Kitchen Renovations in St Kilda
Pacific Edge Homes is a Melbourne-based renovation company. We design and manage complete kitchen renovations for St Kilda flats and houses, including kitchens in converted mansions and interwar blocks, with one team handling the design, the trades and the handover.
- Who
- Pacific Edge Homes, a Melbourne renovation company with 10 years in business.
- What
- Complete kitchen renovations: layout, cabinetry, benchtops, splashbacks, appliance advice, trades and installation.
- Where
- St Kilda and suburbs across Melbourne.
- Local factor
- Many St Kilda flats were carved out of mansions or built between the wars, and much of the suburb sits in heritage precincts.
- Next step
- Call (03) 7065 0017 or request a quote.
Kitchens in St Kilda Flats
Port Phillip Council's heritage review records that between the wars, many of St Kilda's former mansions and even their outbuildings were converted into flats, as the suburb moved toward higher-density living.
That history shows up in the kitchen. In a converted flat, the kitchen may sit in what was once a bedroom, a hallway or part of an outbuilding. Plumbing and gas may run a long way to reach it, and some walls may be solid masonry rather than stud framing.
Plan around the room you have
In a narrow galley, deep drawers and a tall pantry usually do more than extra wall cupboards.
Find the pipes first
Before moving the sink or dishwasher, find out where the waste and water pipes run. A short move can be simple; a long one may not be.
Check the power supply
Confirm the electrical capacity before choosing induction or a second oven.
Venting, Windows and the Heritage Overlay
Port Phillip's HO7 precinct alone covers parts of St Kilda, Elwood, Balaclava and Ripponlea, and includes flats as well as cottages and villas, from the Victorian era to the late 20th century.
Inside the flat
Victoria's Heritage Overlay mostly controls what you can see from outside. Inside a flat, new cabinets and benchtops rarely need a planning permit unless the council has applied internal controls to that building.
The vent and the window
A new hole through a visible outside wall, or a changed window, is an external alteration, and in a heritage overlay that needs a planning permit.
What to check: Ask Port Phillip Council or search VicPlan to see whether an overlay applies. If ducting the rangehood outside would mean a new opening on a visible wall, consider a recirculating rangehood or another duct route, and decide before the design is fixed.
Sources: Port Phillip Heritage Review, City of Port Phillip, HO7 review, Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay.
Renovating a Kitchen in a Shared Building
Common property and access
If your flat is part of an owners corporation, check its rules before work that affects shared pipes, walls or other common property.
What to plan: Access for trades and deliveries, especially in older walk-up blocks without a lift, and when noisy work can happen.
Older materials
Asbestos Victoria advises that a home built before 1990 is likely to contain asbestos. That includes many interwar and post-war St Kilda flats.
What to check: Have suspect linings, splashbacks and floor coverings identified before demolition is booked.
Source: Asbestos Victoria.
Our Kitchen Renovation Approach
Talk it through
Call us or send a quote request with a few details about the kitchen and the building.
Measure and brief
We look at the space and talk through what you want to change.
Design and quote
We plan the layout and finishes with you and give you a written quote.
Build
We coordinate the trades and keep you updated as work progresses.
Handover
We walk through the finished kitchen with you.
Why Choose Pacific Edge Homes
One team handles the design, the trades and the project management, so you always know who to call. More about us
- 30 yearsof industry experience in our team
- 10 yearsin business as Pacific Edge Homes
- 10,000+projects completed
Related Renovation Services
We also renovate bathrooms and laundries, and floor and wall tiling can be part of the same project. See all renovation work in St Kilda.
See how we approach kitchen renovations across Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions
My flat is in a heritage overlay. Can I renovate the kitchen?
In most cases, yes. Internal work needs a planning permit under the Heritage Overlay only where the council's schedule applies internal controls to your property. Changes to the outside, such as a new vent or window, usually do. Check with Port Phillip Council for your address.
Can I duct my rangehood outside?
It depends on the building and where the duct would exit. A new opening on a visible outside wall of a heritage building may need a permit. A recirculating rangehood avoids the opening, and we can talk through the options.
Can I move the sink to the other side of the kitchen?
Sometimes. It depends on where the waste pipe can run and how much fall it needs. We look at this at the measure and brief stage.
How do I start?
Call (03) 7065 0017 or use the quote form. Tell us whether you live in a flat or a house and what you want to change.
Discuss your St Kilda kitchen renovation
Tell us about your home and your kitchen, and we will get back to you to talk it through.
Prefer to talk? Call (03) 7065 0017 or email info@pacificedgehomes.com.au.