Bathroom Renovations St Kilda
St Kilda Bathrooms,
Done Beautifully
Delivering exceptional bathroom renovations in St Kilda and across Melbourne for over 20 years. Family-run, fixed pricing, no hidden costs.
Your St Kilda Bathroom, Done Properly
At Smarter Home Renovations, we have been delivering exceptional bathroom renovations in St Kilda for over 20 years. Established in early 2002, our family-run business is proud to provide friendly, fast, fair, and efficient home renovation services throughout metropolitan Melbourne.
What Our Clients Say
5.0 out of 5 stars, based on 25 reviews
Powder room & laundry into a small bathroom
“We are delighted with our new bathroom. Tony made the entire process very easy for us, which is what you want when renovating. Nothing was too much trouble and he was very patient with all our questions and provided great advice on the design and installation. The workmanship was of high quality and the quote was highly competitive. Highly recommend Tony and his team!”
Bathroom renovations: stressless and wonderful
“Thank you, Tony and your team, for a stressless and wonderful bathroom renovation. Our 4-year-old townhouse bathroom and ensuite showers had serious leakage issues, with water leaking into the walls and between floors. The builder was happy to silicone the problem as a solution. The only options were to replace the showers, or a full renovation for both rooms. We chose the latter. Tony provided a competitive quote. Despite the inevitable out-of-square bathroom issues, the job was completed without stress, on-time and in budget, and the finish was fabulous. And square. We are now looking at a kitchen update. Tony, find some time. Highly recommend Tony and the team.”
Wow! Now that's a bathroom
“In such difficult times we were so grateful that we picked Tony and his crew to renovate our bathroom. His knowledge of the industry and his attention to detail is second to none. Tony was always easy to contact and happy to discuss any issues. The standard of workmanship was outstanding. We love our new bathroom!”
Renovating Bathrooms in St Kilda Homes
St Kilda is dominated by apartments, from 1920s and 1930s mansion flats to 1960s walk-ups and modern blocks near Fitzroy Street and Acland Street. Bathrooms in the older flats are often small and windowless, with original tiles, a bath under the shower and worn grout, while the Victorian and Edwardian houses on quieter streets usually have a single bathroom added at the back.
Bathroom work in St Kilda often means reworking small apartment bathrooms with walk-in showers, wall-hung fittings and mirrored storage, upgrading waterproofing and exhaust, and adding ensuites to period houses. In flats, every change is planned around the building’s plumbing stacks. We work with your owners corporation on access, noise and approvals, and check heritage controls with the City of Port Phillip where external changes are involved.
St Kilda at a Glance
- Postcode
- St Kilda VIC 3182
- Council
- City of Port Phillip
- From the CBD
- About 6 km south
- Typical Homes
- Apartments and flats
- Victorian and Edwardian homes
- Art Deco mansion flats
- Terraces and townhouses
- Property Market
- Median house price$1,422,500
- Median unit price$510,000
- House rent$900 a week
- Unit rent$550 a week
Source: CoreLogic via Your Investment Property, prices to July 2026, rents to September 2026
Before You Start
What to Plan For in a St Kilda Bathroom
Ventilation
Windowless Bathrooms in Mansion Flats
In St Kilda’s 1920s and 1930s mansion flats, bathrooms were often tucked into the middle of the plan, lit by a light well or with no window at all. A ducted exhaust fan with a run to the outside, sometimes through the ceiling and then an external wall, is usually needed. The duct route often needs owners corporation approval as well.
Plumbing
Bathrooms in Converted Mansions
Some St Kilda flats are in Victorian mansions that were divided into flats or rooming houses from the 1890s onwards, with bathrooms added in former bedrooms or enclosed verandahs. Pipes can run in unexpected places and floors may not be level. We trace the existing waste and supply lines first, and design the layout around where drainage can actually reach.
Structure
Concrete Floors in Post-War Walk-Ups
St Kilda’s 1950s to 1970s walk-up flats usually have concrete floors between levels, so moving a shower or toilet can mean cutting into a slab shared with the flat below. Many owners corporations restrict this. Keeping fixtures near their existing positions is often the simplest route, with new tiles, fittings and waterproofing to the Australian Standard.
Apartments
Work Hours and Noise in a Busy Block
Tile removal and demolition are noisy, and in a St Kilda block with shared walls the neighbours hear all of it. Most owners corporations set work hours and may require notice to residents and protection for lifts, stairwells and entry foyers. We schedule the noisiest work inside the allowed hours and keep common areas clean each day.
