The Skylands Kitchen - A Most Functional Space
My last blog about the laundry room at Skylands, my home on the coast in Maine on Mount Dessert Island, generated so many fabulous comments. Skylands truly is an American Treasure. Designed by Duncan Candler for Edsel and Eleanor Ford, this magnificent estate was built in 1925 as a summer retreat for the Ford family. This 35,000 square foot home sits upon 63 verdant acres, overlooking Seal Harbor. During those summer months, Skylands was abuzz with activity and the Fords enlisted the help of thirty staff members. The front of the house is where the entertaining took place and the back of the house is where all the “serious” activity occurred. With many family members and their guests present, the laundry room and the kitchen above, were basically, command central. I present to you, the Skylands kitchen, much the same today, as it was in the late 1920’s.
1 The bright and spacious kitchen at the back of the house has always been an important part of this great edifice.
2 The kitchen was designed for functionality. During the summer months, there were always many mouths to feed.
3 This is my 'Great Wall of China' - I took every white dish I could find in the cupboards and put them on display.
4 I found this porcelain fishmonger's table in an antique store and I think it's the perfect accompaniment for the china.
5 Eighteen stools of various heights were gathered from the rest of the house and painted white. Guests, short or tall, can sit where they are the most comfortable around the metal-topped table.
6 Simple, antique schoolhouse lights grace the ceiling.
7 Opposite the 'Great Wall of China' is the cappuccino station. Guests are free to help themselves whenever they need a coffee fix.
8 I installed a new bank of stoves beneath the original fan hood. Alongside the stove, a panini press has a home atop a baker's rack.
9 The original subway tile makes for an excellent back splash and floor surround for the stove area.
10 Conveniently located to the right of the cooking area is the cookware pantry.
11 The wash-up area is across from the stoves. The two enameled sinks are original to the house.
12 Each sink has its own wooden drainage board.
13 I get excellent yogurt and milk from nearby Smith Family Farm. http://www.smithfarmmdi.com/ I take the empty glass containers back to the farm when I need to purchase more.
14 To the right of the sinks is the sun-lit baking pantry. Batters and doughs of all sorts are mixed in this space.
15 Giant jars of flour and sugar line the wide windowsill.
16 Right off the kitchen is the butler's pantry, or servery. Much of this fine china belonged to Mrs. Ford.
17 For example, this is her beautiful Limoges tea set.
18 This old dry-weight scale is very precise.
19 A deep galvanized sink makes cleanup a breeze.
20 An assortment of big, metal topped glass storage jars sits on the window ledge over the sink.
21 The butler's pantry also has a fabulous linen press. All this woodwork, by the way, is cypress from the swamps of Mississippi and Louisiana.
22 The drawers are filled with exquisite Irish, Portuguese, French, and Italian hand-embroidered napkins and placemats.
23 Laundered and pressed tablecloths are stored on wooden poles and stored beneath a rolling tambour.
24 This original Frigidaire chills bar supplies.
25 Just down the hall is an entire wall of original Frigidaire refrigerators and cooling drawers. They are pretty magnificent and continue humming along.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
I love everything skylands! I wish you had some kind of architectural tours. I would sign up in a minute. http://www.themalemartha.com Skylands reminds me of another favorite of mine THE BREAKERS in Newport RI. A wondeful and grand home.
Martha thank you for sharing these photo's...FANTASTIC as always~
Posted by: Dan Viger | January 10th, 2011 at 12:13 am
Martha, has this kitchen been featured anywhere before? It seems as if I've seen this before, but I've never been to your home, and unless a miracle happens, I don't suppose I ever will.
I absolutely love the kitchen, pantry, all of it!!! I'd hate to have to keep all of that clean, but I think I could, very happily, stay in there most of the day.
Thank you for sharing your home.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | January 10th, 2011 at 12:13 am
How many guests can Skylands host? How many bedrooms? It is so beautiful, thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: teresa | January 10th, 2011 at 12:17 am
PLEASE KEEP POSTING PHOTOS OF SKYLANDS!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM AND I'M SAD WHEN I GET TO THE END OF THE PHOTO GROUPS.
