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There’s something truly special about bringing people together—whether it’s for Christmas celebrations, a New Year’s party, or a relaxed dinner with friends. When it comes to creating the ideal space for these moments, an open-plan kitchen and living area is the ultimate hosting hub.

Stay Connected with Your Guests
In traditional layouts, the kitchen can often feel like a separate space. With an open-plan design, you can cook, serve, and socialise all at the same time. This means you’re always part of the conversation, and your guests feel welcome and included. Imagine preparing your signature dish while chatting to family gathered around the island, or friends enjoying drinks nearby—it’s hosting made easy!

Space for Food, Drinks, and Festivities
An open-plan kitchen provides all the room you need to serve up a festive feast, whether it’s Christmas dinner, a birthday party, or an impromptu gathering. There’s space for the buffet, drinks, and plenty of surfaces for nibbles and treats, all within easy reach. No more guests huddling in one cramped corner—an open layout lets the party flow naturally.

Make Memories That Last
The beauty of an open-plan space is how it encourages interaction and togetherness. Picture the laughter of loved ones, the clinking of glasses, and the aroma of delicious food filling the room. These are the moments that turn a house into a home, and an open-plan design is the perfect backdrop for them.

Not Just for the Holidays
While it’s easy to imagine an open-plan kitchen decked out for Christmas or filled with guests enjoying seasonal treats, this layout isn’t just for the festive period. From summer barbecues to cosy winter dinners, open-plan spaces adapt to any occasion. They’re versatile, stylish, and practical—a winning combination for homeowners who love to entertain.

Designed for Hosting, Built for Life
At JLK Architects, we understand that great design is about more than just how a space looks. It’s about creating spaces that suit your lifestyle and bring people together. Whether it’s a brand-new build or a renovation, an open-plan kitchen and living area can transform your home into the perfect setting for making memories all year round.

​If you’re thinking about creating a space designed for hosting, we’d love to help bring your vision to life. Get in touch with us today to start planning!
https://www.jlkarchitects.co.uk/eco-houses.html

Open-plan living has grown increasingly popular, providing a spacious, flexible layout that brings people together and fills the home with light and air. But making such expansive spaces feel warm and welcoming requires careful thought about furniture placement and room design. At Maple House, we’ve created a cosy and intimate environment within an open-plan setting that beautifully balances openness with comfort.

Carefully Chosen Furniture to Create Warmth
In this large, open-plan living area, furniture plays a vital role in adding warmth and personality. Choosing just the right pieces transforms an expansive layout into a series of connected, inviting spaces. For example, two vibrant orange armchairs have been placed near the patio doors, establishing a cosy seating area with stunning views over the garden. This simple arrangement creates a snug corner where one can relax with a book or enjoy a morning coffee while feeling connected to the outdoors.

Balancing Spaciousness with Homeliness
The beauty of this design lies in its ability to balance the spaciousness of an open-plan layout with a homely, welcoming feel. Despite the room’s large scale, these cosy nooks offer comfortable retreats where people can unwind. The thoughtful arrangement of furnishings, the use of warm, inviting colours, and the integration of natural views all contribute to an atmosphere that feels both expansive and intimate.

Creating a Connection to Nature
Connecting with nature is central to the design at Maple House. Large windows and patio doors allow natural light to flood the space, and positioning seating to overlook the garden enhances this connection to the outdoors. This approach not only brings warmth to the space but also provides a reminder of the beautiful surroundings, creating a harmonious blend of indoor comfort and outdoor beauty.

Bringing it All Together
The result is an inviting, well-balanced living space where each area feels like a retreat within the home. At Maple House, open-plan living isn’t just about openness—it’s about creating a warm, personalised environment that fosters connection, relaxation, and a true sense of belonging. Whether you’re seeking to unwind in a cosy corner or entertain in a spacious dining area, this design offers the best of both worlds.

Ready to Transform Your Space?
If you’re inspired by the warmth and flow of Maple House and would like to bring the same balance to your own home, we’d love to help. JLK Architects specialise in creating beautifully designed, energy-efficient spaces that perfectly reflect your lifestyle and needs. Whether you’re building from scratch or transforming an existing space, our team can bring your vision to life. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream home!

​Today, the JLK Architects team had the pleasure of attending the RIBA CPD Expo in Nottingham. A day full of insightful discussions, fresh ideas, and the latest innovations in architecture and design. ✨
 
Staying at the forefront of industry developments and continually fuelling our creativity is key to how we approach each project. We're always learning, evolving, and pushing boundaries to deliver the very best for our clients.
 
A bonus was attending such a brilliant training venue, which made the experience even more inspiring! Looking forward to putting this knowledge into practice! 💡🏛️ #RIBAExpo #CPD #ArchitecturalInnovation #CreativeGrowth #JLKArchitects

