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A Hunker report revisits the 1970s kitchen at Martha Stewart’s former Turkey Hill home in Westport, Connecticut, highlighting its natural sycamore cabinets and warm wood details. The article presents the room as inspiration for a reported return to wood-rich kitchens, but provides no survey data or other measurements showing how widespread that trend is.
A Hunker report is pointing readers to Martha Stewart’s 1970s kitchen at Turkey Hill, her former home in Westport, Connecticut, as inspiration for renewed interest in warm, natural wood cabinetry. The room’s locally sourced sycamore cabinets stand apart from the white and gray kitchens that became common in earlier decades, though the report does not provide data measuring how widely wood kitchens are returning.
Stewart bought Turkey Hill in 1971. The farmhouse, built in 1805, was her first home and remained hers for 36 years, according to Hunker. The report describes the kitchen as a rustic, wood-rich room created by Stewart and her then-husband, Andy. It appeared in the opening pages of Stewart’s first cookbook, Entertaining.
The kitchen’s cabinets were made from natural sycamore sourced from Massachusetts, Hunker reports. Their visible grain and knots, along with wood doors and an original wood-wrapped fireplace, give the room a consistent, earthy look. The report also points to freestanding wooden furniture, including a baking center, as part of the kitchen’s informal, lived-in character.
Hunker’s design advice is to treat the room as inspiration rather than copy it as a period set. For a rustic look, homeowners could choose knotty wood and plank-style doors; simpler fronts and cleaner hardware would give wood cabinetry a more contemporary appearance. The report names alder, hickory, oak and pine as options with rustic character, and maple, birch and walnut among choices for a less rustic finish.
Why Wood Kitchens Are Drawing Attention
The report’s appeal is practical as well as nostalgic: it shows how a kitchen can use wood for color, grain and texture instead of relying on a uniform white or gray finish. For readers considering a renovation, the example offers a range of ways to use the idea, from knotty farmhouse cabinets to cleaner-lined wood fronts that suit a more contemporary room.
It also reflects a broader design conversation described by Hunker, in which homeowners are said to be favoring interiors that feel warmer and more connected to natural materials. That characterization is the publication’s assessment, not a quantified finding. The story supplies no sales figures, survey results or other evidence that establishes the scale of the shift.
There is a meaningful distinction between drawing from Stewart’s kitchen and reproducing its exact 1970s look. Wood tone, door style, hardware and freestanding furniture can change the character of a room. The report’s central suggestion is that natural wood can be adapted across rustic, traditional and modern designs, rather than treated as a single fixed style.
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From Turkey Hill to Today’s Kitchens
Turkey Hill was built in 1805, decades before Stewart bought it in 1971. Hunker says the home was remodeled and updated multiple times during the 36 years she lived there, while the earlier kitchen’s wood-centered character continues to resonate with current design discussions. The report accompanies its account with images credited to Susan Wood/Getty Images.
Hunker places the kitchen alongside other 1970s-inspired interiors, mentioning conversation pits, curved sofas and mushroom lamps. These examples provide design context, but the article’s specific focus is cabinetry: how mid-tone wood can bring warmth and visible natural variation into a kitchen. The report contrasts that look with the stark white and gray kitchens it associates with the 2000s and 2010s.
The article is a design report and recommendation, not an announcement of a new Stewart project or a change to Turkey Hill. Its claims about what is trending are presented as editorial observations. It does not identify a particular new collection, renovation or industry forecast tied to Stewart’s former kitchen.
““Not a white cabinet in sight.””
— Hunker’s report
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How Broad Is the Wood Trend?
The report does not establish how many homeowners are choosing wood cabinets, whether demand has risen compared with a prior period, or which finishes are gaining popularity. It gives no survey, sales data or named industry forecast. Its description of wood-rich kitchens as a trend returning for 2026 should be read as a design assessment, not a measured market result.
It is also unclear whether Stewart has made any recent statement about the kitchen or its design. The report discusses her former home and historic photographs; it does not say that Stewart is endorsing a renovation trend, revisiting Turkey Hill, or introducing a related product. The source does not specify the exact date of the kitchen’s first construction or provide a current update on the property.
wooden freestanding kitchen furniture
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Adapting the Look at Home
For readers weighing a wood-cabinet renovation, Hunker’s suggestions begin with choosing a species and finish that suit the desired effect. A natural sealer can emphasize a wood’s existing undertones, the report says, while a muted mid-tone stain can create a more subdued appearance. It recommends considering knots and grain, cabinet-door profiles, and whether hardware should look rustic, vintage or contemporary.
The report also suggests using reclaimed beams, interior doors or salvaged millwork to extend the material palette beyond cabinetry. Those are design options, not reported plans for a specific project. No product launch, scheduled renovation or further announcement is given; the next step is for readers to decide whether the room’s wood elements fit their own homes and design preferences.
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Key Questions
What is the news about Martha Stewart’s kitchen?
Hunker published a design report revisiting the 1970s kitchen at Stewart’s former Turkey Hill home and presenting its natural wood cabinetry as inspiration for current kitchen design.
What kind of wood were the cabinets made from?
Hunker reports that the cabinets were made from locally sourced Massachusetts sycamore, with a natural grain and knotty appearance.
Does the report prove that wood kitchens are popular again?
No. The article describes renewed interest in warm wood tones but provides no survey results, sales figures or other measurements showing how widespread the trend is.
How does Hunker suggest updating the 1970s look?
The report recommends adapting the materials and details: natural or muted wood finishes, simpler cabinet fronts for a modern look, and hardware chosen to match the intended style. It cautions against copying the room so literally that it becomes a period replica.
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