I'D LOVE TO SEE ALL OF THE BATHROOMS.
Posted by: Betsy Leder | January 10th, 2011 at 12:25 am
How refreshing to see a homeowner who is happy to keep the original kitchen in place. Usually kitchens are the first ones to be replaced, and that is not always wise, especially in homes that have some history to them..
Posted by: Rita | January 10th, 2011 at 1:09 am
One thing I noticed, Martha --- On the wooden dishdrain, the lovely curve of wood edging shows a craftsmans skill. I love these little details which are so lovely and makes the observer feel the real person who created the simple, practical, beautiful item.
Posted by: Penny | January 10th, 2011 at 1:37 am
Skylands is fortunate to have a caretaker like you. It is hard to believe that all the fine china and linens came with the house. You must have been thrilled.
Posted by: Pat Smith | January 10th, 2011 at 1:46 am
Oh Martha - thank you for so generously allowing us to come into your home! I have been an ardent fan of yours since my late husband and I watched one of your Thanksgiving shows on PBS more than 15 years ago. That's a great memory for me. The Mr. was quite cute as he talked about all that you could do. Oh well, I am rambling . . . Have a great Monday! xoxo
Posted by: Preppy 101 | January 10th, 2011 at 2:19 am
It's great to see so many original pieces of equipment are still running well showing the importance of investing in good quality that will last.
The tablecloths on poles are interesting, are they rolled around the pole like a length of fabric to avoid greasing after having been ironed or are they draped over?
Posted by: Christian / @vfbr2001 | January 10th, 2011 at 3:00 am
What a wonderful post Martha. I loved the laundry room on Friday but love the kitchen even more!
Posted by: Perfecting Pru | January 10th, 2011 at 4:40 am
Good morning Martha, love your post and what a magnificent estate then and still now. Love the bright and spacious kitchen, interesting white dish display, beautiful Limoges tea set and love the butler's pantry with linen, everything looks beautiful, so neat and organized. Love your Skylands kitchen.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | January 10th, 2011 at 4:45 am
Martha, please know these are our favorite blogs that you create - ones sharing the history, design, or details of your homes or travels. Seeing the world and beautiful things through your eyes is so fun.
Posted by: Gwen | January 10th, 2011 at 5:57 am
Thank you! thank you! thank you!!! Oh my goodness what a wonderful tour of your lovely and historic kitchen. I say it in almost every post I make.....please consider "coffee table" books filled with the beauty of your farm and Skylands. My check is in the mail!!
Posted by: Cynthia | January 10th, 2011 at 6:56 am
Skylands is definitely an American Treasure. Has there ever been a book done on the home?
Posted by: Cathy | January 10th, 2011 at 6:57 am
What a dream kitchen!!!
Posted by: Susie's Homemade | January 10th, 2011 at 7:55 am
It definitely feels like the early 1900s. Frigidaire should enlist your kitchen for a commercial for the durability of their refrigerators. The history of this home proves that craftsmanship outweighs "McMansions" anyday in what has become our disposable society.
Posted by: Jeri Hill | January 10th, 2011 at 8:47 am
Hi Martha,
I loved your kitchen : I can smell cakes, bread and delicious food. It's a kitchen made by women for women who want to prepare good plates for her family with love and simplicity. Nothing with the aseptic and technical modern kitchen we are used to.
Thanks to share your house and give us great inspirations.
Posted by: Cristina De Perfetti | January 10th, 2011 at 9:40 am
Simple; I love it!
Posted by: James Myers | January 10th, 2011 at 9:52 am
This was indeed better than sex this morning. Skylands is as wonderful as The Biltmore, Falling Waters to name two. Monticello. Thank you for keeping the integrity of such great history.such a fantastic space. Congratulations for being the caretaker of it!!!!
Posted by: Bruce Boon | January 10th, 2011 at 10:21 am
How lovely! It's just great that you look after everything so well - it's almost like a "live museum". It's very interesting to learn about American history. The kitchen is beautiful, and probably very efficient too. I agree with those above who skuld love to have coffe table books about Skylands and your farm!