Planning permission has been granted for this purpose built student accommodation block in the centre of Nottingham. The developers aim is to create high quality student accommodation that enhances the city location.  The materials of the accommodation references the local area and the scale and proportions complement the existing streetscape.
🌍👩‍🎓 #SustainableLiving #StudentAccommodation #nottinghamarchitects
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How JLK Architects are shaping sustainable, dynamic office environments for the modern workforce.
At JLK Architects, we understand that a well-designed office isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about creating an environment that enhances productivity, encourages creativity, and supports employee well-being. As more businesses move away from the home-office model, designing sustainable and inspiring commercial spaces has never been more important. Let’s explore some key aspects of a well-rounded office space based on our latest project.
1. Open-plan Workspaces: Fueling Creativity and InnovationGone are the days of isolating cubicles and confined desks. Modern open-plan workspaces are designed to encourage collaboration and the free exchange of ideas. By removing physical barriers, employees can communicate more easily, which fosters a culture of innovation and teamwork. In our latest design, we've created an open layout that balances spaciousness with carefully placed zones for focused work.
The openness allows teams to interact more organically, boosting creativity, productivity, and problem-solving. With flexibility at its core, these spaces can adapt to the needs of the business, offering everything from hot-desking for mobile workers to areas for spontaneous brainstorming sessions.
2. Breakout Areas: Spaces for Recharge and Creative ThinkingBreakout areas are becoming an essential feature of modern office design. These are more than just casual spaces – they are environments where employees can step away from their desks, clear their minds, and recharge. At JLK, we’ve designed these areas with creative thinking in mind, allowing people to detach from their usual workstations and look at tasks with fresh perspectives.
In our latest project, the breakout spaces are equipped with comfortable seating, natural light, and green elements to bring the outdoors in, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. These spaces not only help employees reset but also inspire innovative thinking by providing an environment free from traditional work distractions.
3. Designated Eating Areas: Encouraging Well-being and SocialisingProviding employees with dedicated spaces to eat and socialise is another critical factor in creating a successful office environment. In this design, we’ve incorporated dedicated eating areas that encourage staff to step away from their workstations during breaks. This helps foster a sense of community, giving employees the chance to interact in a more informal setting, build relationships, and share ideas.
Incorporating social areas such as kitchens and dining spaces promotes a healthier work-life balance, encourages good eating habits, and provides an opportunity for employees to recharge and refuel, improving both physical and mental well-being.
4. Meeting Rooms: Facilitating Focus and CollaborationMeeting rooms play a key role in an office’s functionality, and we’ve paid special attention to how these spaces can be optimised. In our design, meeting rooms are positioned strategically throughout the office to provide quiet, private spaces for focused discussions, brainstorming sessions, and presentations. We’ve equipped these rooms with the latest technology and designed them to be flexible, supporting both formal meetings and more casual discussions.
By creating a variety of meeting spaces, from small rooms for one-on-one conversations to larger rooms for group collaboration, the office can cater to all types of communication needs, enhancing teamwork and productivity.
5. Sustainable Design: Building for the FutureSustainability is at the heart of every design we create. For this office project, we focused on reducing the environmental footprint through the use of energy-efficient systems, eco-friendly materials, and plenty of natural light to reduce the need for artificial lighting. Not only does this help reduce costs, but it also creates a healthier, more pleasant working environment.
The importance of a sustainable workspace can’t be overstated – it’s about future-proofing your business and ensuring the health and well-being of employees. Sustainable design also aligns with the growing demand from employees and clients alike for businesses to be environmentally responsible.
6. Moving Beyond the Home Office: Reclaiming WorkspaceWith the rise of remote work, many employees have been confined to makeshift home offices, often finding themselves working from cramped kitchen tables or spare rooms. While working from home has its benefits, it can also lead to isolation, discomfort, and a lack of work-life separation.
Our office designs aim to provide a compelling alternative – a workspace that not only draws people out of their home offices but also entices them back into a collaborative, creative environment. By creating spaces where employees feel comfortable, inspired, and part of a community, businesses can maximise productivity and employee satisfaction.

At JLK Architects, we are passionate about designing office spaces that are more than just places to work – they are places where people can thrive, innovate, and connect. From open-plan layouts to breakout areas, eating spaces, meeting rooms, and sustainable designs, every detail is carefully considered to create an environment that balances work with well-being.
Interested in seeing more of our commercial architecture work?
Explore our portfolio here: https://www.jlkarchitecturaldesign.com/commercial_projects.html

We’re thrilled to announce that JLK Architects has officially joined The Green Register! 🎉🌍
Sustainability has always been at the heart of our work, and becoming a member of The Green Register marks a significant step in our continued professional development. For over two decades, The Green Register has been dedicated to advancing sustainable building practices through expert training and knowledge-sharing.
By aligning with The Green Register, we are deepening our commitment to enhancing the sustainability of both commercial and residential buildings. Their focus on quality, healthy buildings, natural materials, and energy-efficient methodologies resonates with our mission to reduce environmental impact and promote green design.
We’re excited to apply these insights to our projects and continue our journey towards creating a more sustainable built environment. Thank you for supporting our efforts to make a positive impact! 💚
#JLKArchitects #TheGreenRegister #SustainableDesign #EcoFriendly #GreenBuilding #Architecture

​🌿 In today's world of hybrid working, many businesses are downsizing their office spaces. This means that the spaces that remain need to work even harder to meet the commercial needs of the business while supporting the well-being of their teams.
At JLK Architects we believe that office spaces should have a positive impact on the mental and physical health of everyone using them. That's why we take the time to truly understand the unique needs of our clients and design spaces that reflect their company values.
Whether it’s promoting collaboration, ensuring accessibility, or creating a calming environment, a well-thought-out office space can make all the difference. 💼✨
#OfficeDesign #WellbeingAtWork #InclusiveSpaces #HybridWork #AccessibleDesign #EmployeeWellbeing #OfficeInteriors #WorkplaceWellness