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.

Q&A With Helen Sanderson

Home » Blog » Q&A With Helen Sanderson

Helen Sanderson is a renowned interior designer, artist and decluttering expert. She has recently joined forces with Empatika to deliver an exclusive interior design and organisation service, created to make sure clients get the most of their fitted furniture. Here she answers some questions about her work, inspiration and interest in all things mindful.

When did you realise you had a talent for interior design and decluttering spaces?

My father owned a fabric business, so I used to play with the samples in the boot of his car when I was a child! I think when you grow up with something like that it becomes second nature to you, so colours, fabrics and designs are in my blood and I am happiest when I have some paint, materials or tiles to play with. Not only that, I really appreciate order and harmony and I think this is one of the fabulous things about artists and designers – they bring aesthetics into our lives, help us to see the world differently and enhance it with beauty. That is what I am great at doing.

The decluttering came later in life. I had a friend who had a lovely big house, but one room was full of junk that he had accumulated over the years. It was his dump/junk room – where he put things he didn’t want to make a decision about or deal with. I told him I could help, as intuitively I knew I could. I was good at sorting out my own stuff – I got a buzz from it and it energized me, so I knew he would feel good after we cleared the room together. This is where I began developing my simple step by step process; ever since then I have used it over and over with a diverse range of clients with great results.

You have studied intensively within the fine arts, integrative arts and psychotherapy. How has this influenced your work?

The arts have formed the foundation of my life really, and understanding design principles and aesthetics is essential for anyone working within art and design. I was always fascinated in the cultural influences of the time, and how current culture influenced the psychology of the artists producing the work. When I was studying at art college I remember being so inspired by the art movements, but even more by the ‘why’ in an artist’s work; a piece of art was a response to the world around them. To me creating quiet rooms is a response to the world we live in today; a very fast paced, noisy and demanding world, where we have forgotten how to slow down, rest and press pause.

As I said earlier, art, design, beauty and aesthetics are in my blood and I find people interesting. I like to understand why people are as they are, why someone is stuck and how I can help, hence my training in psychotherapy. Understanding the needs and feelings of the people I work with is so important to the job, and clients tell me that this is one of the most valued things I offer. I think that we have been conditioned to believe that we should sort everything out alone, whereas I think as humans we thrive better with support and understanding, with empathy, understanding and companionship. This is what I offer clients about to undertake a big decluttering project.

You have helped small clients in domestic homes and worked on large scale commercial projects for the NHS and The Guardian. What has been your favourite space to transform?

I love the variety of working with the personal space of an individual client and the public space of the larger organisation. To me our outer space is a reflection of our inner space so getting your space sorted will give you greater clarity of mind. Equally a beautiful calming and uplifting space helps us to centre, reconnect and still the mind to gain greater clarity. This is why I work with both as I know the inner and outer are so deeply connected and it is so important that we make space for our humanness – in private (at home) in addition to in public (at work or out shopping etc).

In today’s hectic world, people have so little time for themselves that they dismiss the need for calm and stillness. How do you persuade people to let peace into their lives?

This is an interesting question! I don’t really have to convince anyone, as the people who request my services have realised the need for it already. People know they need calm, they come to me for help and tell me they want more peace of mind. The clutter that we have in our space, we carry around in our head all day; there’s a constant nag telling you to do something about it and yet there is usually a blockage, an obstacle that stops someone letting go. I help people work through that, and it’s a very results based process. We can talk about clutter all day, but I am interested in clearing it physically. I know once it is gone, anything is possible.

With regards to the workplaces, companies know that their staff, their human capital, needs to be nurtured and that a clear mind is a more productive mind. That is why “mindfulness” has become so popular today, especially as our minds are constantly being bombarded with technology, noise and marketing. We all know that our minds need some care and attention, just as much as our bodies do. I hope that companies recognise the need for a ‘mind space’ as much as a ‘body gym’, sooner rather than later. When the mind is given space and calm, it is actually much better at problem solving than it is when it is constantly under pressure or demand.

You have recently teamed up with Empatika, who deliver a boutique fitted furniture service. Why is it essential for people to have the appropriate storage space in their homes in order to declutter?

If people don’t have adequate storage, then the clutter soon builds up again and all the hard work was for nothing. Clearing is one thing, but putting away is another. Clients often cite the adage, “A place for everything and everything in its place” and that is what they long for and aspire to. A great storage facility makes that possible. Individuals come to me for these main reasons:

They have too much stuff
They feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, or they have tried and just create a mess and get disillusioned
They live in an old house with little or poor storage facilities

Often when I work with people they do so well to let go of things, but then we find we have a pile and nowhere to put it. This is where Empatika comes in. The team are very people-focused and will create something that fits in with the quirky corners of most properties, at the same time accommodating the needs of their clients’ personalities and lifestyles. We recently worked with a couple of publishers, and their house was full of hundreds of books! After decluttering the space Empatika put up some great shelving units for them. Their flat looked so stylish; the change from a student pad to a professional’s home was impressive. It was lovely!

I am so pleased about this partnership, as now I know that the right solution for my clients is just a phone call away and that they will receive the best service and good quality results – something that is custom built for them and won’t fall down or wobble like the cheaper alternatives do. I love the results Empatika create; clean, stylish and functional. Perfect!