Home Renovations Hawthorn
Hawthorn Homes,
Reimagined
Complete home renovations in Hawthorn and across Melbourne for over 20 years, from a single room to the whole house. Family-run, fixed pricing, no hidden costs.
Your Hawthorn Home, Done Properly
Hi, I’m Tony Simonovski, owner and founder of our family-run business, Smarter Home Renovations. Established in early 2002, we have over 20 years of professional experience in carpentry, construction, design and home renovations in Hawthorn.
What Our Clients Say
5.0 out of 5 stars, based on 25 reviews
Exceptional service at reasonable prices!
“We can't recommend Tony and his team enough and we're very grateful for their service. From the onset of the quote, Tony was very professional and clear about what was included. The team were prompt, tidy and the quality of the workmanship was excellent. We will definitely be using Tony and the team again for future renovations.”
Great Experience
“I really can't say enough good things about Smarter Home Renovations! Tony and Milan were wonderful to deal with. They explained every detail of the process and were very responsive with the questions I had along the way. Their attention to detail was outstanding and they really worked hard to make it a great experience for me. Workmanship was great quality, their work ethic was solid and presentation was very professional. I'm extremely pleased with my renovations and would not hesitate to recommend their workmanship. Thanks again.”
Professional all the way
“We initially talked to Smarter Home Renovations due to their reputation and experience. Plus we were referred to them through someone who had already updated their laundry and they were rapt. Tony was personable, a good listener and made sure he understood our needs. He was very flexible in negotiations, ensuring a win-win outcome. The team were highly professional and excellent communicators making sure the work was completed on schedule and to budget. We now have an attractive and spacious family home which we have no intention of leaving! My wife and I would not hesitate to recommend Tony from Smarter Home Renovations.”
Renovating Homes in Hawthorn
Hawthorn is an established inner eastern suburb of substantial Victorian and Edwardian homes, interwar flats and apartments, with leafy streets rising east from the Yarra River and running down to Gardiners Creek. Many of the period homes have grand front rooms, high ceilings and ornate details, but also dated rear additions, cold interiors and too few bathrooms.
That shapes most of our Hawthorn home renovations: restoring period features in the front of the house, replacing old rear additions with open living spaces, adding upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, and improving insulation, glazing and heating in large older homes. Large parts of Hawthorn are covered by heritage overlays, so we plan for planning permits with the City of Boroondara and organise building permits before work begins.
Hawthorn at a Glance
- Postcode
- Hawthorn VIC 3122
- Council
- City of Boroondara
- From the CBD
- About 7 km east
- Typical Homes
- Victorian and Edwardian homes
- Interwar and art deco flats
- Apartments
- Townhouses
- Property Market
- Median house price$2,632,500
- Median unit price$572,500
- House rent$1,100 a week
- Unit rent$570 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 Hawthorn Home Renovation
Heritage
Precincts and Heritage Grading
Hawthorn has many heritage precincts, such as Grace Park and Hawthorn Grove, Glenferrie Hill and the Leslie Street precinct, along with individually listed houses. Properties within them are graded, and the grading shapes what Boroondara will accept for demolition, extensions and fences. We check your property’s overlay and grading before design starts.
Timing
Allowing Time for Planning Permits
In Boroondara’s Heritage Overlay, demolition, construction and extensions generally need a planning permit, and the assessment considers the significance of the house and street. That adds time before building can begin, so we build it into the program and prepare drawings that address the heritage policy from the start.
Structure
Upper Levels on Period Homes
Adding bedrooms upstairs is common on Hawthorn’s larger blocks, but heritage policy usually expects a second storey to be set well back so the original roof form still reads from the street. Overlooking and overshadowing of neighbours also need addressing. These factors shape the design more than the floor area you want.
Materials
Restoring the Front Rooms
Victorian and Edwardian houses in Hawthorn often keep ornate ceilings, marble fireplaces, timber joinery, leadlight and tessellated verandahs. Restoring these while rebuilding the back of the house is a common approach. Repairs that match the original materials are generally welcome under heritage policy and preserve the value of the home.
Heating
Comfort in Large Old Houses
High ceilings, solid brick walls, open fireplaces and single glazed windows make many Hawthorn homes hard to heat. Ceiling insulation, sealing chimneys and floors, secondary glazing on heritage windows and efficient zoned heating improve comfort without changing the street appearance. In a Heritage Overlay these changes generally sit well with council, as the front of the house stays as it was.
Get a Free Home Estimate in Hawthorn
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your Hawthorn 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 Home Renovations in Hawthorn
Living Areas & Open Plan
Knock out walls, open up floor plans, upgrade flooring and lighting, transforming how your family uses the heart of your home.
Extensions & Additions
Need more space? We design and build home extensions that integrate seamlessly with your existing structure, inside and out.
Flooring & Finishes
Timber, tiles, polished concrete or carpet; we supply and install quality flooring, paired with painting and plastering to match.
Built-In Joinery
Custom wardrobes, entertainment units, bookshelves and storage walls, built to your exact dimensions and finished to a high standard.
Electrical & Lighting
Updated power points, new light fittings, downlights, dimmer switches and data cabling, all by licensed electricians.
Painting & Plastering
Interior and exterior painting, skim coating, patching and full repaint, finished with precision and cleaned up completely.
Your Hawthorn Home 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.
Home Renovations In and Around Hawthorn
Hawthorn (3122) is about 7 km east of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We renovate homes in Hawthorn and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Home Renovations MelbourneNearby suburbs we service
How can I tell if my Hawthorn home is in a Heritage Overlay?
Search your address on VicPlan, which shows planning overlays. Boroondara also publishes heritage citations for precincts and individual places, which describe the property’s grading. Large parts of Hawthorn are covered. We check this for you at the start, because it affects what can be demolished, extended or changed.
Can I add a second storey to my Hawthorn period home?
In many cases, yes, but it usually needs a planning permit in a Heritage Overlay and careful design. Council generally looks for an upper level set back from the front, with materials and scale that do not dominate the original house. We look at your block, grading and neighbours before suggesting an approach.
Can I demolish an old rear addition in Hawthorn?
Often, as later rear additions are usually less significant than the original house. In a Heritage Overlay, demolition generally still needs a planning permit, and council will consider what is being removed. We review your property’s heritage citation to see what it describes as significant.
What does a heritage renovation in Hawthorn involve before building starts?
Usually a measured survey, design drawings that respond to Boroondara’s heritage policy, a planning permit and then a building permit. Some projects also need engineering or a heritage advisor’s input. We give you a detailed fixed-price written quote for the building work once the scope is clear.
What should I prioritise when preparing a Hawthorn home for sale or lease?
In Hawthorn’s substantial period homes, the high ceilings, ornate details and front rooms are the selling points, while cold interiors and tired rear additions are the weak spots. Repairing plaster, roofs, gutters and wiring, improving heating, and refreshing the wet areas usually come before any redesign. For a lease, safe wiring, working smoke alarms and reliable heating matter most. Heritage overlay permits take time, so don’t start external changes close to listing.
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.