The Star Element That Keeps J.Lo’s Kitchen From Being Full-On Traditional

Between the wicker-topped island stools, rough-hewn-wood vent hood accent, white marble countertops, and cream-colored cabinets, Jennifer Lopez’s kitchen fits perfectly into the modern farmhouse category—the most-Googled interior design style in the U.S., according to a recent study conducted by Hovia. The performer gave a peek inside her shining example of a space last holiday season as she made homemade waffles with whipped cream and cranberry compote alongside her family and shared the results on Instagram. The Reel of their all-hands-on-deck cooking project revealed her soaring, sun-filled kitchen in the process. 

Still, despite her traditional rustic choices, this isn’t any old neutral space. That’s in large part because of an unexpected industrial element smack-dab in the middle. Instead of a wall, the sink sits in front of a counter-to-ceiling, steel-framed window that looks out onto dense foliage. Ahead, catch a glimpse at three more kitchens that make gridded windows the focal point.

The Arched One

Designer Melanie Turner is a fellow devotee of the detail. Her best advice? “Use it sparingly so that it becomes a feature.” The shape of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the space pictured above informed the silhouette of the door. By making the passageway and surrounding windows extra-large, she filled the room with light and good vibes (the homeowners often leave the doors open so they can hear the water trickling in the pool).

The One That Frames French Doors

This 18th-century home in New York’s Hudson Valley is as farmhouse as it gets. But just like Lopez’s setup, the massive symmetrical grid of windows, which extend to the doors, lends a modern edge to the rough stone floors and black and white Shaker-style cupboards.

The One That’s Also an Office Wall

In this Kazakhstan apartment, a steel and glass partition floods the kitchen with light but also acts as a barrier between the cooking zone and a small WFH nook.