Do you provide free quotes?

Yes, if you want we can give you an estimate or a quote if we have enough detail, just email us at info@empatlka.com some rough dimensions and a sketch and ideally some pictures of the area you have in mind and you will get a quote very quickly by email. If you are happy with the estimate then we can come and visit you when it suits you and talk in detail.

How reliable are your carpenters?

We are very reliable, stick to start times and days agreed, we do what we say we will do, we turn up on time every day in order not disrupt your schedule. And we are there throughout the job, not disappearing for one day to do something else.

Do you provide drawings?

Yes once we receive your deposit, we provide you with a hand drawn from scratch 3D computer scale drawing precise to the millimetre for you to check how it looks and to see if you are happy with the dimensions. If you like you can make any changes until the drawing is perfect.

How do I know you will do a good job?

Before I buy anything I read reviews so I suggest you do the same, we have over 100 independent testimonials on the internet. Please have a look at our testimonial page to see what our clients say about us

You call or email us, we asses your needs and give you an estimate or quote, then we arrange a time to come round and visit you, ask you more questions in detail to find out exactly what you would like, listen very carefully to your ideas and offer design ideas and solutions to best use your space and needs. We go away, email you a final quote. Once you decide to go ahead, we take a small deposit, then send you the drawings, once you have agreed the drawing we can book your place in the diary and we agree a start date. We then turn up with the materials and tools and build your units, then once built we paint them or oil them. Then once we are totally finished and you are delighted, only then do you pay us the balance, lastly if you feel testimonials have helped you choose us, please help us keep them fresh and leave us a testimonial here: https://plus.google.com/101927655300158702077/about?hl=en&review=1

Are you going to make a big mess in our house?

We understand that your home is precious and we do everything we can to make sure we leave it in the state we found it. All our materials are cut to size by a specialist cutting company before being delivered to your home, so minimal cutting is required onsite, even then we cover and protect the floors, cover your furniture with plastic sheets, use dust extractors connected directly to power tools, we even use a fine dust and chemical extractor for really sensitive areas, this is well over the top but we like to do the very best we can and offer the best service, and when the work is all finished we take all our rubbish away and give your place a clean.

What materials and finishes do you offer?

Our units are built of quality Medite FSC certified MDF wood then painted, or made of wood veneer we can oil or use matt water based clear varnish, and also melamine coated wood as typically found in kitchen units. We are also pioneering research in alternative healthier eco friendlier materials, we are the first UK fitted furniture company to use UK sourced strawboard which is totally natural and bound with no glues at all to make our bespoke furniture, we can build your units out of formaldehyde free MDF too, we also use recycled plastic sheeting for decorative purposes with lighting behind and recycled glass as well as many other sustainable materials and finishes to find out more please see our eco page.

Do you paint the units and what colours do you offer?

Yes, we use the best quality professional waterbased DULUX and Farrow and Ball eggshell semi matt white paint . If you would like the eco option using more natural paints please see our environment page. We mostly use white but can paint any colour you like (If you would like to paint your fitted furniture we can offer you free advice).

Do you spray the units and do high gloss?

We can arrange to spray the doors and outside visible parts and make the internal carcass of a white or other colour melamine coated laminate.

Are your charges transparent?

All charges are stated in advance in the final quote, you know what you will pay from the start, everything is listed in the quote. Only handles are optional and to be supplied by you or us, also parking is extra, so they are priced separately. All of which is clearly stated in your quote.

Does your service represent value?

For the quality of service we offer from beginning to end we offer outstanding value, we take great pride in producing only the best bespoke furniture that you will be proud to own for years to come, we offer a 2 year guarantee on our work, we are endorsed by various independent certification bodies, we take customer service very seriously, we understand that there is more to producing furniture than wood and screws, your total satisfaction is our number one priority, but don’t take our word for us see what our clients say.

How flexible are you once the work has started if something needs changing?

Our craftsmen all speak good English and have a great deal of skill and will do everything they can if you feel that something needs adapting, for example you change your mind about how many shelves you want, or the spacing between them, then if it is possible we will do what we can to please you, either free of charge or at extra cost depending on what it is.

