25th Anniversary Countdown to Christmas: Day 5

Throughout December, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Martha Stewart Living magazine, I will examine 25 of the most memorable and influential people, moments and milestones at Martha Stewart's company over the last quarter century: the Martha Moments that fans are especially grateful for. I hope you enjoy these reflections on twenty-five years of excellence!

DECEMBER 5: MARTHA'S HOUSES

Few people in history have used their homes as the inspiration for their business. From the beginning, Martha saw the inherent lessons her homes could teach her readers, viewers and listeners. She also understood that everything contained within the walls of those homes (from her vast collection of antiques to the colour she chose to paint her walls) could be used as inspiration for product development and as content creation for her books and magazines. 

Ask any one of Martha's fans and they will tell you that her homes are the jewels in the crown of her business. We would all like to take tours of her homes and their extensive grounds and gardens. These historic abodes have all been renovated and re-imagined by Martha's keen eye for detail and elegance. Below is a list of the homes Martha currently owns - and a couple she has let go of.

TURKEY HILL:
While Martha no longer owns Turkey Hill (she sold it in 2007) it maintained legendary status throughout the 1990s among Martha Stewart's readers, viewers and fans. It had played a starring role in all of Martha's early books, including her first book, Entertaining, and was featured heavily in early issues of her magazines, not to mention her first television specials on PBS and early episodes of her television show. Fans felt as though they had been there, as though they had walked through its gardens with Martha, learning something new around every corner. It really was the house that started it all! Click here to read more about this legendary house. 

LILY POND LANE:
Lily Pond Lane was purchased by Martha in 1992. It was a new project for Martha. She had been recently divorced and had found new success with her magazine, her television show and her line of housewares at Kmart. It is perhaps the second best-known house in Martha's collection. Like Turkey Hill, it was featured heavily in the television show, in early issues of the magazine and in the two decorating books Martha released in the 1990s. Click here to read all about Lily Pond Lane. 

MANHATTAN APARTMENT:
Around the same time Martha purchased Lily Pond Lane, she also purchased a Manhattan apartment on Fifth Avenue. With a new magazine to run and round-the-clock business meetings in the city, she needed a place to call home in the heart of the city. Glimpses of this apartment have been rare, although it was featured in several issues of Martha Stewart Living and in the decorating books Martha released in the 1990s. Martha still owns this apartment. Click here to read more about it. 

THE BUNSHAFT HOUSE:
Longtime Martha Stewart fans may remember the second home she purchased in East Hampton in 1995 - a stark, modernist residence designed and built in 1963 by famed architect Gordon Bunshaft. It was rarely used and Martha did not own the home for long, due to a nasty feud with a neighbour, but its story is quite fascinating. Click here to read about it!

SKYLANDS:
Martha purchased Skylands in 1997 as a summer getaway. The historic home, located in Seal Harbor, Maine, is Martha's largest home and was once owned by Edsel and Eleanor Ford. Built in 1925, it has all the hallmarks and accoutrements of an aristocrat's mansion: twelve bedrooms, a vast wine cellar and a terrace that can accommodate up to 300 guests. Click here to read all about Skylands!

CANTITOE CORNERS:
Martha Stewart's 153-acre farm in Bedford, New York, is the place she currently calls home. The historic farm has numerous houses on the property, including the main 1925 farm house, a summer house, a tenant's cottage, a guest house and a contemporary house - as well as large stables designed by architect Allan Greenberg. It is a charming place with a giant peony garden, a greenhouse and miles of carriage roads winding through the woods. Click here to read more about it.