As a Home Editor, Here's What I Learned From the Martha Stewart Doc
"If there was ever the original influencer, it's Martha."
That's one of the first lines of the new Netflix documentary, Martha, about the legendary homemaking icon. And it's the truth — no matter who you are or what you do, you know Martha Stewart. As a home editor, I don't just simply know her, I pretty much idolize her.
From the daughter of working class parents to one of the only female Wall Street stockbrokers of her time to the first female self-made billionaire and homemaking queen (you can take a breath now!), Martha Stewart has proven that there's truly nothing she can't do.
And while the documentary details her career journey, love affairs, controversial court case and more, I couldn't help but focus on her true expertise: homemaking. Throughout the two-hour-long documentary, I held onto a few home-related tips Stewart weaved into her life story. Read on for some of the biggest takeaways I'll be thinking about for days to come.
Always pay attention to detail.
If you know anything about Martha Stewart, it's probably no surprise that the documentary begins with her verbally listing out everything she dislikes.
"I dislike waste. I dislike inefficiency, avoidance, impatience. I dislike people who think they can do more than they can do. I dislike not paying attention to details," she begins. Stewart goes on, but there's one point in that list that stands out.
Not paying attention to detail is an obvious pet peeve of hers, but it's interesting to see how that tidbit plays out for the remainder of the documentary. She takes voice notes of what she needs to do throughout her garden to tidy it up. She informs her staff of how to perfectly trim her shrubs. She keeps note of everything she likes and dislikes (more on that later).
In other words, she stays on top of everything. And while that might seem overwhelming at first, it's allows her to achieve a level of perfection most of us didn't know was possible. Although we can't all be as perfect as Martha Stewart, paying extra close attention to detail is a good start.
Your dream house might not be perfect upon first glance.
After living in a New York City apartment, Stewart moved to a more rural neighborhood in Connecticut. Here's what she says when one of the producers asks about the move:
"We found the dream house, the wreck of Turkey Hill Road that we had to have... and to fix it up, you know? If I hadn't had Turkey Hill, I wouldn't be me right now. But I would've been somebody. I would've been somebody else. And I just wouldn't have been Martha Stewart, homemaker."
If that's not a sign that you shouldn't be afraid to listen to your gut and renovate when it comes to your dream home, I don't know what is. Regardless of its condition at the moment, you'll know your dream home when you see it. And who knows, it might just change your life.
Take inspiration from travel and always keep notes.
When it comes to note taking, Stewart is the master. During her honeymoon, she journaled about anything and everything.
"I kept record of every menu, every little thing we ate. It was eye-opening," she says. "Nobody was sophisticated at home in the 1960s. The architecture, and especially the gardens I visited. It did awaken in me a love of cuisine, a love of travel, a love of discovery."
If you're guilty of not remembering a meal you loved that you wanted to try making yourself or forgetting about a piece of artwork you saw and wanted to learn more about, you're not alone. But writing those things down is what led Stewart to the realization that that's what she wanted to spend her life thinking about. So why not take an extra moment to jot down some notes as you travel? It might just be the inspo you need in the future.
Stay to true to your style.
If you couldn't already tell by her long list of dislikes, Stewart is not afraid to stay true to herself and speak her mind.
"I dislike aprons and house dresses," she states confidently. "I used to dislike the color purple. Red. I don't plant very many things red in my garden, if anything. If something pops up red, it's usually taken out. So red is another thing I'm not very fond of."
Although she's the homemaking queen, she does anything but stick to the status quo. No aprons. No house dresses. No red allowed in her garden. It's a combination of all these minor details that make her style, her style. So whether it's about decorating the house or fixing up the flowers outside, do what you think is best, even if that's not necessarily what other people approve of.
Entertaining is about more than just cooking.
Martha Stewart loves sharing recipes, but that's not the only thing that matters when it comes to hosting. Later on in the documentary, Stewart scolds a chef for using a small knife to cut a large orange. Although it may sound silly, she has a point. Having the right tools available can make all the difference in the world of entertaining, especially when it comes to efficiency.
In terms of visual appearance and aesthetics, picking proper glassware, learning unique napkin folding techniques and choosing the perfect decorations to fit the occasion are just as important as the meal on the table.
You can still decorate tastefully on a budget.
Stewart shocked the world when she teamed up with Kmart to create a line of sheets, bedding, linens, dishes and more for middle class families to shop.
"She understood that just because you don't have a lot of money, doesn't mean you don't have taste," says journalist Caitlin Flanagan.
Although Kmart recently closed its last full-size store in the U.S., there are plenty of ways you can score vintage and antique pieces, whether that's in thrift stores or online through Facebook Marketplace.
Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself and your style.
If there's anyone in this world who knows how to reinvent themselves, it's Martha Stewart, no questions asked. She succeeded on Wall Street before transforming into the homemaking icon she is now. And after serving five months in prison, she came out a new person, even accepting an invitation to Justin Bieber's Comedy Central roast (and absolutely crushing it, might I mention) — something she probably would have never participated in before.
According to Charlotte Beers, one of Stewart's friends, "It catapulted her into a younger audience who said, 'She's one of us.'" Suddenly, she was popular again.
So, if Martha Stewart can go from stockbroker to CEO of her own media company to one of Snoop Dogg's best friends all in one lifetime, I don't think any of us should be afraid of a little change.
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