Gloucestershire home improvements guide

Whether you’ve recently moved into a new house or have finally got around to doing work on your property, our Gloucestershire home improvements guide is designed to give you a helping hand, whatever size of project you’re undertaking.

From fabulous fabrics to gorgeous gardens, this handy guide features top suppliers from across Gloucestershire who can bring your renovation and home improvement ideas to life.

Gloucestershire curtains, blinds and shutters

Just Fabrics

The lowdown

With 25 years’ experience supplying fabrics and crafting beautiful creations from its shops in the Cotswolds, Just Fabrics, ironically, sells so much more than just fabrics! Providing a made to measure service for bespoke blinds, curtains, cushions, furniture and upholstery, Just Fabrics is a haven for creatives searching for the perfect fabric to accompany a room or furniture redesign.

What’s on offer

One of the country’s leading independent designer fabric retailers, Just Fabrics stocks thousands of meters of fabric in a range of textures and designs, with some designer styles available at discounted prices. Its team of experienced staff can offer industry insight into the latest design trends, personalised advice on what will work best for your home, and inspiration for those still planning a project.

SoGlos loves

Both of Just Fabrics’ stores are conveniently located in Cheltenham and Burford, and are open seven days per week with free parking. Each store’s in-house design team provides friendly customer service to help customers achieve their design dreams, no matter their style or budget.

For more information

Call (01242) 388 390, or visit justfabrics.co.uk.

Gloucestershire construction

Simon Watts Joinery

The lowdown

With over 80 years' combined knowledge and experience, Simon Watts Joinery uses traditional methods to craft bespoke pieces for homes across Gloucestershire, including windows and doors of all shapes and sizes, luxury staircases, custom-made kitchens, boot rooms and more. The team of specialist craftsmen help clients to design and create individual pieces which are totally unique to them.

What’s on offer

Simon Watts Joinery provides excellent care and attention to detail when it comes to transforming a home, offering quality solutions from efficient and long lasting bespoke windows and doors, to elegant staircases which can seriously enhance the aesthetics of a property. 

The expert team are on hand to take clients through the journey from start to finish, ensuring that they are receiving the best bespoke items suited to their space. Once items have been designed and crafted, clients can choose a colour and finish to their specification. 

SoGlos loves

Not only does the company create beautiful and bespoke items, but it also promotes an eco-friendly approach to crafting, recycling over 70 per cent of its timber waste. Simon Watts Joinery's timber is of the highest quality and comes from sustainable sources which are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved. What's more, the business has even replanted 500 trees in a bid to help offset CO2e emissions. 

For more information

Call (01386) 765429 or visit simonwattsjoinery.co.uk.

Gloucestershire furniture

Cotswood Fine Furniture

The lowdown

With more than 30 years' experience, Cotswood Fine Furniture in Blockley near Moreton-in-Marsh is a bespoke furniture maker that prides itself on quality, flexible service and functional design, creating fitted furniture to the highest standard for all rooms in the home, from somewhere stylish to stash those pots and pans in the kitchen to that beautiful extra wardrobe space or bookcase you’ve always wanted.

What’s on offer

Cotswood Fine Furniture creates bespoke fitted furniture for a whole host of rooms in your home, including kitchens, bedrooms, home studies and more. The small business creates all of its timber components in its workshop and uses real timber veneers, rather than photo foil-backed materials or chipboard.

What’s more, the company uses the latest technology to provide CAD images and relevant samples to give an accurate, honest and stress-free quote. Cotswood Fine Furniture also works closely with a dedicated interior design company.

SoGlos loves

When creating the perfect piece of furniture, Cotswood Fine Furniture will visit customers at home to get a feel for what they’re looking for, as well as their personal taste and style. The company also works closely with its clients, giving them as much - or as little - design and practical input as they’d like, to ensure every piece is made to their exact specifications.

For more information

Call (01386) 700110, email enquiries@cotswood.com, or visit cotswood.com.

Gloucestershire gardens

The Fairview Gardener

The lowdown

Described as ‘a centre for gardeners, not a garden centre,’ The Fairview Gardener in Birdwood, near Gloucester, offers a wide range of quality plants and gardening equipment, as well as expert advice that’s been helping budding gardeners transform their outside spaces since 2009. Customers can also find trinkets, homeware and decorations in the gift shop, as well as a cup of tea and slice of cake at the on-site tearoom, which serves a whole host of delicious meals.

What’s on offer

The independent garden centre is run by horticultural experts, growing all its bedding plants on site, while also stocking a range of herbaceous perennials; shrubs; trees; soft and top fruit; herbs; roses; seasonal plants; and made-to-order hanging baskets. Visitors can pick up a handpicked selection of gardening essentials too, including outdoor pots and terracotta, seeds, grow-your-own products, compost and stone ornaments.

SoGlos loves

The Fairview Gardener’s design team can help with every aspect of garden redevelopment, from planting and patios to full landscaping projects – taking care of design, construction and even maintenance. Owner, Glenn Satterthwaite specialises in landscape gardening and often gives talks and workshops on everything from garden design to allotments and organic gardening.

For more information

Visit fairviewgardener.co.uk.

Shades of Comfort

The lowdown

Based in Gloucester, Shades of Comfort was established in 2005, initially providing outdoor solutions to coincide with the smoking ban affecting pubs and restaurants. Since then, it has expanded into products like giant umbrellas, garden and patio furniture for companies such as St Austell Brewery’s, Young’s and Costa Coffee – as well as homeowners.

What’s on offer

From site surveys, design and installation to retractable roofs, giant umbrellas and other outdoor solutions, Shades of Comfort offers customers from all market sectors – including domestic – the right tools and products to make the most of their outside space.

With weather often an issue in the UK – due to it being too hot, or more commonly, raining – Shades of Comfort offers solutions to take this stress away. Domestic awnings, retractable roof systems and parasols are the company’s speciality, with its products allowing clients to dine alfresco, entertain company and spend quality time with family and friends outdoors.

SoGlos loves

Alongside the ability to customise the look of each product with a wide range of colour options to choose from, Shades of Comfort offers an all-encompassing, hassle-free supply and install service, so customers can sit back and relax, knowing they’re in capable hands.

For more information

Call (01452) 307999 or visit shadesofcomfort.com.

Gloucestershire carpets, rugs and flooring

Gloucester Carpet Outlet

The lowdown

With a showroom based in Gloucester that is open six days a week, Gloucester Carpet Outlet is considered Gloucestershire's number one independent carpet and flooring company. Offering a whole range of services including both commercial and domestic flooring, it is a go-to when it comes to renovating your house or business premises.

What’s on offer

Whether it’s a change of carpet, some luxury vinyl, stylish laminate or real wood flooring, Gloucester Carpet Outlet has a wide range on offer that’s bound to have the perfect floor for your home improvement project. Gloucester Carpet Outlet is also the only store in the area with FITA accredited fitters, so buyers can rest assured that its independent industry accredited team will do a 'top notch and hassle-free' job every time.

What's more, it also offers artificial grass that’s ideal for the garden, patio, terrace or balcony – so you can give your outdoor space a spruce up too.

SoGlos loves

Gloucester Carpet Outlet offers free estimates as well as the chance to calculate how much flooring will cost through its online cost calculator – where customers are able to select the width and length of their flooring to retrieve a personalised estimate.

For more information 

Call (01452) 413513 or visit gloucestercarpetoutlet.co.uk.