Kitchen Renovations Footscray
Footscray Kitchens,
Built to Last
Delivering outstanding kitchen renovations in Footscray and across Melbourne for over 20 years. Family-run, fixed pricing, no hidden costs.
Your Footscray Kitchen, Done Properly
At Smarter Home Renovations, we’ve been delivering outstanding kitchen renovations in Footscray for over 20 years. Established in early 2002, our family-run business is proud to provide friendly, fast, fair, and efficient home renovation services across metropolitan Melbourne.
What Our Clients Say
5.0 out of 5 stars, based on 25 reviews
Outstanding Service
“Tony and Milan redid my tired old-looking floor and skirting in the whole kitchen area. Their attention to detail, prompt, friendly, value for money and service is A+. It's good to see that they take your job as if it's their own home they are renovating. LOVE YOUR WORK GUYS AND THANK YOU. I highly recommend.”
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.”
Kitchen Renovation
“I was very happy with the high quality service provided by Tony and his team. He was professional, skilled and was focused on delivering a high quality result within our budget. Tony was always available to answer my questions and addressed all concerns promptly. The kitchen looks amazing. I highly recommend Smarter Home Renovations.”
Renovating Kitchens in Footscray Homes
Footscray has a mix of Victorian and Edwardian cottages, weatherboard homes and a growing number of apartments around the station and Barkly Street. In the older cottages the kitchen is usually in a rear lean-to, small and often dark, with a back door opening onto a narrow yard. Newer apartments generally have open kitchens along one wall of the living room.
That shapes most of our Footscray kitchen renovations: replacing lean-to kitchens with open plan family spaces, adding storage and bench space to narrow cottages, connecting the kitchen to the backyard, and refitting compact apartment kitchens with better layouts. Parts of Footscray are covered by heritage overlays, so external changes can need a planning permit from the City of Maribyrnong; in apartments we work with your owners corporation.
Footscray at a Glance
- Postcode
- Footscray VIC 3011
- Council
- City of Maribyrnong
- From the CBD
- About 6 km west
- Typical Homes
- Victorian and Edwardian weatherboard cottages
- Single-fronted brick cottages
- Interwar and post-war houses
- Apartments near the station and Barkly Street
- Townhouses
- Property Market
- Median house price$935,000
- Median unit price$470,000
- House rent$635 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 Kitchen in Footscray
Floors
Lean-To Kitchens on Stumps
In many Footscray cottages the kitchen sits in a rear lean-to that was built after the main house, often on its own stumps and at a slightly different floor level. Before new cabinets go in, the floor needs to be level and solid, so we check the stumps and joists and allow for any restumping or rebuilding in the quote.
Light
Getting Light Onto Narrow Blocks
Footscray’s single-fronted cottages sit on narrow blocks, so the kitchen often gets light only from the back of the house. Wide sliding or stacking doors, a skylight over the bench or a highlight window can help a lot. Windows close to a side boundary have to meet overlooking and fire separation rules, which we check during design.
Heritage
Heritage Controls at the Rear
In Footscray’s heritage precincts, including Upper Footscray (HO11) and the Footscray Residential precinct (HO4), a planning permit is generally needed for an extension or other external works, even at the back. Replacing a kitchen inside the existing room usually doesn’t need one. If the new kitchen comes with an extension, we build the permit into the timeline.
Electrical
Switchboards and Gas Lines
Many Footscray cottages still have an older switchboard and a gas line that once fed only a stove and a heater. Switching to an induction cooktop or adding a wall oven and dishwasher can mean a switchboard upgrade. Licensed electricians do this work and provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety, and a rangehood ducted outside keeps moisture away from old timber.
Apartments
Apartment Kitchens Near the Station
Apartments around Footscray station and the Joseph Road precinct usually have one-wall kitchens with services in fixed positions in the slab. Most of the gain comes from better storage, full-height joinery and well-chosen appliances rather than moving the sink. Owners corporation approval, lift bookings and work hours are arranged before we start.
Timing
Living Without a Kitchen
Footscray cottages are compact, so there’s rarely a spare room for a temporary kitchen. Many owners set up a fridge, microwave and kettle in the front room or laundry while we work. We keep the work area sealed off from the rest of the house and give you a clear timeline so you know how long to plan for.
Get a Free Kitchen Estimate in Footscray
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your Footscray 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 Kitchen Renovations in Footscray
Custom Cabinetry
Designed and built to your exact dimensions, with a finish and hardware selection that suits your taste.
Benchtops & Splashbacks
Stone, engineered quartz, or laminate, paired with tiled or glass splashbacks that tie the room together.
Appliance Integration
We source and install quality appliances that fit seamlessly into your cabinetry for a clean, cohesive look.
Plumbing & Fixtures
Sink, tap, and under-bench plumbing handled by licensed plumbers. We also install dishwashers and filtration systems.
Electrical & Lighting
Pendant lights, under-cabinet LEDs, and power point placement designed around how you actually use your kitchen.
Design & Planning
A dedicated designer works with you to finalise the layout, finishes, and timeline before a single tradesperson arrives.
Your Footscray Kitchen 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.
Kitchen Renovations In and Around Footscray
Footscray (3011) is about 6 km west of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We renovate kitchens in Footscray and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Kitchen Renovations MelbourneNearby suburbs we service
Will I need a planning permit for a new kitchen in Footscray?
Not usually for a kitchen replaced within the existing room. A permit from Maribyrnong City Council may be needed if your home is in a Heritage Overlay and the work changes the outside, such as a rear extension, new doors to the yard or a bigger window. We check the overlays for your address before the design is finalised.
Can the wall between my kitchen and living room come out?
Often, but in a Footscray weatherboard that wall may be holding up the roof or ceiling. Removing a load-bearing wall generally needs an engineer’s design, a new beam and a building permit. We check this at the first visit so the open plan layout you want is priced and approved properly.
How do you get stone benchtops into a cottage with no driveway?
Most Footscray cottages have no driveway, so benchtops either come through the front door and hallway or, where there is one, through the rear lane gate. We measure doorways and turns before ordering, and if a long benchtop can’t make the turn we plan a joint in a sensible spot.
Can I update my Footscray apartment kitchen without moving the plumbing?
Yes, and it usually makes sense in the newer towers, where drains and water lines are set in the slab. New cabinetry, benchtops, splashback and appliances in the same footprint can transform the space with far less disruption. We confirm owners corporation requirements before any work begins.
Will a Footscray kitchen renovation help when selling or renting a cottage?
Many Footscray cottages have the kitchen in a rear lean-to that has reached the end of its life, with uneven floors, a low ceiling and little bench space. Buyers and renters looking at these homes usually expect a clean, functional kitchen rather than a showpiece. Fixing the floor and structure, improving the layout and adding storage come first. Skip premium appliances and stone upgrades if the lean-to itself still needs rebuilding.
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.