Home Renovations Prahran
Prahran Homes,
Reimagined
Complete home renovations in Prahran and across Melbourne for over 20 years, from a single room to the whole house. Family-run, fixed pricing, no hidden costs.
Your Prahran 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 Prahran.
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 Prahran
Prahran is close to Chapel Street and the Prahran Market, and its housing ranges from Victorian terraces and cottages to apartment buildings and modern townhouses. Many period homes have narrow footprints, shared walls and older rear additions that feel dark and cramped compared with the rest of the house, and there is rarely room to build out any further at the back.
Typical projects here replace old rear additions with open living spaces, add upstairs rooms set back from the street, restore period details such as fireplaces and ceilings, and improve insulation and heating. Much of Prahran is covered by heritage controls, so the City of Stonnington often requires a planning permit for external changes, and we plan for tight access and shared walls.
Prahran at a Glance
- Postcode
- Prahran VIC 3181
- Council
- City of Stonnington
- From the CBD
- About 5 km south-east
- Typical Homes
- Victorian terraces
- Workers’ cottages
- Apartments
- Townhouses
- Property Market
- Median house price$1,625,000
- Median unit price$502,500
- House rent$900 a week
- Unit rent$595 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 Prahran Home Renovation
Neighbours
Party Walls and Neighbours
Many Prahran terraces and cottages share a wall with the house next door. Work on or near it, such as new footings or a second storey, may need protection work notices and the neighbour’s involvement under Victoria’s building regulations. We identify this early so it doesn’t hold up the building permit.
Heritage
Workers’ Cottage Precincts
Prahran’s heritage overlays include streets of small nineteenth century workers’ housing, such as the Bowen Street precinct, and the Wrights Terrace precinct of 1880s rows. Changes visible from the street, including roofing, windows, front fences and in some cases paint, may need a planning permit. We check your property’s overlay before design.
Planning
Upstairs Additions on Small Lots
With little room to build out at the back, many Prahran owners look at adding a level. In heritage areas, council usually expects the addition to sit well behind the front rooms so the cottage still reads as single storey from the street. Overlooking of tight neighbouring courtyards is also assessed, so we check what is likely before detailed drawings.
Access
Laneways and Site Access
Prahran has many laneways behind its cottages, which can give access for deliveries, skips and trades. Where there is no lane, materials come through the house or over the front fence, and a skip bin on the street may need a council permit. We plan site access before quoting, since it affects both time and cost.
Asbestos
Postwar Additions and Asbestos
Rear additions, bathrooms and laundries added to Prahran cottages between the 1950s and 1980s may contain asbestos cement sheeting. Suspect material is tested before demolition, and larger amounts must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. Testing is allowed for in the written quote so it doesn’t come as a surprise.
Energy
Insulating Old Cottages
Prahran cottages often have little or no insulation, single glazing and gaps around windows and floors. Ceiling and underfloor insulation, sealing old chimneys and double-glazed rear doors improve comfort a great deal. In a heritage overlay the front windows usually stay as they are, so secondary glazing on the inside is an option.
Get a Free Home Estimate in Prahran
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your Prahran 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 Prahran
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 Prahran 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.
Our Work Near Prahran
Home Renovations In and Around Prahran
Prahran (3181) is about 5 km south-east of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We renovate homes in Prahran and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Home Renovations MelbourneNearby suburbs we service
Can I add a second storey to my Prahran cottage?
Often, but it depends on the heritage overlay, the zone and the neighbours. Council will usually want the original cottage to stay the dominant form from the street. On small Prahran lots, overshadowing and overlooking of neighbouring courtyards are assessed carefully. We check the controls before you commit to drawings.
What happens with the shared wall when I renovate my Prahran terrace?
If work affects a party wall, such as underpinning, new footings or fixing a new structure to it, the building regulations may require protection work notices to your neighbour. A building surveyor decides what is needed. We identify this at the design stage so it can be dealt with before construction starts.
Can we stay in our Prahran home during a renovation?
It depends on the work. Narrow Prahran cottages don’t leave much room to separate living areas from the building work, so for a rear extension or full rewiring, moving out is often easier. For smaller projects, we close off the work area and keep a clear path through the house.
Do Prahran heritage overlays control paint colours?
Only for some properties. Stonnington’s heritage overlay schedule lists whether external paint controls apply to each place or precinct. Where they don’t, repainting generally doesn’t need a planning permit. We check the schedule for your address before suggesting colours for the front of the house.
Should I fix up my Prahran cottage before selling, or sell as is?
Buyers of Prahran cottages often weigh up location, light and the courtyard as much as finishes, and some plan their own renovation. A pre-sale building inspection shows what a buyer’s inspector is likely to find, such as rising damp or roof leaks, so you can decide what to fix. Anything needing a heritage permit is best left to the next owner.
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.