The Atrium at Furnishing Futures – A Vision Brought to Life
I’ve met some pretty impressive women in my time, but none beat this one.
Last night I was invited to a different kind of opening event. One that left a BIG impression on me.
I went to the opening of The Atrium, by the charity Furnishing Futures.
Furnishing Futures is the brainchild of Emily Wheeler, whom I met right at the very start of her journey at Top Drawer. A mutual friend introduced us. I remember sitting in the press office as she told me all about her big ideas of creating a social enterprise that would help women rebuild their lives after domestic abuse. Once she’d shared how these women, who leave with very little, are given housing that literally doesn’t have flooring. No beds, no curtains or privacy. They can’t even make a cup of tea. I couldn’t believe it. How are people supposed to get back up on their feet when they don’t even have a mattress on the floor for them and their kids to sleep on. They have nothing and they’ve fleed for their lives!
Emily wanted to create homes for these women so they could start living their lives again. At the time, I thought, I can find some beautiful old furniture, give it an EmmaMT style painted upcycle, and send it her way to help furnish a few homes. But what she had planned was on another level entirely.
Emily’s background is in both social work and interior styling, which gives her a unique perspective. She’s seen first-hand what happens when women move into new housing with nothing more than four bare walls. Her solution was to combine design with care to create healing homes that offer not just furniture, but dignity, safety and a sense of belonging.
She’s also tackling one of our industry’s biggest issues: waste. Furnishing Futures rescues beautiful, usable furniture and homewares from heading to landfill, giving them a new purpose and helping people who need it most.
The Atrium: A New Kind of Space
The Atrium, based in Leyton, East London, is the new headquarters for Furnishing Futures and it’s incredible. It’s not just a shop. It’s part showroom, part community hub, part movement – and it smells wonderful.
When I walked in, I was greeted by beautifully curated homewares and furniture that wouldn’t look out of place in any high-end editorial shoot. There’s the most beautiful Soho Home furniture and accessories, a whole wall with Cowshed products and diffusers, and pieces donated by top interiors brands. It’s stylish, calm, and full of heart.
Brands like Soho Home, Cowshed, and many others have come together to support Emily’s vision, and you can feel that collective energy in the space.
The Atrium will also host events, workshops and panels covering everything from sustainability and design to wellness and social change. It’s a place to shop consciously, learn, share ideas, and be part of something bigger.
See upcoming events
Why This Feels So Special
When I first met Emily at Top Drawer, I knew she was phenomenal — but standing in The Atrium last night, I realised just how much she’s achieved. She’s taken that seed of an idea and built a movement. An incredible charity
During the evening, many of the women who’ve supported Emily and Furnishing Futures from the very beginning stood up so she could thank them. And then one woman was one of the very first recipients of a Furnishing Futures home stood infront of all the guests and shared her story.
It was harrowing and disturbing and so upsetting to hear what she had been through, but at the same time, it was absolutely incredible. We saw a woman who had been at her wit’s end, with no hope, transform into a confident, successful young woman with a bright future ahead of her and her daughter.
She was so brave to stand up and share what she’d experienced, and I felt genuinely honoured to have been there to hear her story and see the real, tangible impact of what Furnishing Futures does.
As stylists, designers and interior professionals, we often talk about creating beautiful spaces. What Emily has done is use design to change lives. It’s thoughtful, sustainable and genuinely transformative.
How You Can Help
Furnishing Futures thrives on collaboration. Whether you’re part of the interiors world or simply someone who wants to make a difference, there are so many ways to get involved:
- Stylists & brands: forward products from shoots
We all know how often beautiful items end up with no home after a shoot. Instead of storing or returning them, send them to Furnishing Futures where they’ll be put to meaningful use. Please contact them before sending items. - Run a workshop or event
The Atrium is available as a space for talks, creative sessions, and community events. Whether it’s styling, making, business skills, or wellness – your expertise can help raise funds and build connections. - Visit The Atrium and shop consciously
Every purchase supports the charity’s work, and you’ll find gorgeous, thoughtfully curated pieces for your own home. - Spread the word
Share Furnishing Futures with friends, colleagues and communities. Follow, tag, and talk about them. Awareness helps keep the momentum going. - Forgo the Christmas cards
Why not make a donation to Furnishing futures instead of sending Christmas cards this year.
Find out more about Furnishing Futures
Visit The Atrium
Emily has built something truly extraordinary. I knew she was special when I met her all those years ago at Top Drawer but standing in The Atrium last night, I realised just how far she’s taken this vision.
It’s thoughtful, powerful and genuinely life-changing.
I left feeling inspired, proud, and completely in awe.
Donate now!
