Martha Stewart Responds to Salon Criticism

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Martha Stewart doesn’t get criticized for her decorating skills.

Stewart, 82, has hit back at negative comments that called the newly decorated living room in her Maine home “bland.” She was initially excited about the quick makeover, sharing a carousel of photos on Instagram to show off her “big furniture rearranging day.” However, the star was quite surprised by all the judgment in her comments.

“I rarely read all the comments,” the TV personality began, alongside a repost of one of her living room photos. Stewart noted that she only checked out the comments because she was “so happy” with her transformation. Once she read the comments, she was “surprised at the harsh judgment so many people have posted!!!”

The images showed a large living room decorated in shades of “pale butter yellow” with a cream-colored rug covering a hardwood floor. In the center of the space sat a neutral-toned sofa, off-white leather chairs, and an ornate coffee table. A large black bench with off-white cushions completed the table setting. On the far wall, surrounding a wood-paneled fireplace, hung a collection of Carroll Tyson’s chromolithographs of birds.

One Instagram user commented, “It doesn’t look warm and welcoming. It looks more like a furniture showroom than a home. It’s sad to see.” Another said, “It’s pretty but bland,” advising to “add some color for joy and fun.” Some criticized the furniture, saying, “It doesn’t look like there’s a single comfortable chair.” Stewart, however, was proud of the “three hours” she and her assistants spent removing the old furniture and installing the new ones.

“We were thrilled that the pieces actually fit the room and were proportionate to the large size of the space,” she wrote, explaining that it “was not a professional ‘decorator’ installation. It was an attempt to quickly and efficiently transform a house into a home.” Stewart shared that it takes much longer to completely renovate a room. “Of course, there will be color, plants, mirrors, a new rug or two, and other art and objects,” the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia founder added, advising fans to “stay tuned!!!”

Some commenters also came to Stewart’s defense. One Instagram user posted, “Martha, absolutely gorgeous!! ❤️,” while another gushed, “I love this. The black bench is fabulous. The rest of it looks very comfortable, which fits the era of the house (at least in my mind 😊). So much comfort!” One loved the design so much that they commented, “You should do a coffee table book dedicated to showcasing all your amazing homes! 🏡.”