Posted by: Anette | January 10th, 2011 at 10:27 am
I suppose all the devices the linen press, the deep sinks the special place for cook ware and bakers area were due to the staff numbers-- a kitchen staff of five needed room to move around. BUT the present day cook needs room too. I bet the average room of the US kitchen is 10 by 10 and even if a bit bigger it no doubt has a builder uninspired floor plan. Perhaps that was intentional to allow for a job down the road of a re-model. Why does not the average kitchen have decent cabinet storage?? Why is there under the sink storage why are we encouraged to store cleaning chemicals where food is prepared??
Why does the average refrigerator not look sleek and modern with glass doors? Do I have too may pots and pans ?? when did the enameled sink fall out of favor ?? was it a designer that dissed function over form? Why are builders failing to consider the necessities in a kitchen?? why do so many people don't know how to cook?.
Posted by: kathleen | January 10th, 2011 at 10:28 am
Hi Martha,
It thrills me to see the inside of Skylands - what is not to love about that gorgeous house of yours and thanks so much for this more detailed look at the kitchen! Show us all you want – I’m all eyes!
~
I’ve always been so curious about the laundry room but I love the wall of Frigidaire’s too! I think every house should be equipped with at least 2 refrigerators in the kitchen. In Michigan we had one in the basement next to the pool table for our beer, lol, but in Florida we had to put one in the garage. Now I only have one. Anyway, I used to especially enjoy the gardening segments you often taped at Skylands and I would hope you would step inside the house for something so we could see part of the interior but you never did – boo-hoo. Paw Paw would be lying at the door. Thanks again Martha and I’m looking forward to your Cartagena blog also. You do so many interesting things! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 10th, 2011 at 10:46 am
Skylands is a treasure, and you have maintained it beautifully. I love all the period touches and the original period appliances...and your 'wall of china' (very cute name). I love it when you post photos of your homes...and like already mentioned, you should do a coffee table book on your homes. I would definitely add that book to my collection! Thank you again.
Posted by: Judy | January 10th, 2011 at 10:59 am
Martha.....how amazing to see how beautiful Skylands is. You must pinch yourself at times to realize you are the owner of this magnificent historical home! Plus to have heirlooms that were left from the Ford Family must be so amazing. It certainly is a magical place. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Posted by: Suzanne Morelli | January 10th, 2011 at 11:21 am
Thank you for sharing, and for being such a meticulous conservator of an American treasure. I'd like to vote for a book, along with many others. Also wondering if you've made provisions to maintain this property in perpetuity? Like the Edsel Ford home in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, it documents history so well.
Posted by: lila grace | January 10th, 2011 at 11:27 am
Hi Martha, Thank you so very much for posting another blog about Skylands! This home of yours is so beautiful inside and out. Seeing the laundry room and the kitchen up close is superb. Every posting about Skylands over the last few years has been stunning! No wonder you, your family and your friends love to go there. I would love too, also! Seeing a place this beautiful built in 1925 is awesome because you take such great care of it. I love every one of your beautiful homes but, this one stands out as my favorite. The sinks, the tiles, the floors, the closets, the pantrys, the Frigidaires, etc. are the best. Thanks again for sharing! Thanks so much, also, for your tweets about your trip to Cartagena, Colombia! Can't wait to see that blog post! Have another great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 10th, 2011 at 11:28 am
awesome Frigidaires
Posted by: IowaCowgirl | January 10th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
I found here something new and interesting. Thanks
Posted by: G-Music | January 10th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I am absolutely amazed at how well preserved this kitchen is. A lot of work I'm sure but absolutely gorgeous.
Posted by: Michelle, Colorado Springs, CO | January 10th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Oh my gosh!!! I would love to cook up a storm in that kitchen!!! I simply love the windows, the glass jars of flour, sugar, the huge double sink. I would love to wash dishes in those beautiful amazing sinks. Everything is wow, over the top amazing! Love the cappuccino bar. That would be the first thing going in the morning for me! Thanks so much for giving me the pleasure of dreaming!
