Proudly partnered with 
Apartment & Unit Renovations in Sydney
Renovating your apartment in Sydney? Nouvelle impeccably executes apartment kitchen renovations, apartment bathroom renovations, and full apartment refurbishments. From a sleek small apartment kitchen renovation to a detailed bathroom renovation in an apartment, our expert team works on the project with minimal disruption to your neighbours and strata.
Three Types of Apartment Renovations in Sydney
Understanding the renovation categories in NSW can help you navigate the approval process more easily. Here are the types of renovations you may encounter:
1. Cosmetic Upgrades
These minor changes generally don’t require strata approval, though notifying your Body Corporate is recommended. Common minor apartment renovation services include:
- Interior painting.
- Replacing or installing window coverings.
- Adding or upgrading handrails.
- Laying carpets.
- Installing built-in robes.
For minor kitchen and bathroom renovations in Sydney , such as these cosmetic upgrades, Nouvelle provides expert guidance to ensure smooth, hassle-free improvements.
2. Minor Renovations
Minor renovations typically require strata approval and may include projects like unit kitchen renovations or bathroom renovations. Always consult your Body Corporate before beginning any work to ensure compliance.
Examples of minor renovations:
Examples of minor renovations:
It’s important to note that changes affecting the building’s external appearance or waterproofing—such as apartment bathroom renovations—are not considered minor and require additional approvals. Learn more about the areas covered by all strata schemes here. Contact your Body Corporate for a complete list.
Before seeking approval, verify with your strata committee if you need to provide:
Before seeking approval, verify with your strata committee if you need to provide:
- Detailed work plans.
- Acoustic certifications (for flooring).
- Qualifications and licenses of the tradespeople performing the work.
For apartment renovations in Sydney, Nouvelle ensures all work meets strata regulations, making the process straightforward and hassle-free.
3. Major Renovations
Major renovations, such as apartment kitchen renovations or unit bathroom renovations, involve structural changes and require approval through a special resolution vote at a general meeting or AGM. You will have to confirm the exact process with your Body Corporate to ensure compliance.
Examples of major renovations:
Examples of major renovations:
- Structural alterations, such as moving internal walls.
- Waterproofing projects, including apartment bathroom renovations.
- Renovations needing external approvals from government or other regulatory bodies.
For big projects like apartment bathroom renovations in Sydney, careful planning and coordination with your strata committee are essential. These renovations often involve detailed documentation and adherence to both strata and external regulations.
Nouvelle provides expert assistance to manage the complexities of major apartment renovations in Sydney, ensuring a smooth process from planning to approval and execution. Contact us for guidance on your situation.
Nouvelle provides expert assistance to manage the complexities of major apartment renovations in Sydney, ensuring a smooth process from planning to approval and execution. Contact us for guidance on your situation.
Transforming Your Apartment: Essential Renovation Guidelines
Your Property vs. Common Property
When undertaking an apartment renovation in Sydney, understanding the boundaries between your lot and common property is crucial.
Common property typically includes:
- The main structure, including outer walls, ceilings, floors, and the roof.
- External building walls and shared foyers.
- Driveways and other shared access points.
Your property, or your lot, usually consists of:
- The internal airspace within your apartment.
- Paint, fixtures, carpets, and internal walls.
Knowing these distinctions is vital for planning any renovation and obtaining necessary approvals. For an apartment kitchen renovation or an apartment bathroom renovation, Nouvelle can guide you through the process and ensure that all changes follow strata guidelines and regulations.
Structural Restrictions Governing Apartment Upgrades
Planning an apartment kitchen reno or apartment bathroom remodel in Sydney? Be mindful of structural limitations. Projects such as altering internal walls or undertaking unit bathroom renovations often require detailed approvals and compliance with strata regulations. These upgrades are achievable but demand careful planning and adherence to legal requirements.
For major renovations, it’s wise to work with professionals like Nouvelle, who understand the intricacies of apartment renovations in Sydney. Our team can help handle the approval process and deliver a seamless renovation experience.
How Apartment Renovations Differ from Home Renovations
Renovating an apartment is a completely different ball game compared to a standalone home. With shared walls, limited space, and communal areas, your renovations don’t just affect you—they can impact the building’s structure and your neighbours’ peace of mind. Nouvelle takes every precaution to ensure a smooth renovation process that keeps everyone happy.
Here’s how we handle the unique challenges of apartment refurbishment in Sydney:
Here’s how we handle the unique challenges of apartment refurbishment in Sydney:
Access Limitations:
We coordinate work schedules to respect strata rules and ensure smooth building access, setting clear start and end times each day.
Parking Restrictions:
Our team arranges additional permits if needed to minimise disruptions to resident parking.
