In this sponsored post, “CityNews” gets tips from home improvement experts who know how to turn a space into something to love.

WITH many people cosying up inside to stay out of Canberra’s frosty winter, now’s a perfect time to think about how to make the home an even more comfortable space. Whether it’s getting a new carpet, adding some designer furniture, or renovating the bathroom, kitchen or bedroom, “CityNews” has the insights from Canberra’s passionate home improvement experts.

Window furnishing store opens northside

DOLLAR Curtains and Blinds is excited to announce the opening of its newest flagship store in Belconnen, says marketing manager Danielle Crosby.

One of more than 30 stores operating nationally, Danielle says they have the country’s largest range of curtains, blinds, shutters and awnings that are all Australian-made.

“Our large range can be viewed at our Belconnen or Fyshwick stores,” she says.

“You can go in and feel the fabric samples, see all colourways and experience the large-scale size of what the products will look like.

“We are unique in that we offer full length curtain samples that you can borrow and try at home and we also offer a free design, measure and quote service.”

Danielle says their window coverings can provide privacy, light and climate control, security, and increase the aesthetic of the home.

“Our cellular blinds save up to 32 per cent more on heating and cooling costs compared to a standard roller blind,” she says.

“The unique cell construction makes it difficult for heat energy to transfer in and out of the window, providing superior insulation properties.”

Suitable for unique window sizes and shapes such as skylights, Danielle says the cellular blinds fabrics are available in blockout, translucent or both and provide a child safe solution.

Dollar Curtains and Blinds, 1 Luxton Street, Belconnen (call 6255 5291) and 135 Newcastle Street, Fyshwick (call 6280 9272). Visit dollarcurtainsandblinds.com.au

Professionals in building dream homes

WHETHER someone’s looking to extend a home, renovate an existing property or build a new home, Sentra Constructions Canberra will work with them to achieve the home they’ve been looking for, says director Rodney Thornton.

“We don’t just give you a quote, we can assist with [the] custom designing of homes; from first home buyers and investors through to families building their ideal home,” says Rodney.

“If you already have your plans we can provide accurate, honest and detailed prices for your build.”

Rodney, who personally manages each project, says Sentra pride themselves on their customer service.

“You will always be dealing directly with the builder,” he says.

“We offer expert advice on design, form and function, to achieve the right solution for you in a cost effective manner.”

He says they also have professional, experienced, and reliable tradespeople who provide high standards of quality workmanship.

“You can expect professional and courteous service from initial stages to completion,” he says.

“With 20 years’ experience we only work with the best architects and project managers to ensure a hassle-free building service for your dream home in the Canberra region.”

Sentra Constructions, call 0413 650833 or visit sentra.com.au

Gear that keeps people safe on the job

WHEN working on the home, Seears Workwear has the equipment to help get the job done safely, says owner Pat Seears.

“We have a large range of harnesses, respirators and we have tonnes of eye safety equipment,” he says.

“On top of that there’s also a large range of work boots, high-visibility clothing and outdoor equipment.”

Pat, who runs the business with his son, Shane, says the Seears Workwear team is backed with more than 90 years’ combined industry experience and has been providing quality work clothes to the region for more than three decades.

“Everything is the best quality from the best manufacturers,” he says.

“Our team is always 100 per cent keen to give people a hand with what they’re looking for, whether that’s for a home project or for work.”

Pat also says they’ve recently extended the store’s floor space to cater for its largest range of winter workwear stock ever – the biggest in the region.

Located on Barrier Street, he says their stock includes safety work boots, leather shoes and steel-toed canvas shoes, from brands such as Puma, Rockport and Dunlop.

Seears Workwear also has stores in NSW and Queensland, and Pat says they deliver all over the country.

Seears Workwear, 60 Barrier Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4111 or visit seearsworkwear.com.au

Quality office chairs that sell fast

IN these times of working from home, Ex-Government Furniture co-owner James Fullerton says they have a range of quality and affordable home office furniture to help people get organised.

“Office chairs are certainly the number one thing at the moment and we’re expecting a lot of new ones coming through this week that will sell fast,” says James.

“Whether it’s working from home part time or full time, what we’ve seen is people are pretty over sitting at the dining table for work and a good office chair makes a huge difference.”

James says they also have a range of desks, sitting and standing, to help people with their home office setups.