Can you fix stuff in my home?

Yes if you need anything fixing in your home while we are there making your fitted furniture, if we can do it we will help you out. I like to offer a service that I would like to use myself so for such things as hanging pictures, fixing doors that don’t close and generally anything wood related tell us when we come to measure up for your fitted furniture.

Do you use real wood?

We use real wood veneers or plastic laminates that look like wood but not generally solid wood, we work with close associates who use solid wood, just ask us for contacts.

We don’t do bathrooms but if we are already working in your house doing other fitted furniture, we will consider any storage you would like for your bathroom.

I have sockets where I want my fitted furniture how will you deal with this?

If you have an electrical, phone or TV areal socket that is ok as we can cut a hole in the back so you can still access them, we can move electrical sockets around if they haven’t got far to go. Phone sockets we can more if there is enough spare wire.

Do you make kitchens?

No we don’t make kitchens but sometimes can make units that go in your kitchen such as a bookcase.

Odd Superstitions in the Home

Home » Blog » Odd Superstitions in the Home

Most households will have unspoken rules that are adhered to by all who live there. Where one family may never dream of entering the home with their shoes on, another may insist that all meals are eaten at the dinner table, rather than in front of the television. Where these rules are practical and help to make sure that the daily routine runs more smoothly, across the globe there are other ‘rules’ that have a more spiritual purpose.

Here we have rounded up some of the most interesting and unusual superstitions from around the world, with ways in which you can incorporate these beliefs into your own home!

Cats First

Although a dog is a man’s best friend, cats are certainly coming up a close second as England is fast becoming a feline friendly nation! As well as being fun to play with and great to cuddle, having a pet cat could bring more to a home than you think. In Russia, whenever a new house is bought it is customary to let the pet cat enter first, before anyone else. Doing so can bring peace and happiness to anyone who lives there, as Domovoy, a protective house spirit is believed to ride on the cats back as they take the first steps into the home.

If you are moving home but don’t have a feline friend to welcome in Domovoy, why not find a stylish ornament of a cat, to match your decoration, and place it above or beside your door.

cat

Pineapples for Prosperity

Pineapples have been a popular motif in home design in recent years, adorning bedsheets, vases, cushions and more with their fun and fruity shape. Whilst in England we love this pattern as it reminds us of far off tropical paradises, in Singapore, pineapples are favoured as they are believed to bring financial gain!

In Hokkien, a widely spoken Chinese dialect, the word for pineapple is ‘ong lai’, which sounds very similar to the phrase ‘incoming fortune’. Rather than letting the cat enter first, many Southeast Asian countries roll a pineapple, hoping the incoming fortune as suggested in its name will also enter too. To add some prosperity to your home, we love the abundance of stylised pineapple homewares that are available to buy, such as this toned down lamp with a pineapple base.

Pineapple Base

No use crying over Broken Dishes

Smashing plates or glasses is a common folk tradition at Greek weddings, or other celebratory occasions. Within the home however, if a plate is broken it can be a messy and embarrassing affair, especially if it is mums best china!

For Russian homes, broken plates are considered to convey happiness and it is in fact considered to be good luck. The reasons for this are unclear, but it is suggested that this meaning was created as a way for guests to avoid embarrassment and the host to avoid getting upset at a feast if a dish or glass was accidentally broken. Historically, for a peasant to have a porcelain plate it would be considered a luxury item, so having a delicate plate in the first place could also by why there are no hard feelings if it was to break.

As well as bringing happiness, a broken dish can be used to create a beautiful mosaic tiled effect that can be incorporated into the home as a standout and interesting feature. Why not head to a jumble sale or a charity shop to find some interesting painted plates to smash up and rearrange into a stunning mosaic wall.

Whether you believe in them or not, taking inspiration from these global superstitions can be a fun way to add interesting features into your household. Will you be trying any of these out next time you update your home decoration?

Odd Superstitions in the Home

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