Noise Management:
We liaise with strata and neighbours to give advance notice of noisy works and reduce disturbance.
Waste Removal:
Forget ugly skip bins sitting around—our team takes all renovation waste off-site immediately.
Protection of Common Areas:
From lifts to hallways, we safeguard shared spaces to prevent damage during renovations.
Whether it’s a big or small apartment renovation, Nouvelle makes everything simple, seamless, and stress-free.
Apartment Renovations in Sydney – Let’s Get Started
Renovating an apartment in Sydney can feel overwhelming, but Nouvelle makes the process simple. From apartment kitchen renovations to apartment bathroom renovations, we have the experience, insurance, and strata relationships to make your project a success. Whether it’s a minor upgrade or a complete unit bathroom renovation, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Thinking about transforming your apartment? Drop by our showrooms in Willoughby or Pennant Hills, or give us a call. Let’s discuss how we can bring your ideas to life while keeping everything smooth and stress-free.
Thinking about transforming your apartment? Drop by our showrooms in Willoughby or Pennant Hills, or give us a call. Let’s discuss how we can bring your ideas to life while keeping everything smooth and stress-free.
Join Our Growing Community on Facebook
Explore our modern kitchen renovation gallery, peek behind the curtains, engage with us, hear firsthand from happy customers, and be the first to know about exclusive offers.
FAQs for Unit Renovations
Can I renovate my apartment if I own it?
Yes, you can renovate your apartment if you own it, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Renovating an apartment, especially in a city like Sydney, comes with its own set of challenges. The biggest concern? Common property. If your project unintentionally damages shared spaces, like walls, floors, or plumbing, you could end up in hot water with your strata.
That’s why working with apartment renovation specialists or trusted bathroom and kitchen renovation contractors is the smart move. Professionals understand the rules, handle the approvals, and ensure the work doesn’t disrupt the neighbours—or land you in trouble. For seamless home unit renovations in Sydney, it’s best to leave it to experts like Nouvelle who can balance your vision with the strata’s guidelines.
That’s why working with apartment renovation specialists or trusted bathroom and kitchen renovation contractors is the smart move. Professionals understand the rules, handle the approvals, and ensure the work doesn’t disrupt the neighbours—or land you in trouble. For seamless home unit renovations in Sydney, it’s best to leave it to experts like Nouvelle who can balance your vision with the strata’s guidelines.
How do I choose the right apartment renovation specialists in Sydney?
Choosing the right renovation specialists for your apartment in Sydney doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you know what to look for. Here’s a simple guide to help:
- Experience Matters: Look for professionals who have worked on apartments before. Renovating an apartment is different from a house—there are strata rules, shared spaces, and access restrictions to navigate. Specialists with experience in studio apartment renovations or tiny apartment renovations will understand these nuances.
- Portfolio of Work: Ask to see examples of past projects. Their small apartment renovation before-and-after folder can give you inspiration for your own project and help you see if their style aligns with your vision. Many specialists will even share apartment renovation ideas to kick-start the planning process.
- Clear Communication: Good specialists listen to your needs and explain the process in plain language. If they throw a lot of jargon at you, it might be time to look elsewhere.
- Strata Knowledge: A great apartment renovation team knows how to handle strata requirements and obtain the necessary approvals. This saves you time and headaches.
- Transparent Pricing: Be wary of quotes that sound too good to be true. Look for someone who provides a clear breakdown of costs and explains where your money is going.
Nouvelle checks all these boxes and more. Whether you’re planning a full apartment renovation, apartment kitchen renovations in Sydney, or unit bathroom renovations in Sydney, we handle everything from design to completion. We’ve even worked on studio apartment renovations and tiny apartment renovations, so we understand how to maximise small spaces while maintaining style and functionality.
For the best apartment renovations in Sydney, trust Nouvelle to bring your vision to life with care and expertise. Let’s create a space you’ll love to call home!
What challenges of small apartment renovations do apartment renovation contractors tackle that a DIY renovator might overlook?
Renovating a small apartment can feel like a puzzle. While it’s tempting to think you can tackle it on your own, there are quite a few challenges that professional contractors handle effortlessly, while a DIY renovator might struggle—or overlook entirely.
- Maximising Limited Space: When you’re renovating a small apartment, every centimetre matters. Contractors are skilled at coming up with small unit renovation ideas to make the most of the space, from clever storage solutions to optimising layouts for functionality. A DIY renovator might underestimate the complexity of designing for small spaces or make decisions that waste valuable room.
