Expert hands to refresh the home and garden

“CityNews” talks with the Canberra experts of home improvements. These happy helpers ensure that all home decor, renovation and gardening needs are covered, without breaking the bank or a sweat.

Home is where the heart is, so why not take the best care of it as possible.

But, it can be hard to know where to start, so in this feature “CityNews” talks with the Canberra experts of home improvements.

Where bathroom renovations are all about quality

“In general, what sells a house is the bathroom and kitchen,” says Jayde Thomson, in-house designer at The Bathroom Company.

“When people go and buy a new house that’s the first room that they look at, so when you go to renovate a house that’s the first place to start.”

Jayde says the idea that customers have to spend a lot of money to make renovations beautiful is a misconception, and that it is all about quality.

She says that owner Andrew Finn has been running The Bathroom Company since 1994, so customers can be assured quality is consistent.

“The Bathroom Company is also probably one of the only companies that has an in-house designer,” she says.

As the in-house designer, Jayde is able to provide customers with floor plans, 3D renders, mood-boards and accompanies them on shopping trips.

“It’s less daunting than just going out by yourself and getting overwhelmed by the amount of product that is out there,” she says.

“The fact that it is complimentary is a big deal, it helps the client know what they’re going to get and lock in their decisions with confidence.

“The customer can relax and know the job is going to be done the exact way they want it.”

Jayde says that until June 30, the first quote, which is free of charge, will also be inclusive of a free design consultation, so that customers can discuss design and construction before locking anything in.

The Bathroom Company. Call 0418 628693, email or visit

Elevate the home with ease

Kim Persson, founder of Renovation Matters, has turned her passion for renovations into a thriving business.

“If you’re entering a new phase of life and considering downsizing, let Renovation Matters take the stress out of the process,” says Kim.

“Renovation Matters can assist with your accessibility enhancements, including the installation of shower rails and seats and the removal of shower hobs, ensuring your home meets your evolving needs.”

In addition to accessibility renovations, Kim says her and her team offer services such as decluttering, rubbish removal, landscaping, gardening, painting, flooring, and the installation of new bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, windows, and window furnishings.

They also provide comprehensive cleaning services, she says.

“We use trusted tradesmen to strategically renovate your home and maximise its sale price,” Kim says.

Renovation Matters also offers financing for improvements until settlement, ensuring a stress-free renovation journey.

“We manage your property until settlement, helping you present it at its best for sale,” she says.

“Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation today!”

Renovation Matters. Call Kim on 0427 696662, or visit

Items to revitalise the living room

Ex-Government Furniture owners James Fullerton and Taylor Radnell have 50 years of experience between them in working with secondhand furniture, says James, and the business itself has been operating for more than three decades.

Well recognised in Canberra, James says the Ex-Government Furniture team can help those looking to revamp their living areas.

“We’ve got a bunch of cool blue lounge chairs, at a cheap price,” says James.

“We’ve got some cool dining-style tables as well, coffee tables that kind of thing, and stools coming in, too.

“A lot of cool, homely stuff at the moment.”

James says they also have a wide range of home office chairs in great designs, as opposed to the traditional black office chairs.

Ex-Government Furniture is a staple of Fyshwick, says James, with interesting items and objects spanning a wide variety of time periods, budgets and designer styles.

He says they can provide furniture and accessories to help personalise any space.

“There’s a huge range and we can work with customers to their budget,” he says.

Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6490 or visit

Cold weather doesn’t mean no garden

Owner of Cool Country Natives, Karen Brien, says one of the main questions they are getting at the moment is whether it is too late to plant, and she says the answer is always no, as long as the plant is not frost sensitive.

“You can plant frost-hardy plants right through winter,” says Karen.

“The ground doesn’t cool down for about six weeks after we get our first decent frost, but that just means plants slow down, it doesn’t mean they’re going to die if they’re frost-hardy.”

She says that there are many benefits to planting in winter too, like less watering in the summer, as the plant is already established.

“We have a short spring typically, and if you plant in springtime, usually, if we heat up and get dry, you’re watering all summer just to keep them alive,” Karen says.

Most of the stock at Cool Country Natives is frost-hardy, Karen says, and the team at Cool Country Natives will always notify customers if they are buying a non frost-hardy plant.

“Anything we see in your trolley, or that you put up on the counter, if it needs anything different to just putting it in the ground, we will let you know before you take it,” she says.

Cool Country Natives, 5A Beltana Road, Pialligo. Call 6257 6666, or visit

Window solution for energy efficient homes

Windotek manufactures, supplies and installs uPVC, double-glazed windows and doors to maximise home energy efficiency, says director Yu Tee.

With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, Yu says customers can rely on Windotek for the best quality and service.

“We don’t do single glazes, it’s all double glazed in order to reduce noise and also improve energy efficiency and reduce the cost of bills,” he says.

“Customers go to us because their existing homes have single-glazed windows and they’re complaining about the noise and also particularly about the loss of heat.

“And in summer, it’s getting smelting hot inside, it’s an imbalance of ambient temperature and comfort.”

Most of Windotek’s customer base is homeowners, Yu says, but they also do supply and installation work for new builds.

As of this year, Yu says building codes and regulations require all housing efficiency should be more than seven stars, which Windotek can assure.

Also, all the manufacturing at Windotek is done locally, says Yu, meaning they can be flexible with design and aesthetics, making sure the work suits exactly what the customer wants.

Windotek, 13 Bedford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 0451 727517 or visit