Martha Stewart is known for creating beautiful, timeless spaces—and her sprawling estate in Katonah, New York is no exception. I recently got to explore the 150-acre property, which features everything from a cutting garden and a potager garden to a shaded fern garden and a Japanese maple woodland. Needless to say, it’s a gardener’s paradise.

I sat down with Stewart to discuss her strategy for creating the perfect outdoor living space. She says that the best outdoor spaces go beyond just what you plant in your garden—it should be treated like an extension of your home and reflect your personal style.

martha stewart katonah ny home
Jaime Milan

For starters, Stewart says every outdoor space “should have a vista, or an access of vision.” A scenic view means that she can look at her perfectly kept outdoor space from inside her home (and this beautiful vista is also the reason she intentionally chooses not to hang curtains!). Directly outside of Martha’s home, you’ll find manicured flower gardens, tall pines, red Japanese maples, pergola-studded grass paths, and gravel walkways. The mix of colors and textures add visual interest everywhere you look.

Stewart says that the perfect outdoor space “should also have a beautiful perimeter so that you feel sort of enclosed.” She adds, “It’s like a big, beautiful room where you can frolic on the grass, you can swim, you can rest, you can entertain.” Martha said she wanted her pool area to have all of these qualities, so it took her a while to build it. As you can see, her pool features a tree-lined fence, deck, and a large grassy area for swimmers to bask in the sunshine.

martha stewart katonah ny home
Jaime Milan

The last thing Stewart says every outdoor space should include is “a place to eat, because I don’t want to eat by the pool.” For this reason, she created a “dining pavilion” in her own home, which is a covered dining area that’s perfect for everything from poolside BBQs to sophisticated garden parties. Her dining pavilion features a long wooden dining table, two dozen wicker chairs, and groupings of hanging staghorn ferns.

Headshot of Jaime Milan
Jaime Milan
Deputy Digital Editor

Jaime Milan (she/her) is the deputy digital editor for VERANDA, where she writes about design, architecture, gardens, jewelry, fashion, travel, wine, news and trends. In her spare time, she can be found shopping at the antique store, cooking, gardening, or teaching her mini Australian Shepherd, Gumbo, new tricks. Follow her on Instagram at @jaimemmilan.