But it’s only the start of Ex-Government Furniture’s range of items that can improve the home, with James saying the business, a leading dealer in surplus office furniture, always has something interesting coming through the door.

“We’ve got a whole bunch of comfy couches and lounges at the moment,” he says.

“Now’s also the time to get in quick for outdoor furniture as we move towards the warmer months with lots of pieces that are perfect for entertaining.”

And if people have something specific in mind that’s not available in store, James says the team can help track it down.

“Send us an email with what you’re looking for and if something comes up we’ll give you a call,” he says.

Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6490, visit exgovfurniture.com or email sales@exgovfurniture.com

Recycling wood into something beautiful

THE passionate team at Thor’s Hammer design and make a wide range of architectural products, joinery and furniture pieces from recycled Australian hardwoods in their local Canberra workshop, says owner Thor Diesendorf.

“We reclaim our timbers from historic buildings, wharves, and factory demolition sites around Australia,” he says.

“For example, when making posts and beams we use timber from old bridges and telegraph poles.”

Thor says it was from a very young age that he was inspired to work with timber.

“My grandad was an engineer and his hobby was making furniture for the house and he had this amazing workshop,” says Thor.

“I think that’s a big part of where my passion came from, a passion that would eventually become Thor’s Hammer, which has been operating for over 25 years.”

Offering products such as bench tops, cladding, decking, doors, tables, and furniture, Thor says sustainability and hands-on making is at the core of what they do.

“Recycled Australian hardwoods are an amazing resource,” he says.

“We aim to show our respect for these timbers by designing products and pieces that are both practical and beautiful.”

Thor’s Hammer, 10 Mildura Street, Griffith. Call 6282 9900, email hammer@thors.com.au or visit thors.com.au

Carpets to keep the home warm

HOODS Carpet Court has an extensive range of wool carpets that are great for warmth underfoot and extra comfort during the colder months, says sales manager Alison Bray.

“Wool carpets are a great humidity regulator and are naturally good for the indoor environment,” she says.

“Wool fibre can absorb up to 30 per cent of its weight in moisture without feeling damp. It then releases the moisture back into the air.”

Having been a family-owned and operated business for more than four decades, Alison says they offer a wide range of carpets (not only wool carpets) and resilient flooring from Australia’s leading manufacturers and suppliers.

With stores in Fyshwick and Phillip, she says that Hoods Carpet Court is the perfect destination for updating or replacing carpet.

“Carpet layers believe carpet should be replaced about every 10 years,” she says.

“It’s a great idea to replace or update carpets to reduce the amount of dust and dirt not always visible.”

Hoods Carpet Court, 76 Barrier Street, Fyshwick (call 6280 5703) and Hindmarsh Drive, Phillip (call 6285 1888). Visit carpetcourt.com.au

Renovate for top sale results

FOR people thinking about selling their home, co-founding director of Your Property Profits Kim Persson says their stress-free home renovations get people the best sale results.

“We can help with all aspects of a renovation with our strategic team of tradespeople, stylists, real estate experts, photographers and more,” she says.

“We know the market and we know what sells. Clients can sit back while we focus on maximising the results for their property.”

Kim says the Canberra market is “crazy” at the moment, and they’ve seen some “incredible” sales results following their renovations.

“A recent property we did in Downer got a $240,000 uplift with an $86,000 spend,” she says.

“We’ve also been thrilled that we’ve managed to break the sales records for Fadden and Hall village.”

Kim also says that clients don’t need to worry about any up-front cost, as the renovating team front the cost of clients who then pay after the property has sold.

“We work to budget and timeframe, whether it’s minor repairs or major renovations, all costs are pushed back to settlement,” says Kim.

“We can take the keys, organise the cleaning, styling and get it ready for the market.

“It’s so rewarding to help people get the best possible sale.”

Your Property Profits, call 1800 225597, visit yourpropertyprofits.com.au or email hello@yourpropertyprofits.com.au

Furniture restorations that focus on detail

FROM antique heirlooms to modern club lounges and TV recliners, Ebsworth Upholstery can assist with any furniture restoration or re-upholstery project, says office manager Robyn Ebsworth.

Robyn operates the business with her husband Mark, a skilled upholsterer with more than 16 years of experience, and together she says they work with designers, timber restorers, metal fabricators and frame makers to deliver attention to detail that’s second to none.

