Respecting the past.
Designing for how you live today.
Perth’s older homes were built to last. But many were built to standards and for a way of living that is very different from what we expect from our homes today. Open-plan living, larger kitchens, ensuites and outdoor entertaining spaces weren’t part of the original plan.
Mista Reno specialises in renovating and restoring character and heritage homes across Perth. We combine original features with the space, functionality and comfort you expect from a modern home. Mista Reno owner, Justin Edmondson, has renovated character properties in Australia and the UK and brings more than 35 years of building experience to each project He remain directly involved throughout the renovation, from the initial site visit through to completion.
Renovating a heritage home in Perth means working with what you’ve got, including plenty that you can’t see. These character properties have quality and original detail that can be very difficult to replicate in a new build. That is part of their charm. Jarrah floors, pressed metal ceilings, timber windows, wood fireplaces, and ornate cornicing that is hard to reproduce
But renovating an older home isn’t simply a matter of adding a new kitchen or opening up a wall. It requires an understanding of the original construction, the materials used and the planning and building requirements that may apply to the property.
Perth has a particular mix of period homes, and no two are quite the same.
We can renovate, restore, and remodel all of these character and heritage homes. This might include new kitchens and bathrooms, rear extensions, veranda and roof restoration, internal reconfigurations and additions that make better use of the existing space.
The aim is to make the home work better for how you live without losing the original features that give your home its character.
Before planning a heritage home renovation, it’s important to understand what heritage controls, if any, apply to your property.
Generally, there are three situations for old homes in Perth:
None of this stops you renovating, but the requirements will depend on your property, the proposed work, and your local council or State controls.
For example, you may need to retain or protect significant original features, or ensure an addition is designed in a way that respects the heritage character of the property.
Understanding what applies before design and construction begin can help avoid changes, delays and unexpected costs later in the project.
We can help identify the practical requirements that need to be considered as part of your heritage home restoration and manage the approvals needed.
Some of the biggest challenges in an older home aren’t visible during the first site visit.
We’ve renovated and restored character and heritage homes across Perth for years, so we have a good idea of what we may find when we lift the floors and peel back the layers.
It can be jarrah joists sitting in sand with limited subfloor ventilation, electrical wiring that has been extended or modified over the years, asbestos-containing materials in subsequent additions to the property, or roof timbers that need structural attention.
We cannot know everything about a heritage home renovation until parts of the building are opened up during construction. We investigate the property during our site visits and allow for likely remediation and upgrade work where we can, but some issues only become apparent once construction begins.
Older homes can also contain work that was carried out over several different periods, so what you find behind one wall may be very different from what you find behind another.
If existing work or building conditions need to be brought into line with current requirements as part of the renovation, this can add to the scope and cost of the project.
For this reason, we recommend allowing a contingency of around 15 to 20% for unexpected work when renovating an older home. It gives you some room to deal with issues that couldn’t reasonably be identified before construction without having to compromise the renovation itself.
In most cases, yes. If your property is individually heritage listed or sits within a heritage area, works usually need planning approval before you start so council heritage staff can assess the impact. This is separate from your building permit. Check your listing status early, as the approval process can affect both the design and timing of your renovation.
Yes. A heritage listing doesn’t prohibit development. It means changes need to be sympathetic to what makes the place significant. In practice, many heritage extensions retain the original front of the home and add new living space towards the rear.
A ‘character home’ is a general description of an older period house.
‘Heritage listed’ is a formal status on a council heritage list or the State Register of Heritage Places, and it can carry specific planning requirements.
A older home can also have plenty of character and no listing at all.
It depends on the scope of the renovation and any approvals required. Older homes can also reveal problems once walls, floors and ceilings are opened up. That’s why we investigate before pricing wherever possible. Generally, most of our large renovation projects are completed within 6 to 12 months.
Start your character home project
Whether it’s a vision you have, or professional drawings, we can help. We start reviewing your enquiry and where you’re currently at in the process, arrange a site visit and understand what you want to achieve. We’d love to help you make it happen. .
