KITCHEN RENOVATION IN ST KILDA →

If your kitchen is worn, awkward to use or due for a considered update, you deal with Ivan Bodnar directly. He’s an independent sole trader with approximately 15 years’ personal renovation experience. He handles the first discussion, the on-site assessment, the written quotation and the oversight of the work.

DISCUSS /

How the kitchen needs to work for you: storage, bench space, cleaning and how the room is used day to day.

INSPECT /

A free on-site assessment of the existing condition, surfaces and services before any scope is set.

CONSIDER /

Layout, cabinetry, finishes and services, including what can be reused and what needs replacing.

QUOTE IN WRITING /

A free written quotation, prepared after the assessment and not before it.

NOTICE 01.1

WORN, AWKWARD OR DATED?

A kitchen renovation often starts with a familiar problem, and the cause is not always visible from the doorway. Common examples include:

Poor storage: cupboards that waste space or are hard to reach.
Damaged surfaces: swollen joinery, chipped benchtops or a tired splashback.
An unsuitable layout: too little bench space, or a workflow that no longer suits the household.
Difficult cleaning: finishes and joints that trap grease and moisture.
Ageing fittings: hinges, runners, taps and appliances near the end of their life.

Whether you live in the property or are preparing it for sale or rental, the aim is a practical, functional improvement. You should also know which parts of the existing kitchen can stay and which need to go.

FROM THE ASSESSMENT

CHECK WHAT THE NEW FINISH SITS ON.

Replacing visible finishes before checking moisture, substrate suitability, service access and underlying damage can lead to avoidable rework. That’s why the right scope depends on the inspection. Read more about surface preparation and suitable materials.

NOTICE 01.2

ONE PERSON, START TO FINISH

You won’t be passed between a salesperson, an estimator and a site supervisor. Ivan listens to how you want the kitchen to work, looks closely at what is already there and explains the practical options plainly, along with their limitations.

Once the scope is agreed, he oversees his part of the work. He keeps you informed and treats the property with respect. He gives careful attention to surface preparation, chooses suitable materials for the conditions found and is directly accountable to you as the homeowner.

Some questions are best answered on site: can the existing layout stay? Can the cabinets be reused? An inspection cannot reveal every concealed issue, so the quotation explains what was assessed. See what may be behind the cabinets.

OPTION A — IVAN BODNAR

WHO DOES WHAT ↓

IVAN — Initial discussion

IVAN — On-site assessment

IVAN — Written quotation

IVAN — Coordinates plumbing and electrical changes

IVAN — Does not offer structural engineering, architecture or asbestos removal

OPTION B — APPROPRIATELY LICENSED SPECIALISTS

REGULATED WORK

LICENSED SPECIALIST — Plumbing changes, by a licensed plumber

LICENSED SPECIALIST — Electrical changes, by a licensed electrician

LICENSED SPECIALIST — Structural or asbestos work, by an appropriate practitioner where required

Full breakdown: Who Does What: Ivan and Licensed Trades.

NOTICE 01.3

IN A FLAT? READ THIS FIRST.

St Kilda has older apartment buildings as well as houses and newer developments. In a flat, kitchen planning has to account for access, noise, waste removal, existing services, any owners corporation conditions and limits on changes to common property. Heritage controls depend on the site and won’t necessarily apply to an internal kitchen. See Apartment Kitchens & Owners Corporation Considerations.

START WITH A CONVERSATION.

Tell Ivan about your kitchen. He will review your enquiry and talk through a suitable time for an on-site assessment. Phone hours are 9am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday. Ivan is an independent sole trader and does not claim builder registration or trade licences. Scope, permits, insurance and licensed trade requirements vary from project to project. Important information.