Decks and Outdoor Living Kooyong
Kooyong Backyards,
Brought to Life
Decks, pergolas and alfresco areas in Kooyong and across Melbourne for over 20 years. Family-run, clear pricing, built to last.
Your Kooyong Outdoor Space, Done Properly
At Smarter Home Renovations, we’ve been crafting decks and outdoor living spaces in Kooyong and throughout Melbourne for over 20 years. Since 2002, our family-run business has helped homeowners unlock the full potential of their backyards, creating stylish, functional and inviting spaces for relaxing, entertaining and enjoying the outdoors.
What Our Clients Say
5.0 out of 5 stars, based on 25 reviews
Love our new deck!
“My experience with Smarter Home Renovations has been very positive. I love that it is a family business. Tony and Milan work together very well. They are professional, polite, considerate, they work really hard and they do a great job! I am very happy with their work and highly recommend them.”
Kitchen and outdoor renovations
“Fantastic service and fantastic price. We had our outdoor area fully tiled and our kitchen renovated. They talked me through the process step by step, did what they promised in the time they promised, were always on time and so very friendly. They even went out of their way with additional extras, running around Melbourne buying everything I needed to take the pressure off me. Would recommend you give them a try. The pricing is very reasonable and affordable, and nothing was too big for them to do. Father and son service, fantastic team.”
Outstanding Customer Service
“Absolute pleasure dealing with Tony and his team. His customer service was without a doubt, outstanding! Punctual, always on time, workmanship could not be faulted. He delivered on what he promised and on time. We would not hesitate recommending his services!”
Outdoor Living in Kooyong Homes
Kooyong’s Federation and interwar homes sit on blocks ranging from generous detached lots with established gardens to narrower sites behind semi-detached pairs. Period homes tend to have a formal front garden and a rear garden that isn’t well connected to the living areas, and mature trees are common along the streets and in backyards.
Outdoor projects here usually involve building terraces and decks off rear living rooms, adding roofed outdoor rooms with kitchens and heating, decking and landscaping around pools, and working around mature trees. Decks and roofed structures often need a building permit, and heritage or tree controls may apply, so we confirm the requirements with the City of Stonnington before starting.
Kooyong at a Glance
- Postcode
- Kooyong VIC 3144
- Council
- City of Stonnington
- From the CBD
- About 7 km south-east
- Typical Homes
- Federation houses
- Interwar houses and semi-detached pairs
- Interwar apartment blocks
- Newer townhouses
- Property Market
- Median unit price$916,000
- Unit rent$950 a week
Source: CoreLogic via Your Investment Property, prices to July 2026, rents to September 2026
Before You Start
Planning a Deck or Outdoor Room in Kooyong
Design
Linking Rear Rooms to the Garden
In many Kooyong period homes, the rear rooms open onto a narrow back verandah with steps down to the lawn. A deck or terrace at floor level, reached through new French or stacking doors, turns the garden into part of the living space. Changes at the back of a heritage house are generally easier to support than changes at the front.
Permits
Roofed Outdoor Rooms
A pergola with a solid or louvred roof, an outdoor kitchen and heaters make a Kooyong deck usable for most of the year. Roofed structures generally need a building permit, and in the Kooyong heritage precinct a structure visible from the street may need a planning permit too. Gas and electrical work for heating and lighting is done by our licensed trades.
Trees
Significant Trees
Stonnington’s General Local Law protects significant trees on private land, and works within a tree’s protection zone, including excavation for footings, generally need a Tree Works Permit. Mature trees are common in Kooyong gardens, so we locate them early, site footings to avoid major roots and involve an arborist where the deck comes close.
Pools
Pool Surrounds
Decking around a pool in a Kooyong garden needs boards that stay cool and grip when wet, gaps that drain and a frame that copes with splashed pool water. Pool barriers must comply with Victorian safety rules, and new decking near the fence can affect the barrier, so we plan both together and check steps and climbable objects near the fence.
Access
Narrow Yards Behind Pairs
Behind Kooyong’s semi-detached pairs the backyard may be reached only through the house or along a narrow side path. Materials for a deck or pergola are carried through by hand, and a skip may need a permit to sit on the street. We check access at the site visit and plan deliveries so neighbours on a shared path aren’t blocked.
Get a Free Outdoor Space Estimate in Kooyong
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your Kooyong 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 Decks and Outdoor Living in Kooyong
Decks & Decking
Hardwood, spotted gum, merbau or composite decking, designed to your site's specific conditions, council requirements, and your personal style.
Pergolas & Roof Systems
Freestanding and attached pergolas, louvred roof systems, and shade sails, giving you a covered outdoor space you can use year-round.
Alfresco & Patio Areas
Concreted, paved or tiled alfresco areas integrated with your home, designed to complement your architecture and maximise usable space.
Outdoor Kitchens & BBQ
Built-in BBQ benches, outdoor sinks, bar fridges and cabinetry: everything you need to make entertaining in your backyard effortless.
Privacy Screens & Fencing
Timber battens, steel screens and feature walls that give you privacy from neighbours without sacrificing the look of your outdoor space.
Lighting & Electrical
Deck lighting, downlights under pergolas, weatherproof power points and garden lighting, all installed by licensed electricians.
Your Kooyong Outdoor Space 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.
Decks and Outdoor Living In and Around Kooyong
Kooyong (3144) is about 7 km south-east of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We build decks, pergolas and outdoor living areas in Kooyong and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Decks and Outdoor Living MelbourneDo I need a permit for a deck or pergola in Kooyong?
Generally, a building permit is needed for decks more than 800 mm above the ground or attached to the house, and for many roofed pergolas and verandahs. In the Kooyong heritage precinct, structures visible from the street may also need a planning permit from the City of Stonnington. We confirm both before work starts.
Can a deck be built around the trees in our Kooyong garden?
Usually, yes. Decks can be cut around trunks, raised on footings placed between major roots, or shaped to keep clear of the root zone. Where a tree is protected, works close to it may need a council permit and an arborist’s report. We plan the deck shape around your trees rather than removing them.
What decking boards suit a period home in Kooyong?
Hardwood such as spotted gum or blackbutt suits Federation and interwar homes and can be oiled to a warm finish, while composite boards need less maintenance. Stone or brick paving can also suit the terrace closest to the house. We bring samples so you can see them against your brickwork and paint colours.
What outdoor work helps before selling a Kooyong home?
A tidy, usable garden helps buyers picture how they would live in a Kooyong home. Repairing or oiling an existing deck, fixing loose balustrades, pruning, refreshing garden beds and checking that the pool barrier complies are useful before listing. A new roofed outdoor room involves permits and lead time, so it is better planned when you intend to stay.
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.