Posted by: Frances | January 10th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Lovely kitchen, you are so fortunate to have such a beautiful home.
Posted by: Kristina | January 10th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Oh my, Martha! I love your kitchen! It would be the perfect workspace for preparing meals for our family of 10!
Posted by: Carmen at Old House Kitchen | January 10th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
I see that the sinks look similar to the ones in the laundry so that answered my question about were they original.
What I love here are there are about a million ideas that I can scale down and use in my own home. Martha thanks for keeping the original beauty of this home intact. If I see another aging beauty turned into a modern loft I am going to die...
Great idea about the stools, going to use that one.
Posted by: robin ball | January 10th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
What a great place to hang out. I'd love to be a guest in this kitchen!
Posted by: Audrey | January 10th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
wow that Kitchen is really great..i can imagine all the great meals being cooked there..I would be in heaven in that surrounding....
Posted by: Mary Morrison | January 10th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
I love it I sure wish it was mine If only mine was half that size I would be happy
Posted by: Deb | January 10th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Martha, you have inspired me for years! How I would love to sit on one of the stools in that lovely kitchen talking to you. I too am a fan of keeping things original in historic homes and as they were. I never had a Mom, so you have been the #1 woman that has always been a role model for me, in more ways than just all the awesome recipes of yours I have cooked up for my son as a strong, independent, single working Mother. Your daughter is so lucky to have a Mom like you! If you ever want to do coffee with a non-celeb please let me know.
I would love to chat with you!
Many thanks,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | January 10th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Incredible! I tried to pick out something as a favorite, but I must say that I cannot. There are so many pretty and perfect spaces. Thanks so much for sharing your lovely home with us!
Posted by: Faith from OrdinaryMommy | January 10th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
This home is an authentic "history lesson". It is interesting to see how people lived many years ago. Thank you for showing it to us.
Posted by: Jan | January 10th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
The dream kitchen I did know I wanted until I so saw it... Fabulous!!!
Posted by: Marlen | January 10th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Oh, let me loose in that kitchen. It is a foodie's dream come true!
Posted by: tara | January 10th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Skylands looks just like the Fairlane estates here in Dearborn Mi,Fairlane was the home of Henry and Clara Ford,parents of Edsel Ford.
Posted by: pamela macphersn | January 10th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Martha,
The windows are the best. I could see them fogging over in the laundry room, and maybe the kitchen as well. Have you had to do much replacement regarding the windows? They must preserve many peoples' sanity allowing the sun to shine in. I would think there would be many overcast days in Maine.
Posted by: Margie | January 10th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Thank you Martha for sharing your homes with us and particularly for retaining and preserving the original features at Skylands. They have so
much character and Skylands is fortunate that you are its owner.
Posted by: Susie | January 10th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
I could see them fogging over in the laundry room, and maybe the kitchen as well. Have you had to do much replacement regarding the windows?
Posted by: luxury fake handbags | January 10th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
love it!
Posted by: Maura Quinn | January 10th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Love this concept of using what you have to make the white themed wall. White brightens everything. Although I wouldn't try this in my own home especially when the ceiling fan is going in the summer. I have 4 long haired feral cats who camp in the kitchen (insecure rescues who eat constantly)& their fur is such a challenge to remove. I know... fat, feral house cats. It's odd. Can't touch `em, no less brush them.
This wall is for someone who has staff.
Posted by: sickitten | January 10th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
Martha, very nice kitchen. Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | January 11th, 2011 at 7:48 am
I could click through 1000 pictures of your house if you put them up everyday. thanks martha! keep 'em coming!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Michelle G | January 11th, 2011 at 11:02 am
I would love to see a floor plan for the house to get a better idea of how these room relate to each other. And to know how this layout works for you.
Thank you Martha for all you do!
Posted by: Erika Close | January 11th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Martha, I so enjoyed both your laundry and kitchen but especially the kitchen. As everyone else has said we are fortunate to have someone such as you who help to maintain the lovely old homes of this country. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Posted by: Gloria Jeanne | January 11th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
If I had a kitchen like this, I'd have no excuse for not learning to cook properly!