- Handling Tight Kitchens: Trying to remodel an apartment kitchen in a small apartment is a delicate operation. Pros know how to fit modern appliances into awkward corners, install compact yet functional cabinetry, and ensure good workflow in tight quarters. They can spot and solve problems like inadequate ventilation or poorly placed outlets—things a DIYer might miss until it’s too late.
- Small Bathrooms, Big Challenges: A small apartment bathroom renovation comes with its own headaches. Issues like waterproofing, plumbing constraints, and cramped layouts can be tricky for even seasoned renovators. Professionals know how to work within the limitations of a small bathroom to create a space that feels open and functional without cutting corners on essential details.
- Building Rules and Strata: Small apartments often come with strict strata or building guidelines. Pros know these inside and out and ensure compliance without cutting corners, saving you potential fines or disputes.
- Efficient Waste Removal: A DIY renovator might not think through how to dispose of demolition waste in a small apartment setting. Professionals manage debris removal without clogging up shared spaces or leaving you with an eyesore.
- Finishing Touches that Matter: What separates a professional renovation from a DIY attempt? The details. Contractors know how to blend practicality and aesthetics, so that your small unit renovation ideas come to life without sacrificing the style of your space.
What are some examples of small renovations in an apartment?
Small renovations can make a big difference in how your apartment feels and functions, especially in spaces like the kitchen and bathroom. Here are a few ideas that apartment renovation designers might suggest to freshen things up without needing a full overhaul:
Kitchen Updates
- Swapping out cabinetry fronts: A quick way to give your kitchen a facelift without ripping everything out.
- Updating benchtops: Replace worn surfaces with a modern material to instantly uplift your space.
- Installing splashbacks: Adding a fresh splashback can transform the look of your cooking area.
- Improved lighting: Swap old fixtures for pendant lights or under-cabinet LED strips for a more functional, inviting space.
- New appliances: Upgrading to sleek, energy-efficient models can modernise your apartment kitchen renovations in Sydney.
Bathroom Upgrades
- Replacing fixtures: Swap out dated taps, showerheads, or towel rails for a stylish update.
- Resurfacing tiles or tubs: This can bring a fresh, clean look to your apartment bathroom renovation in Sydney without the hassle of retiling.
- Storage solutions: Add wall-mounted shelves or mirrored cabinets to maximise space in your bathroom.
General Apartment Updates
- New flooring: Upgrade carpets or lay down vinyl, laminate, or timber for a whole new feel.
- Painting walls: A fresh coat of paint is a simple but effective way to brighten up your apartment.
- Built-in storage: From wardrobes to hidden nooks, creating extra storage is a lifesaver for apartment living.
These types of home unit renovations are ideal for improving functionality and aesthetics without requiring major structural changes. Whether you’re focusing on kitchen and bathroom renovations in Sydney or just looking to spruce up your apartment, small changes can have a big impact. If you’re unsure where to start, chat with apartment renovation designers—they’ll help you turn your ideas into a space you’ll love.
What are the consequences of apartment renovation without strata approval?
Renovating your apartment without getting strata approval is a risk that could land you in serious trouble. Even if it's your apartment, the building as a whole—including walls, ceilings, and floors—falls under strata management. Here's what could go wrong if you skip the approval process:
Financial Headaches
If you make changes without approval, the Body Corporate has the right to demand that you undo the renovation. This could mean tearing out your brand-new small apartment kitchen renovation or restoring your small apartment bathroom renovation back to its original state—all at your own expense. And let’s be honest, that’s not a bill anyone wants to pay.
Legal Trouble
Strata can escalate matters legally if you refuse to comply. This could mean tribunal hearings, fines, or even court orders. Not to mention the stress and time wasted.
Impact on Resale Value
When you try to sell your apartment, unapproved renovations can scare off buyers or slow down the sale process. Prospective buyers might worry about fines or complications down the line.
Neighbour Complaints
Renovations without strata approval often mean bypassing proper planning for noise, waste disposal, or shared areas. If your renovations disrupt your neighbours, you’ll have complaints rolling in faster than you can say “Body Corporate.”
Safety and Insurance Issues
Unapproved renovations can lead to safety hazards or structural damage. Worse, if something goes wrong—say a pipe bursts in your unapproved bathroom update—your insurance might refuse to cover it. This could leave you personally liable for damages to your apartment or even neighbouring units.
Why Get Approval?
At the end of the day, getting approval for your apartment renovations isn’t just about following rules. It’s about protecting your investment and ensuring your project runs smoothly. A professional apartment renovation service like Nouvelle knows how to navigate the strata process, so you can focus on your dream space without worrying about the paperwork.
The takeaway? Always consult your strata before starting any renovations. It’s easier (and cheaper) to get the green light up front than to deal with the fallout later.
