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A Hunker report highlights the natural wood cabinets in Martha Stewart’s 1970s Turkey Hill kitchen as a reference point for renewed interest in warm, wood-heavy interiors. The kitchen featured knotty, locally sourced sycamore, but the article’s broader claim that wood cabinetry is returning is design commentary, not evidence of a measured industry-wide trend.
A Hunker design report is pointing to Martha Stewart’s original 1970s kitchen at Turkey Hill as inspiration for homeowners looking beyond the white-and-gray cabinetry popular in earlier decades. The room’s natural sycamore cabinets and other wood details are presented as an example of how a kitchen can feel warm and lived-in, though the article does not provide data showing how widely wood cabinetry is gaining popularity.
Stewart bought Turkey Hill, an 1805 farmhouse in Westport, Connecticut, in 1971. According to Hunker, the kitchen was created by Stewart and her husband, Andy, and appeared in the opening pages of her first cookbook, Entertaining. The house was updated repeatedly during the 36 years Stewart lived there, but the report focuses on the kitchen’s first-iteration, 1970s look.
The cabinets were made from locally sourced Massachusetts sycamore, with visible knots and planked fronts. Hunker describes the room as also featuring an original wood-wrapped fireplace, farmhouse doors and freestanding wooden furniture, including a baking center. Together, those details give the kitchen a coordinated, natural-material look rather than relying on cabinetry alone.
The report’s practical takeaway is to adapt the room’s materials and character rather than copy it exactly. It suggests natural finishes or muted mid-tone stains, with choices in wood species, cabinet fronts and hardware shaping whether a contemporary kitchen reads as rustic, traditional or modern. It also recommends freestanding-looking furniture and additional wood features as ways to build on the reference.
Why Warm Wood Appeals Again
The story offers a useful counterpoint for readers considering a kitchen renovation: white cabinets are not the only route to a bright, current-feeling room. Wood brings visible grain, variation and texture, and can make cabinetry feel tied to the rest of a home rather than like a uniform fitted set. The Turkey Hill example also shows how a material can be used across cabinets, doors and furniture to give a room a consistent character.
That does not mean every kitchen should adopt a 1970s farmhouse look. Hunker’s account is design advice, not a survey of homeowner choices or sales figures. Its relevance is more specific: the same material can suit different styles depending on the finish and details. Simple fronts and clean-lined hardware can make wood feel contemporary, while visible hinges, antique-inspired pulls and less tailored doors reinforce a more historical or rustic look. For readers weighing renovation options, that flexibility makes the old kitchen a reference rather than a recipe.
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Turkey Hill’s 1970s Kitchen
Turkey Hill combines two points of reference in the report: Stewart’s early home and a period kitchen that she helped shape. The farmhouse dates to 1805, while Stewart purchased it in 1971. Hunker says she lived there for 36 years and that the property changed over time, so the room under discussion is one stage in the home’s longer history, not a claim that the present-day kitchen remains unchanged.
The report situates the kitchen among other 1970s design elements it says are being revisited, including sunken conversation pits, curved sofas and mushroom lamps. Its focus, however, is the wood cabinetry and the way mid-tone natural materials contribute to a welcoming atmosphere. The source’s references to a 2026 comeback describe a design assessment; it does not cite market research, dates for a specific trend cycle or sales comparisons.
“The knotty planked cabinets were made from natural sycamore wood – locally sourced from Massachusetts”
— Hunker report
How Broad Is the Wood Trend?
The source does not establish how many homeowners are choosing wood cabinets, whether demand has risen compared with a stated baseline, or whether the trend will persist through 2026. It offers no polling, sales figures or named industry data. The claim that warm wood is back should therefore be read as Hunker’s design assessment, not a quantified market report.
Some details of the kitchen’s construction and history are also not expanded on. The source names sycamore and says it was sourced from Massachusetts, but does not give the cabinet maker, installation date or finish specifications. It also does not document the room’s present condition. Readers considering a similar design would need to assess their own home, budget, wood species and maintenance needs rather than assume the historical example provides a ready-made specification.
Adapting the Look at Home
Hunker’s next step for readers is to choose the effect they want before selecting cabinetry. A natural sealer leaves a wood species’ underlying color and grain visible; a muted mid-tone stain can provide a more controlled appearance. The report names alder, hickory, oak and pine as options with rustic knots, while alder, birch, maple, walnut and oak can also suit cleaner or more refined approaches. A wood professional can help identify undertones and how a finish may change the look.
Cabinet style and hardware offer another way to make the reference fit a different home. Planked fronts and exposed iron hinges evoke Stewart’s kitchen; antique-style metal pulls can add historical character, while simpler fronts and integrated hardware make the result more contemporary. Freestanding furniture, reclaimed beams or salvaged millwork can extend the wood theme, but the source does not suggest that every element must be included. The practical choice for any renovation will depend on the space and the homeowner’s preferences; no new project or follow-up from Stewart is reported.
Key Questions
What is the news about Martha Stewart’s kitchen?
Hunker revisited Stewart’s 1970s Turkey Hill kitchen, highlighting its natural sycamore cabinets as inspiration for current kitchen design. The report presents wood as an appealing alternative to all-white cabinetry, but does not quantify the trend.
Where was Turkey Hill?
Turkey Hill is an 1805 farmhouse in Westport, Connecticut. Stewart bought it in 1971 and lived there for 36 years, according to the Hunker report.
What wood was used for the cabinets?
The cabinets were made from natural sycamore reportedly sourced from Massachusetts. Hunker describes them as knotty and planked.
How can homeowners adapt the look without copying a 1970s kitchen?
The report recommends choosing a finish, cabinet-front style and hardware that suit the home. Natural or muted wood finishes can pair with clean-lined fronts for a more contemporary result, while exposed hinges and vintage-inspired pulls create a more rustic or traditional feel.
Does the report prove wood cabinets are trending for 2026?
No. It presents Hunker’s design assessment that warm wood is returning, but provides no market data, sales figures or survey results to measure the trend.
Source: rss
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