Home Renovations St Kilda
St Kilda Homes,
Reimagined
Complete home renovations in St Kilda and across Melbourne for over 20 years, from a single room to the whole house. Family-run, fixed pricing, no hidden costs.
Your St Kilda 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 St Kilda.
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 St Kilda
Large parts of St Kilda sit within heritage areas, with grand Victorian and Edwardian houses, terrace rows and interwar mansion flats close to the beach. Many larger homes were once divided into flats, and many apartments have layouts that haven’t changed in decades, with small kitchens and separate living rooms.
Projects here range from restoring period houses while reworking the rear for open living, to reconfiguring apartments for a better flow, repairing render, timber and plaster, and upgrading insulation, glazing and services. External changes in heritage areas usually need a planning permit from the City of Port Phillip, and apartment work goes through your owners corporation, so we plan approvals into the schedule from the start.
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
Before You Renovate a Home in St Kilda
Heritage
The St Kilda Hill Precinct
The St Kilda Hill heritage precinct (HO5) covers the area roughly between Fitzroy Street, Barkly Street, Carlisle Street and the bay, with grand Victorian houses, terraces and some of Melbourne’s early flats. Extensions, demolition and visible external changes there generally need a planning permit, and council looks closely at roof forms, materials and front fences.
Permits
Victorian Heritage Register Buildings
A few St Kilda buildings, such as Summerland Mansions on Fitzroy Street, are on the Victorian Heritage Register. For these, some work, including certain internal changes, may need a permit from Heritage Victoria as well as council approval. Owners of apartments in registered buildings should check before planning a renovation.
Materials
Render, Parapets and Mouldings
Many St Kilda mansions and interwar flats have rendered facades with cornices, parapets and mouldings that crack or become drummy over time, helped along by sea air. Repairs should use compatible render mixes rather than hard cement patches that can trap moisture. Some heritage places also have external paint controls, so colour changes are checked first.
Layout
Reconfiguring Apartment Layouts
Many St Kilda apartments still have a separate kitchen, a small dining room and a long hallway. Reworking walls can create open living, but structure, shared services and fire separation between flats limit what can move. We check which walls can change, with an engineer and building surveyor where needed, and then seek owners corporation approval.
Fire Safety
Fire Separation in Divided Houses
When St Kilda houses were divided into flats or rooming houses, walls and floors between units were not always built to today’s fire separation standards. Where a major renovation needs a building permit, the building surveyor may look at fire separation between units. We flag this early, as it can affect the design and the timeline.
Coastal
Salt Air on the Foreshore
Homes along The Esplanade, Marine Parade and the streets nearest the beach get salt-laden wind off the bay. Steel lintels, balustrades and fixings corrode faster, and paint and window frames weather sooner. Stainless or galvanised fixings, well sealed timber and regular maintenance help, so we choose external materials with that exposure in mind.
Get a Free Home 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 Home Renovations in St Kilda
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 St Kilda 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 St Kilda
Home 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 homes in St Kilda and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Home Renovations MelbourneNearby suburbs we service
Do I need a planning permit to renovate a St Kilda period home?
If the house is in a City of Port Phillip heritage overlay, which covers large parts of St Kilda, a planning permit is generally needed for extensions, demolition and many external changes. Internal renovations usually don’t need one unless internal controls apply to that property. We check your property’s overlay and any specific controls before design.
Can I add a second storey to a St Kilda terrace?
It can be possible, but in a heritage precinct upper level additions are usually expected to sit well back from the street so they are not prominent. The City of Port Phillip assesses height, setbacks, overshadowing and overlooking of neighbours. Narrow terrace lots and shared walls also add engineering and party wall considerations.
What is involved in renovating a whole apartment in St Kilda?
Typically the kitchen, bathroom, floors, lighting and paint, sometimes with layout changes. In St Kilda, owners corporation approval, lift bookings with the building manager and street parking all need planning. Work in a heritage registered building can need extra approvals. We coordinate these and give you a staged timeline.
Which updates help when selling or leasing a St Kilda home?
St Kilda buyers and renters often look at character as well as condition, so repairing original features such as fireplaces, cornices and timber floors can matter as much as new finishes. Fixing damp, faulty wiring and failing windows comes first. Work needing heritage or owners corporation approval takes time, so plan it well before a listing or lease date.
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.