“We often have customers with furniture that once belonged to their grandparents that’s been passed down through generations,” says Robyn.

“When it’s restored for them, there can be a real emotional response. “These heirlooms are often a way to remember loved ones.”

It’s just one of the valued services that Ebsworth Upholstery offers, says Robyn.

“We’ve got one of the biggest fabric libraries in Canberra that includes soft furnishings, fabrics, upholstery and drapery, and customers can come and purchase fabrics for their own projects through that library as well,” she says.

“We have an interior designer whose services are free that can help you select your fabrics too.”

They’re also proud to offer custom-made furniture, with the building process all done here in Australia, she says.

“With us, customers can add their own style and flair to their furniture, something you can’t get at the large furniture retailers,” she says.

Ebsworth Upholstery, unit 4, 1 Alumina Street, Beard. Call 0434 982708, email mark@ebsworthupholstery.com.au or visit ebsworthupholstery.com.au

Building bathrooms with confidence

BEING one of the oldest bathroom companies in the region, the community can be confident that The Bathroom Company knows how to do renovations well, says owner Andrew Finn.

Established in 1993, Andrew says they’ve become quite “embedded in Canberra”.

“We’re bricks and mortar and that gives people confidence,” he says.

“Our team are specialists in bathrooms, and sit down with clients to listen to what they want in order to design the bathroom they want.”

Offering a smart, stylish and stress-free experience, Andrew says they can help with all decisions, from colour to tiles and baths.

He also says clients will only have to deal with one staff member who will help them through the whole project.

“We offer a complementary shopping service with our designer to assist in selecting the client’s tiles and bathroom fixtures,” he says.

“We also provide a complementary clean by a professional cleaner as a standard inclusion for every bathroom.”

The Bathroom Company can also custom-make vanities, is available to do stone work, and can incorporate modern modicums like LED shower lighting or full-body showers, says Andrew.

Their designs complement the home, he says, including designs such as art deco.

The Bathroom Company, 7 Murray Crescent, Manuka. Call 0418 628693, email quotes@bathroomcompany.com.au or visit bathroomcompany.com.au

Experts in comprehensive surveys

SHAW Surveys is committed to providing professional survey services to not only the individual consumer, but also to government authorities, civil engineers, developers, solicitors, architects, builders and real estate agents, says director Jim Shaw.

“Part of getting approval from the government to build or extend the home requires an accurate measuring and position of things on the block and that’s where we come in,” says Jim.

“We offer comprehensive surveying services and have expertise in all facets of land and property surveying to make sure you’re not building too high or big.

“There’s also certain solar envelopes that have to be measured so you don’t block the sun from the neighbours and we can assist with that too.”

It was Jim’s father that started the business in 1982 as P.J. Shaw & Associates, says Jim.

More than three decades later, Jim and his sister Sarah became the directors of the business in 2019 and renamed the business to Shaw Surveys.

“We’re a very proud family business,” he says.

“We are dedicated to providing solutions for builders and property owners that will ensure minimal disruption to your operations and maximise the value of your investment.

“Our consultants are always happy to discuss your requirements with you.”

Shaw Surveys, 4/10 Kennedy Street, Kingston. Call 6260 7002 or visit pjshawsurveyors.com.au

Three ‘must-haves’ for home renovation

THERE are three “must-haves” when it comes to a great home renovation, says the principal designer and director of MMM Interiors, Mimmi Freebody.

“These [include] great spatial design, extensive product knowledge to suit the project and an experienced renovation building team to implement the design,” she says.

With three decades of experience in the industry, Mimmi says the team at MMM Interiors offer each of these.

“Our exceptional, award-winning spatial design [work] focuses on renovation [and] working with existing spaces,” she says.

“We have in-depth product and market knowledge. [We work] with major suppliers, importers and manufacturers in Australia as well as top local bespoke fabricators.

“Our project management, together with our specialist building teams that all work in the renovation field only, can ensure a top quality finish.”

Mimmi says they offer a free initial consultation by appointment in their showroom, which has an extensive display of products to choose from.

“We’ll discuss your project and go through the three ‘must-haves’,” she says.

MMM Interiors, 61 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 9980 or visit mmminteriors.com.au