Transform your terrace with expert project management by Kaiko Design Interiors. Enjoy a stress-free renovation experience with top-shelf tradespeople and bespoke interior design solutions.

We have worked on terrace renovations and heritage projects right across Sydney and can help get the most out of your renovation. We project manage your terrace renovation from start to finish and deliver your project on time and to budget. You also deal directly with us throughout – which means we take on the stress of renovating for you. We coordinate everything and make it happen using a network of top-shelf tradespeople and contractors for all our projects.

Let’s start by looking at what you need to think about prior to your renovation.

1. Do I need council approval for my renovation?

Generally speaking, if you extend or change the footprint of your current house, require a second story, build a deck that raises the height of your backyard, or add a window looking out to your neighbours, then you would need council approval. We often talk about this as the “envelope of the building”.  

This is where an architect comes in, they can design something that will achieve your goals but also comply with all the privacy, environmental, legal, and services-related requirements. At Kaiko Design Interiors – we can engage an architect on your behalf and brief them on your requirements or if you already have someone in mind, it’s a great idea to involve us right from the beginning. Architects and Interior Designers can approach the solution to the design problem from different angles – often with a unique outcome.  

If you are unsure whether your project requires council approval, visit your local council website or just give us a call!

If your project is completely internal and you’re just looking for a bespoke kitchen design, bathroom renovations or perhaps some bespoke joinery - then it’s a grey area in which some councils don’t really like to get involved. Most of our clients doing internal work don’t go through council. Even if you intend to completely reconfigure the interior of your terrace or home – Kaiko Design can handle all of the relevant documentation and coordination of contractors to get the project to the tender stage without an architect – our specialty is comprehensive documentation. You can read more about Our Process here and also about Why we love documentation here.

If your terrace or home renovation does require council approval, we will happily connect you with an architect as a starting point and we can provide comments through the process. A “top tip” here is to speak to an architect before talking to a builder. This will ensure the outcome is tailored to you and the way you want to live. Understand your budget and be open and frank – it is much easier to design within constraints. You can read more about our Pre renovation checklist here.

There is no shortage of Victorian and Edwardian-era terrace homes in Sydney, and they can be found across the Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, and lower North Shore. We love them because of their character, typically tall ceilings and they make fantastic family homes.

Any renovation, whether it’s a terrace house or otherwise has a common thread of issues: typically the site is narrow, the age of the structure can also need attention and it is likely to be heritage listed or in a conservation area.

Usually, we want to reverse the established layout and move to an open plan. Our focus with all renovations, terrace or otherwise is to:

• Reconfigure the floorplan to maximise space in the home

• Increase storage

• Bring in more natural light

• Move your living areas to the rear

• Add another bathroom

• Renovate the kitchen and bathroom(s)

• Rework the rear of the property so it is open plan, and opens out onto your backyard

3. Understanding heritage building regulations

Prior to any renovation – Terrace house or otherwise – it is essential to check the heritage constraints on your plot. If you are unsure of the status of your property you can check the NSW heritage database at the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, or check with your local council.

These guides should not be viewed as negative, however – they are put in place to preserve the architectural identity of period buildings. Most of these controls affect the envelope of the building however if you have bought in an area of high cultural significance, such as Millers Point, they can also dictate the interior resolution. It is vital to have all this information upfront so the bespoke interior design can balance the requirements with you, your likes and dislikes as well as how you want to live in the spaces.

Typical elements which must be preserved:

• Paint colour schemes

• Cast-iron balcony balustrades, friezes, and lacework

• Tessellated tile finishes

• Timber details on beams and trims

• Interior ceiling roses and trims (occasionally)

4. Timeline for your renovation

In terms of planning your home or terrace renovation, following these steps should make the process smooth and even enjoyable! Kaiko Design Interiors can manage part or the whole process making it as stress-free as possible. At an absolute minimum, we do suggest you familarise yourself with your local government website – here you will find abundant information about your home and surrounding area. It’s also a great place to see what your neighbours have done to their properties too!

5. Renovating a terrace room by room

If you’re not ready to add another story or perhaps you don’t plan to – a great way to start your renovation journey is room by room. Here at Kaiko Design Interiors, we like to set “style guidelines” for the house as a whole – it helps with making design decisions down the track and ensures the resulting spaces speak to each other and to you as the owners.

Kitchen Interior Design

Many terraces and older homes have small kitchens, often a galley-style layout that does not have enough storage or workspace. One way of improving on this in the terrace scenario is to extend your kitchen all the way to the boundary, to get the full benefit of the width of the lot.

Regardless of the style or period of your home, you need to plan for plenty of storage – while the allure of an off-the-shelf kitchen product comes with an enticing price tag, the customisation is limited. Bespoke kitchen joinery designed by Kaiko Design Interiors will maximise your space and tailor every detail to suit you, your style, and how you work in the kitchen. Kitchens really are the heart of the home and they serve several purposes other than just preparing food – think homework and school projects, dining and family gatherings, or perhaps late-night celebrations.

Bathroom Interior Design

Getting the family or main bathroom right for your home renovation is essential to the success of easy home life. Older style homes usually have all the functions pushed to the perimeter of the room – because that’s what was easy, but it may not present the best option. At Kaiko Design we aim to make the ritual of bathing, not just practical, but beautiful too. A great bathroom is an asset to the home.  

6. How much does an interior designer cost?

This is probably the first question on your mind, and rightly so. Cost can make or break any home renovation project – so you need to have a clear idea of what your budget is before we get going. At Kaiko design Interiors we are open about our hourly rate, and you can read more about this in the pricing section on our website. We can provide package prices if you plan to renovate room by room or a turn-key solution. A breakdown of the typical hours involved is outlined here also.

The easiest way to get an idea of how much your project is going to cost is to do your research and decide what work you want to be done. We then work with you to develop a design and budget. In terms of the big picture your budget is going to be affected by:

• The size of your home

• How extensive the works are.

• The type of materials you choose

• The appliances and fittings you choose

• The cost of permits and external professional advice

7. Working with us

If you’d like more information or like to know how Kaiko Design can transform your own project get in touch here to see how we can help you.

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