Why does Martha Stewart have two sinks? The reason behind her unconventional kitchen layout is brilliant

We got the inside scoop on Martha Stewart's least favorite kitchen layout and the reason why she has two sinks

martha stewart
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If there's a secret to life, Martha Stewart seems to have figured it out. The lifestyle guru has written almost one hundred books, starred in one of the most successful cooking shows of all time, and been on a Sports Illustrated cover. So, if a kitchen layout can make us any more like Martha, we're game. 

As is to be expected from Martha Stewart, every detail of her kitchen is planned to a T. When asked about her kitchen layout, Martha told Homes & Gardens exclusively: 'The kitchen in my house that I primarily work in is big. It was five rooms before I turned it into one room.' She continued, 'I thought a lot about what I wanted.'

A kitchen with black cabinets, and a brass sink and tap

(Image credit: Naomi Astley Clarke / Paul Massey)

What does Martha need all that space for, you ask? Two kitchen sinks, for one. She stated: 'I have two sinks in the kitchen, one for washing china and glassware and one for washing pots and pans.' This ingenious hack ensures that Martha's sink never overflows with dirty dishes when she is washing non-dishwasher-safe cookware. More than anything, it is a tip for remaining organized, especially when cleaning up after cooking for a large group.

Furthermore, in the case of the china and glassware sink, the way Martha Stewart designed her kitchen sink area helps her delicate pieces to last longer. While piling china and glassware high with pots and pans in a large sink is a recipe for breakage, keeping them separate helps to protect the less-sturdy kitchen wares.

Martha also made it clear that kitchen window placement is of paramount importance to her. She told H&G: 'Both of my sinks are underneath a window so I can look outside. I hate sinks against the wall where you can't see anything.' Natural light and outdoor scenes while washing the dishes may sound like a little thing, but Martha seems to agree that these small design choices can add up to greatly improve your quality of life. 


Using two sinks is a great way to stay organized while cleaning up and an excellent method for minimizing the breakage of glassware. For more on how Martha's kitchen serves her, read everything she told us about her timeless cabinet color.

We interviewed Martha as part of her Don't Do It Yourself Campaign with Pure Leaf Tea.

Sophie Edwards
News Editor

I am a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens. My interests lie at the intersection of design and popular culture with a particular focus on trends and celebrity homes. Before joining Future, I worked as a Content Writer and Communications Lead for Fig Linens and Home, a luxury linens and home interiors brand based in Fairfield County, CT. I have a BA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College in New York and an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology.