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.

Storage Inspiration: Tiny Home Offices

Home » Blog » Storage Inspiration: Tiny Home Offices

Many homes now require a home office – whether it’s used as a working office or a study room, or simply somewhere to store the printer and check emails. However not all homes are blessed with the extra space needed to create a home office room. However, with a bit of creativity and expert fitted furniture design, you can construct an office absolutely anywhere.

Most homeowners transform a spare bedroom into a home office, but for many even that is a struggle with space. A lot of homes these days have that one small room which is so tiny, it’s difficult to turn into anything useful at all. Here at Empatika we say any room with a corner can be successfully converted into a home office. Read on for some of our storage hack and design tips for tiny offices.

Where to work?

Perhaps you live in a one bed apartment and can’t think of anywhere suitable where a desk can fit. Maybe you have lots of space in the conservatory but don’t have the plug points needed so it’s not a practical office space. Every homeowner will face their own issues when tackling the first hurdle – deciding where the office will be.

Here are some other things to consider:

Is it quiet and comfortable, and somewhere where you won’t be constantly disturbed?
What is the lighting in the area like – will it interfere with screens, is it not bright enough?
Can you keep the office door closed at weekends? It’s important to not let your living space encroach your office space and vice versa.

We’ve built home offices in all sorts of spaces, so don’t worry if you have don’t have a full room to convert. It could be the corner or a dining room, a conservatory, at the end of a bookcase or even in a dormant hallway. All you really need is a length of wall to build a desk and the required storage such as draws, shelves or cabinets.

The above office was created in a walkway to make better use of space. It has a desk which expands across three walls and appropriate shelving and draws for storage, with space for a radiator. The Empatika team can design fitted furniture around any of your home’s features.

Creating an Efficient and Calm Space

You won’t be able to work productively unless you have a clear, practical space which you have control over. The beauty of having fitted furniture rather than a mass produced desk is that you can design it from scratch. Do you prefer draws on the left and shelves on the right? No problem – it’s your working space, have it your way. Our furniture designers can also work with you to suggest ideas and show you how best to utilise space and ways of hiding unnecessary equipment and files when not in use. Our storage hacks will help you keep your workspace neat and tidy, so you can be more productive.

Another thing to consider to make sure a workspace looks clear and clutter-free is equipment and its accompanying cables. Just a computer, printer and tablet charger can leave wires dangling all over the place, causing hazards and spoiling the calm, clear desk. Designing your desk from scratch means the designers can work out where everything will be, so they can fit holes into the desk where needed for cables to disappear into their plug sockets out of sight.

Lighting

In very small spaces, it may be so tight that you can’t even fit in a lamp on your desk. Again this isn’t a problem if you opt for fitted furniture, as you can choose to have lights integrated within it. This will free up even more office space and give a minimalistic look, with all wires hidden.

When space is tight, it really does pay to invest in bespoke office furniture. You’ll be presented with lots of space-saving options and you can choose what works best for you. Speak to a member of our team today to discuss your new London home office.

Storage Inspiration: Tiny Home Offices

Where to work?

Creating an Efficient and Calm Space

Lighting

Why Bespoke Furniture Is Getting More Popular

Top Tips for Reducing Background Noise at Home

Autumnal Interiors: How To Refresh Your Home on a Budget