Kitchen Renovations Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe Kitchens,
Built to Last
Delivering outstanding kitchen renovations in Ivanhoe and across Melbourne for over 20 years. Family-run, fixed pricing, no hidden costs.
Your Ivanhoe Kitchen, Done Properly
At Smarter Home Renovations, we’ve been delivering outstanding kitchen renovations in Ivanhoe 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 Ivanhoe Homes
Ivanhoe’s hilly streets off Upper Heidelberg Road are lined with Federation villas, Californian bungalows and solid interwar brick homes, many on generous blocks that fall away towards the Darebin Creek or the Yarra. Their kitchens were usually built as separate rooms at the back of the house, often with a later lean-to tacked on, so they can feel closed off from the garden and short on bench space.
Ivanhoe kitchen projects usually involve opening the kitchen into a rear family room, replacing tired lean-to additions with a properly built kitchen and meals area, adding a walk-in pantry, and placing windows or doors to catch the view down the slope. Parts of Ivanhoe sit within heritage overlays, so where external changes are involved we check planning requirements with Banyule City Council before we start.
Ivanhoe at a Glance
- Postcode
- Ivanhoe VIC 3079
- Council
- Banyule City Council
- From the CBD
- About 9 km north-east
- Typical Homes
- Edwardian and Federation villas
- Californian bungalows
- Interwar brick and Spanish Mission homes
- Townhouses and apartments near Upper Heidelberg Road
- Property Market
- Median house price$1,884,500
- Median unit price$777,500
- House rent$798 a week
- Unit rent$625 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 Ivanhoe
Structure
Replacing the Rear Lean-To
Many Ivanhoe villas and bungalows have a kitchen in a skillion lean-to added decades after the house was built, often on shallow footings with little insulation. Rather than refitting it, owners often rebuild it as a proper kitchen and meals room. That is an extension, so it needs a building permit, and footings and floor levels are matched to the original house.
Light
Kitchens That Face the Slope
On streets that fall towards Darebin Creek or the Yarra, the back of an Ivanhoe house can sit well above the garden. A new kitchen is a chance to add wide windows or glazed doors facing the view, sometimes with a deck or steps outside, so the kitchen connects to the yard instead of looking down on it.
Heritage
Period Details Worth Keeping
Ivanhoe’s Queen Anne and interwar homes often have a chimney breast, decorative ceilings or leadlight windows near the kitchen. An old fireplace can become a cooking alcove or pantry nook, and original windows can stay while joinery is designed around them. In a Heritage Overlay precinct, keeping the street-facing parts of the house intact also keeps planning simpler.
Electrical
Older Wiring and Switchboards
Kitchens in Ivanhoe homes that have not been rewired since the 1960s or 1970s may still run on old wiring and a small switchboard. Induction cooktops, ovens and dishwashers on separate circuits can need a switchboard upgrade. Our licensed electricians check this at the first visit and issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety when the work is done.
Storage
Walk-In Pantries
Larger Ivanhoe blocks and wide period floor plans often leave room for a walk-in or butler’s pantry, which keeps appliances and clutter off the benches of an open kitchen. Where the kitchen joins a family room, we plan tall storage on the internal wall and keep the garden side open for windows, doors and natural light.
Apartments
Townhouse and Apartment Kitchens
Newer townhouses and apartments near the Upper Heidelberg Road shops usually have compact kitchens in an open living area. Plumbing and ducting positions are fixed by the building, and an owners corporation may set work hours and rules for lifts and deliveries. We work within those limits and coordinate approvals before work starts.
Get a Free Kitchen Estimate in Ivanhoe
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your Ivanhoe 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 Ivanhoe
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 Ivanhoe 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 Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe (3079) is about 9 km north-east of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We renovate kitchens in Ivanhoe 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 opening my Ivanhoe kitchen into the living room need an engineer?
If the wall between the kitchen and family area is load-bearing, which is common in Ivanhoe’s period homes where it carries ceiling joists or roof loads, a new beam is needed and it is designed by an engineer. A building permit is generally required for this structural work. We check the roof framing at the first visit.
Do heritage controls affect a kitchen renovation in Ivanhoe?
Internal kitchen work is generally not controlled by Ivanhoe’s Heritage Overlay precincts. Rebuilding a rear lean-to, adding a skylight that can be seen from the street or changing front windows can need a planning permit from Banyule City Council. Changes at the back of the house are often less of a concern, but we confirm this first.
Can a 1930s Ivanhoe kitchen be modernised without losing its character?
Yes. Interwar homes in Ivanhoe often suit a shaker or flat-panel door in a painted finish, a stone or timber benchtop and simple brass or black handles. The layout, appliances and lighting can be fully modern. We suggest details that sit comfortably with the original architraves, windows and ceiling heights.
What should I fix in the kitchen before putting my Ivanhoe home on the market?
Ivanhoe buyers often compare a period home’s kitchen with the open, renovated kitchens they see in other listings. If the cabinetry is sound, new benchtops, a splashback, tapware and lighting can freshen it quickly. If the kitchen is in an old lean-to with a sloping floor or poor light, buyers may see a bigger job ahead. We can price both a refresh and a rebuild so you can compare.
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.