Honestly, you've probably seen the photo. You know the one. Back in July 2020, Martha Stewart posted a selfie that basically broke the internet—a sultry, pouty-lipped close-up from her East Hampton swimming pool that introduced the world to the "thirst trap" at the age of 78. But if you think a Martha Stewart pool is just a backdrop for viral Instagram moments, you are missing the most interesting parts of the story.
Martha doesn't just "have" pools. She engineers them with a level of obsessive detail that would make a master mason sweat.
Most people assume celebrity pools are all about infinity edges and flashy neon lights. Not Martha. Her approach to water is rooted in history, landscape architecture, and a weirdly specific disdain for protruding steps. Whether it's her classic East Hampton setup, the expansive paddock pool at her Bedford farm, or her wild new project in Maine, the design is never accidental.
The East Hampton Original: The No-Step Rule
The pool that started it all sits on her Lily Pond estate in East Hampton. It's thirty years old, but it looks like it was poured yesterday.
Why? Because she chose a natural concrete finish with no paint. No chipping blue flakes here.
She designed it to be a swimmer's pool, not just a place to lounge with a cocktail. It’s extra deep for diving and, most importantly, it has no protruding steps. Martha wanted to be able to race the entire length without worrying about hitting an obstacle. It’s long, it’s narrow, and it’s tucked precisely between the house and the property line.
She also insisted on making it as chlorine-free as possible. This was way before "saltwater" or "natural" pools were the trendy thing to do. She just knew she didn't want to smell like a public gym.
The Bedford Farm Pool: Architecture in a Paddock
When Martha moved her primary focus to her 156-acre Bedford farm, she went years without a pool. She finally put one in around 2017 in the southeast paddock, near her "Winter House."
Building a pool in a horse paddock sounds like a recipe for a muddy disaster, but Martha’s logic was sound. She wanted to enjoy the panoramic views of her grand allee of boxwood and the pin oaks.
The construction was a massive undertaking.
- They used a track hoe to haul away dozens of truckloads of dirt.
- The pool is lined with a waterproofing membrane.
- Every square inch of the colored top coating was hand-smoothed by a crew wearing special shoes.
- The patio features stone from Luppino Landscaping and Masonry.
It’s painted in her signature "Bedford Gray," naturally.
Around the water, she didn't just throw out some plastic chairs. She curated a set of Restoration Hardware chaises and massive TUUCI umbrellas. These aren't your typical patio umbrellas; they’re built with marine-grade stainless steel and resin. They don't rust. They don't break. They just look expensive.
The Landscaping Trick
If you want the "Martha look," look at her fences. In Bedford, she didn't just put up a chain-link eyesore to satisfy safety codes. She installed a sleek, modern fence and then hid it behind a hedge of 170 columnar beech trees (Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’).
As those trees matured, they created a solid wall of purple-green foliage. It makes the pool feel like a secret room in the middle of a field.
The Maine Project: Turning a Basement into a Pool
This is the one that has people talking in 2026. At her estate in Seal Harbor, Maine, Martha did something borderline insane. She bought a historic mansion called Ox Ledge, knocked it down, and decided to turn the surviving basement foundation into a swimming pool.
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Most people would see a hole in the ground and see a liability. Martha saw a 100-foot-long swimming destination.
The coolest part? The basement contained a massive, "glorious" pink granite rock that was part of the natural landscape. Instead of blasting it out, she kept it. The rock now juts out of the floor of the pool.
It's essentially a massive swimming lake with a pink granite feature right in the middle. The project includes a pool house, a hot tub, and—because Martha is nothing if not thorough—dedicated courts for volleyball and badminton.
The Maintenance Reality
You don't get a pool that looks like a mirror without a serious maintenance schedule.
Martha’s pools are "potted" with precision. In the summer, her crew moves massive agaves and Mexican fan palms out to the poolside. These plants love the six-plus hours of direct sunlight. But come fall, they aren't left to die. They are moved back into designated hoop houses.
She also uses a specific type of ginkgo tree—the "Goldspire"—which is a non-fruiting male tree. This is a pro tip: female ginkgo trees drop fruit that smells like literal garbage. By choosing the Goldspire, she gets the beautiful yellow autumn color without the stench or the mess in her pool filters.
How to Get the Martha Pool Aesthetic at Home
You probably don't have a 100-foot basement in Maine or a paddock in Bedford. That's fine. You can still steal the vibe.
Stick to a Tight Palette
Martha uses grays, tans, and natural stone. If you have a bright blue liner, you've already lost. Aim for a "natural" water color by choosing a darker gray or sandy-toned finish for the pool floor.
The "Invisible" Fence
Safety is non-negotiable, but style is a choice. Use dark, thin-profile fencing and immediately plant a dense hedge on the inside. Beech or hornbeam works if you have the space, but even simple privet can hide the "jail cell" look of a pool fence.
Symmetry and Furniture
Don't mix and match your lounge chairs. Buy four or six of the exact same high-quality chaise. Line them up with military precision. Add a large, square umbrella. It’s the repetition that makes it look like a resort rather than a backyard.
Go Green, Not Floral
If you look at the landscaping around Martha's pools, it’s mostly foliage. She uses ferns, hostas, and Japanese maples. Flowers are messy. Petals clog skimmers. Leaves and textures are much easier to manage and look more sophisticated against the water.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are planning a renovation or a new build, start by looking at your "coping"—that's the edge of the pool. Martha always uses substantial stone coping that feels permanent and old-world. Avoid the thin, plastic-looking edges found in budget builds. Also, consider a "Baja shelf" or a sun ledge. While Martha likes to dive, modern luxury is all about sitting in six inches of water on a high-end ledge chair.
Finally, check your pH levels. Martha's "glow" in that 2020 selfie wasn't just the sun; it was the fact that her water was perfectly balanced. High chlorine levels irritate the skin and eyes, making it impossible to get that "relaxed" look she bragged about.