Thank you so much for sharing. These pictures are absolutely amazing!
Posted by: Kathleen Schmid | January 11th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
What a wonderfully simple and lovely kitchen. That baking area is a DREAM.
Posted by: Autumn | January 11th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Thank you for sharing this tour of the Skylands Kitchen. I loved seeing it. In one of the pictures you identified Mrs. Ford's tea set as Limoges. It looks a lot like the beautiful Hungarian Herend porcelain that I collect. Thanks for showing it to us.
Posted by: Travis | January 11th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Can I hide out in your baker's pantry for a few days???? K-Thanks.
Posted by: Sue | January 11th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
I can only dream of such a beautiful home.
God bless you and your family.
Trish
Posted by: trish sargent | January 12th, 2011 at 11:16 am
I recently was an part of the Martha Stewart Show and the give a way was a 5Quart Die-Cast Stand Mixer by Breville...I had it sent to my Granddaughter and she loves it. She's 18 and loves to bake and loves her mixer. This mixer could be the beginning of a new career. Thank You and I'll be watching always...
Posted by: Susan Carter | January 12th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
I have so much enjoyed the glimpses into your private spaces. Thanks for sharing. You are aspirational to us all.
Posted by: jreuer | January 12th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Dear Martha: Your linens shown in slide 22 & 23 are splendid. They are cared for perfectly. The drawers and wooden racks on which they are kept seem to be a lost art in today's world. How very blessed are you; and blessed are we for you share so very much with us.
Thank you.
Posted by: M. McCallum | January 12th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Thank you so much Martha for sharing your kitchen with us. You have been a mentor of mine for years.
I am building a very small house for myself and I am a cook. I do not want to clutter up my kitchen with "fancy cabinets" The house is very rustic cabin and I want to make the kitchen orderly and simple. Seeing yours has given me many ideas. Thank you again.
Posted by: patti saunders | January 12th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
The pics of the kitchen and the laundry room soooooooo beautiful, please keep posting pics, want a series of books from ya, my moolah is in the mail. Thank you soooooooooo much for sharing the pics of your home.
Posted by: jeane | January 12th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
What a great kitchen, reminds me of my grandparents kitchen in E Orange, NJ.
Posted by: Bea Trainer | January 12th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Martha, Love your Skylands kitchen. It is a
sight to behold. I have always loved your show.
We gave our Son & his wife a set of your Kitchen
Cutlery a year ago, but the stainless steel part of the knives have started to show a bit of
rust spots. Is there anything you can do for them? I have had Cutco Knives for 42 years & have never seen any rust spots on mine. We would appreciate an answer to this problem & how
it can be solved ASAP. Thanks so much!!
Posted by: Pam Kerr | January 12th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
I wish~!
Posted by: BakerMan | January 13th, 2011 at 6:16 am
"Great Wall of China"-you're to funny. I've always loved pure white dishes and these are beautiful. Both the kitchen and laundry are magnificent! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Ginny Dodson | January 14th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
This kitchen is so beautiful and functional and ideal that I may have gotten a little choked up about it. Lovely!!
Posted by: Melissa | January 14th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Thank you for posting the photos, I loved seeing both the kitchen and laundry!! It must be an amazing home.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 15th, 2011 at 1:02 am
That home has been waiting on Martha Stewart...who else would take such excellent care of the linens, china, and house in general! And since we can't be there, thanks so much for sharing! (Wish I had room to store my antique tablecloths like that!)
Posted by: Margo | January 17th, 2011 at 10:50 pm
most of the kitchen floor appears to be hardwood but what type of flooring is that in front of the stove(s)? What that your installment or is it original to the house? If it's tile flooring, Is it to prevent spills/water/etc. from damaging the hardwood floors? Seems like a good idea.
Posted by: suzette | February 4th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Do you know if Martha's Skylands kitchen hood is still manufactured, and if so, who sells it? It looks like metal but it's hard to see from the photos. Can you confirm? I have a client who adores it and wants one just like it
. Thanks!
Posted by: Emily | September 9th, 2011 at 2:59 pm