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.

Top Tips for Reducing Background Noise at Home

Home » Blog » Top Tips for Reducing Background Noise at Home

With more of us working from the comfort of our sofas, beds and kitchen tables, we’re probably more aware of background noise in and around our homes than ever before. The monotonous hum of the refrigerator, the perpetual droning of road traffic, and those odd unexplainable thumps and bumps can all act as distractions; not to mention the interference from other people sharing the space. Particularly loud noises can also affect other colleagues when on a call or delivering a presentation, so it’s important not to ignore the problem.

If you’ve been spending lots of time working from home during the past few years, you may have mastered your own techniques to ignore the common noises associated with home life. But if you’re still struggling to contend with these potential distractions, consider our top tips to help you stay focused on the task at hand.

Talk to Other Family Members

If there are multiple people in your home during the day, a first port of call could be to talk to them about the noise levels. Perhaps your partner often has the radio turned up too loud, or a housemate is constantly crashing pots and pans about in the kitchen. For everyone, working from home comes with a certain level of compromise. Have these discussions around keeping the noise down during working hours, and you’ll be able to be more productive in your remote role, whilst also alleviating friction between household members.

Relocate to a Quieter Area of the Home

If you have the space to trial different rooms as a remote office, experiment with various parts of the home to find the quietest space. Perhaps that’s in the living room that’s furthest away from a partner who spends all day on calls, or in a bedroom at the opposite end of the home to the kitchen. Some areas will naturally create more noise than others throughout the course of the day, so setting up your remote office in a quieter spot will go a long way towards cutting out lots of the background noise you hear.

Noise-Proof Your Home

Some noise nuisances are impossible to avoid. Many external sources of noise such as car engines, planes, construction work and passers-by can all add to the problems caused by internal sounds within the household. As a result, it can be helpful to take the necessary steps to noise-proof your home as best you can. There are many different ways you can help to reduce extraneous noise from entering your home, both by making small changes to its interior design, and through more large-scale DIY projects.

Small fixes that can help include things like closing the doors, using heavier curtains and moving furniture to partially block noise coming from a specific area. If you have the wherewithal and the resources to make more permanent changes, you should look to seal any cracks in the walls, and replace old windows to add double or triple-glazing. Both of these things will not only help to keep your home nice and quiet, but they’ll also help to stop the warmth escaping, making your home office an all-round more pleasant place to work.

In Summary

These are just a few of the things you can do to help maintain optimal conditions for productive work in your home. Even if you are working from home just part-time, it’s important to address any issues with noise, to ensure the quality of your work isn’t affected when in a remote setting.

Top Tips for Reducing Background Noise at Home

Talk to Other Family Members

Relocate to a Quieter Area of the Home

Noise-Proof Your Home

In Summary

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