Oh Martha, can you forgive us for forgetting your birthday last month? You've been on our mind lately, as we just finished redecorating our living room with your Faux Bois pattern FLOR carpet tiles (preparing for a future tour); we love them like everything else you do. We're unabashed with our lifelong affinity for all the design inspirations and solutions you've offered throughout the years. You're also a stone cold fox, as noted by these photos from your past (even those awkward, feathered hair 80's years)...
"I live in the same house I've lived in for 25 years. I haven't gone off and bought mansions. Even though my subject is living, living in a mansion wouldn't do for my readers. I have to keep my credibility alive with my readers, so we're in the same place. I just make that place nicer and nicer. And that's a secret. People don't know that. People think, oh, she lives in this fabulous place, but it's the same old place. It started out like a farm, it got to be a farmette, then it got to be an estatelet. I built a wall; it helped a lot. But it's the same place, the same grounded nature."
Keep on doing what you've been doing, Martha. You remain an inspiration and icon of good design. More about Martha, her past and her motivations over at Achievement.org.
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Damn girl!
that black and white photo with the rolled neck top and large hoop earrings. WOW! just WOW.
I knew she was a model, but hadn't seen many early photos of her. I always knew she was hot, though! Still love Martha after all these years.. always will :)
That must be a very old quote. She doesn't live at Turkey Hill anymore. And, if Cantitoe Corners can't be called a mansion, I don't know what is.
Otherwise, yes, I agree with your fawning.
I had no idea she was a model. I'm so surprised. What impresses me even more is how she is almost doing chic grunge in the photo with the cow, which is the antithesis of super controlled and proper attire now. I want that photo of her with the cow in my kitchen. :)
http://www.modernests.com
If she had kept her sexy instead of homely look, I wonder if people would have responded to her in the same way....although the personality never changes. Hmm....she's much better looking thinner and the curly hair circa 1920s look is awesome!
Oh Martha...I try so hard to resist you, but you still have the best ideas. And, I just love spending time in your gadget section at Macy's. Is it wrong that roll I around on the store floor covered in vintage blue juicers and salad spinners?
That cow picture is amazing.
i love her and think this is the best apartment therapy post ever!
and her home in bedford isn't really a mansion. she has a lot of acreage but the home isn't sprawling -- it's a typical size for a farm house in that area.
Which one... the Summer House or the Winter House with the 4000 sq ft addition? ; )
ok... martha stewart used to be a gorgeous model? when did that happen?
Ok, not sure when that quote is from, but I'm currently puttering through her massive 'Homekeeping Handbook' and she includes photos and tips from all THREE of her homes (not including an apartment in NYC). From the photos, every one of those homes qualifies as a mansion, or pretty close thereunto.
The cow picture proves that Martha was the first Kate Moss.
Okay, I must be living under a rock, but when did Martha vanish from the aisles of KMart and end up at Macy's? It's sad because Martha's offerings at KMart were truly inspiring in a cheap/chic way. Now KMart's home section looks like granny is having a garage sale. It's sad. KMart seriously needs another design collaboration, like, yesterday.
I heard she used to be a model, bud never imagined she was that pretty back in the day. Love the photo with the cow!
quite surprising. I always saw has as this arts and crafts home maker.
I had no idea!
boy, that 80s wedding dress is EPIC.
Yow. Go Martha.
I'll chime in on the belated happy birthday. Martha's given me so many good ideas over the years... I feel like I should have sent her a gift!
She's a self made woman who created an empire. There are plenty who will say she's a b*%&h, but anyone who's risen to those heights has to be at least a little megalomaniacal. She is one of the smartest businesspeople to have ever come along.
Those modeling pics. Wow. That's a girl who always knew she wanted to be famous.
Love this. Martha is awesome, and that's all there is to it. She's had great ideas for decades now, and has been doing more or less the same thing all along--she's had this vision since before it was cool, and maybe she's been a big part of making it cool through the force of her vision. You can pick up her 20 year old work and it's still basically as relevant now as it was then. I'm sure she's a little scary in person--what self-made one person empire wouldn't be? But I'm sick of all the Martha bashers--this post is nice to see.
ugh seriously...she's just mean, she can't even hold it in when she's on television
I can't believe people are trying to bring the '80s back instead of giving the '60s another go. Just look at these pictures.
oh ya but still she used to be hot
So what if Martha Stewart isn't the most nurturing woman on the planet - she's not our mother or wife. She's our inspiration - impeccable taste, unlimited imagination and a lot of hard, hard work. Thank you for recognizing her accomplishments.
holy crap... #5....rowr...
btw - anyway I can get a quality art print of #5?
Gorgeous then...still gorgeous now!
"Dayum Girl!" lol Jesus, I had no idea of her looking so absolutely gorgeous when she was younger! That is one awesome woman.
I guess I could finish this with a, "can I get an Amen!?" I totally want #3, #5, and #7.
I love her shirt in the first photo...great print.
WOW....Martha was friggen hot man...lol
Totally shocking...all great pictures
Wow! Knew she was a model, but I always thought it was one of those "I went to NY when I was 18 and some shady guy took pictures of me in his apartment" sort of "used to be a model". But those pictures are gorgeous!!
The one with the cow is a beautiful, and can I venture to say "timeless" shot? It looks like it could have come out of a magazine yesterday.
What's that saying about when the devil comes he (she) will be charismatic, attractive, etc.??
I watch her show even though her style is the complete opposite of mine! I like her although I know that she and a large portion of her staff are nasty horrible people. But, that drive has gotten her through some tough times!
I think she's great. She carved out a media niche that had been ignored. And her modeling career started while she was in high school, continued while she went to Barnard, and while her then-husband went to law school.
i love this post. she looks great.
Yes, why can't Mad-Men-era clothes make a comeback rather than stirrup pants?
Bring them back, Cassis. Some of us have been mid-century inspired for years.
I never knew she was a model, and a very pretty one by the way. Lots of style ever since she was young, very impressive woman.
Martha is still my god. But what I loved about Martha 1998 is exactly what's wrong with Martha 2009 - I need her to be perfect. That was the beauty of her show, you suspended reality and while watching her - your loving mentor - you would say to yourself "yes, Martha, this WILL be the year I start the crabapple espalier!" And then you'd eat donuts and fall asleep on the couch. BUT! At one point you did at least have ambition.
The new Martha (unedited, unrehearsed, real Martha) brings us back to the reality of mean bosses, pushy mother-in-laws, and lack of staff persons. I wish it were still 1998.
So well said, Sugarbakers. I wonder if her sales numbers match her descent from on high.
Geez Martha was smoking hot! She looks stunning in the farm photo. What happened?!?!
Legend. I love her, i am English so shes something of a recent discovery for me compared to you lot.
I think i want to be her.
Legend. Former model and legend.... in awe.
Go Martha!