Design
Ensuites in Victorian and Edwardian Houses
St Kilda’s period houses were built with one bathroom, usually at the rear. Adding an ensuite generally means taking space from a bedroom or a wide hallway, which works best when new plumbing can run under the timber floor. Original cornices, ceiling roses and skirtings are worth keeping, so we plan the walls and services around them.
Asbestos
Fibre Cement Behind Old Tiles
Bathrooms in St Kilda walk-ups from the 1950s to the 1980s were often lined with fibre cement sheet behind the tiles or in the ceiling, and that sheet may contain asbestos. We check suspect sheeting before any tiles come off. Where there is more than a small amount, a licensed asbestos removalist takes it out before our work continues.
Get a Free Bathroom Estimate in St Kilda
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your St Kilda home.
- 1Tell us about your project
Two quick steps. It takes about two minutes.
- 2We call you back
Tony will be in touch within one business day to talk through your ideas.
- 3Free on-site consultation
We visit, measure up and listen to how you want the space to work.
- 4Fixed-price quote
A detailed, itemised quote. What we quote is what you pay.
No obligation, no pressure
Family-run since 2002. Your estimate is free and your details are never shared with third parties.
Your Bathroom Renovations in St Kilda
Waterproofing
Applied by licensed trades to the Australian Standard for wet areas, and checked before a single tile goes down.
Tiling & Feature Walls
Floor and wall tiling, niches and feature walls, set out carefully so cuts and grout lines look right.
Vanities & Storage
Wall-hung or floor-standing vanities, mirror cabinets and recessed shelving that make the most of the space.
Showers & Baths
Walk-in showers, frameless screens, freestanding or built-in baths, chosen to suit your layout and routine.
Plumbing & Tapware
Licensed plumbers handle rough-in, drainage and fit-off, with tapware and toilets installed to manufacturer specs.
Lighting & Ventilation
LED lighting, heated towel rails and an exhaust fan ducted outside to keep moisture and mould under control.
Your St Kilda Bathroom in 5 Steps
Meet & Greet
We get to know you and your specific needs. And you find out more about us to make sure we are a good fit.
Consult & Design
We ask lots of questions to understand your ideal outcome for your project. We discuss layout, budget, colours and more.
Quote
A comprehensive quotation outlining all the details, costs and timelines to complete your project.
Construct & Manage
Time to get to work with all our suppliers and trades to construct your project and deliver it as promised.
Deliver
We strive to deliver your project on time and on budget. We believe in 100% customer satisfaction from start to finish.
Bathroom Projects
Bathroom Renovations In and Around St Kilda
St Kilda (3182) is about 6 km south of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We renovate bathrooms in St Kilda and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Bathroom Renovations MelbourneNearby suburbs we service
Can you renovate a bathroom in a St Kilda flat without moving the plumbing?
Yes, and it is often the easiest route in St Kilda’s older blocks. Keeping the shower, toilet and basin near their current positions avoids cutting into shared slabs or stacks. A new layout within those limits, such as replacing the bath with a walk-in shower, can still change how the room looks and works.
What will my St Kilda owners corporation ask for before a bathroom renovation?
Usually a description of the work, plans showing any plumbing changes, the contractor’s insurance and licence details, and agreed work hours. Some owners corporations also ask for waterproofing details, because leaks affect flats below. We prepare these, and after the work we provide the plumbing compliance certificate and Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Does a St Kilda heritage overlay affect my bathroom?
Rarely for the inside. Heritage overlays in St Kilda, such as the St Kilda Hill precinct, mainly control external changes. A new window, an exhaust vent on the street facade or an extension to fit a bathroom may need a planning permit from the City of Port Phillip. Interior work in a house or flat generally does not.
How long will my St Kilda apartment bathroom take?
Most bathrooms take 2 to 4 weeks. In an apartment, owners corporation work hours, lift bookings and delivery access can add time. Older mansion flats can also hide surprises, such as uneven floors or old galvanised pipes, which we discuss with you as soon as they are found.
Should I renovate the bathroom before selling my St Kilda apartment?
St Kilda has a large stock of similar interwar and post-war flats, so buyers can easily compare bathrooms. Mould, cracked grout or a leaking shower can put people off more than an older style does. Repairing the waterproofing, improving the exhaust and replacing tired fittings is often enough. Allow time for owners corporation approval before you list.
Ready to Start Your Renovation?
No matter the project, our team has the right solution. Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation quote, and let's get your renovation underway.