing dinnerware and fine china – and it's safe to say that it's the source of all my favorite kitchen organization ideas.
Shop Kitchen Storage Inspired By Martha's Servery
Don't fancy a trip to the flea market? You can still bring some time-honored charm into your kitchen with this cabinet, which boasts sleek glass panels, antique-style silver handles, and a crown-molded top.
Combining timeless style with a touch of farmhouse charm, I'd say that this large cabinet is a brilliant investment. I love the polished brass accents and the handy wall hooks.
No servery is complete without a few handsome serving trays – plus, if overhauling your kitchen storage isn't on the cards, you can always pick up a few handsome wood pieces like this one instead.
There are so many ways to recreate Martha's look, and this bread box is the perfect example. With a solid pine frame and fluted glass inserts, it's a truly stylish solution to food storage.
You'll spot plenty of fresh fruit on Martha's countertops – pile it up in a gorgeous wood bowl like this one and it makes the perfect dinner party centerpiece.
Channel Martha's signature look in your pantry using classic storage jars like these. The acacia wood lids strike the perfect balance between rustic flair and Scandi chic.
Martha may have purchased Skylands over 25 years ago, but the property is a symbol of timeless design. In the servery, the wood cabinets are enduringly fashionable; in fact, the entire space is proof that you don't need to sacrifice style in pursuit of practicality.
Martha's wooden kitchen cabinets boast a rather legendary reputation in the design world: they're the epitome of farmhouse style, and they prove that a hardworking home can feel warm, welcoming, and comfortable – all while looking chic. The servery itself plays a similar role: it might be devoted to storage, but it's built to be admired.
The secret is the glass-front cabinets. Storage like this offers two distinct advantages – and the first is purely practical. By allowing you to see directly into your cabinets, the glass panels help you keep track of your dinnerware, encouraging you to stay organized.
Naturally, Martha herself boasts an extensive collection of crockery and serveware. As an avid host, she knows exactly how to make hosting feel seamless, and it all comes down to clever design choices like this one. From teacups to salad plates and platters, stacks of china can be easily identified – and brought straight to the table with no fuss.
The second benefit of these cabinets is an aesthetic one: it transforms a purely practical corner of Martha's home into an architectural moment. Sitting proudly behind the glass, Martha's china collection becomes a design feature in its own right, and the cabinets themselves become a gallery.
Martha isn't unfamiliar with this kind of storage – her self-proclaimed 'great wall of china' uses open shelving to show off even more of her dinnerware – but in the servery, it's a particularly impressive feat. Spaces like these often fulfil functional roles, but we don't usually give them an opportunity to look stylish; yet in Martha's home, every corner is picture-perfect.
In a wood-drenched space like this one, designers say that glass-front cabinets provide yet another advantage: they maintain a sense of balance.
'The glass cabinets create a sense of openness and lightness,' says Christina Giaquinto, Professional Organizer at Modular Closets. 'This prevents the rich wood from feeling too heavy or imposing, while still highlighting its natural warmth and elegance.'
Ultimately, Martha's servery is a stroke of design genius.
'It's a lovely fusion of practicality and visual interest, as the cabinets double as a design statement,' adds Christina. 'The space transforms everyday storage into a curated display.'
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