Renovation costs · Sydney
Know the cost before a wall comes down.
INNER WEST PENTHOUSE
A guide from LLP Design
Most renovations go wrong on budget before a single wall is touched. This guide sets out the ranges LLP Design sees across Sydney homes, what moves the number, and how to protect it. Principal Luis La Pegna has spent three decades designing, sourcing and managing renovations, and these are the figures he shares in a first conversation.
Indicative ranges by room
Three levels of finish, one honest range for each.
Refresh keeps the layout and renews surfaces, fixtures and finishes. Elevated brings new joinery, better materials and some layout change. Signature is fully custom: stone, joinery and fittings specified for the house. Figures cover design and construction for an average-sized room, including GST.
| Room | Refresh | Elevated | Signature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | $25k to $45k | $50k to $95k | $100k to $200k |
| Bathroom | $18k to $32k | $35k to $60k | $65k to $120k |
| Ensuite | $15k to $28k | $30k to $50k | $55k to $95k |
| Laundry | $8k to $15k | $15k to $30k | $30k to $55k |
| Living and dining | $12k to $30k | $30k to $65k | $70k to $150k |
| Bedroom | $6k to $15k | $15k to $35k | $40k to $80k |
| Walk-in robe or dressing room | $8k to $18k | $20k to $40k | $45k to $90k |
| Entry and hallways | $5k to $12k | $12k to $28k | $30k to $60k |
| Outdoor terrace | $8k to $20k | $20k to $50k | $55k to $120k |
Indicative only, as at 2026. These ranges are general information, not a quote, an offer or a guarantee of price. Every home is different, and a fixed price is given only in a written quote following a site visit. Not structural, engineering, building inspection, valuation, legal or financial advice.
What moves the number
Six things that decide the final figure.
- Layout. Moving a kitchen, a wet area or a wall brings plumbing, electrical and structural work with it. Keeping the plan is the single biggest saving.
- Wet areas. Waterproofing, tiling and plumbing make bathrooms, ensuites and laundries the most expensive rooms per square metre.
- Joinery and stone. Custom joinery and natural stone lift a room more than almost anything else, and they are where an elevated kitchen becomes a signature one.
- Approvals. Strata buildings and heritage conservation areas add drawings, consultants and time before work can begin.
- Access. Lifts, parking, stairs and restricted working hours in apartment buildings add cost to every trade.
- Selections and lead times. Imported tapware, lighting and stone can take months. Late selections are a common cause of cost and delay.
Protecting the budget
Where budgets go wrong, and how to keep yours.
Budgets rarely fail on one big decision. They fail on the order of works, on items missing from a quote, and on selections made after the trades have started. Three habits protect a budget: decide the scope and every selection before work begins, compare quotes on what they include rather than the total, and hold a contingency of around ten percent.
At LLP Design every selection and every cost is approved in writing before it proceeds. You will never be surprised by a cost.
Questions clients ask
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Sydney?
As a guide, LLP Design sees kitchen renovations in Sydney range from around $25k for a refresh of an existing layout to $100k to $200k and beyond for a signature kitchen with custom joinery, stone and integrated appliances. Layout changes, plumbing moves and appliance choices move the figure most.
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Sydney?
A refreshed bathroom typically starts around $18k, an elevated renovation sits around $35k to $60k, and a signature bathroom with large-format stone and custom vanities can reach $65k to $120k. Waterproofing, tiling and plumbing are where the money goes.
Do apartment renovations cost more?
Often, yes. Strata approval, lift bookings, restricted working hours, parking and protection of common property all add time and cost. The approvals needed depend on whether the work is cosmetic, a minor renovation or a major renovation under NSW strata law.
How much contingency should I allow?
LLP Design allows a contingency of around ten percent on its own costings. Older houses, heritage homes and anything behind walls or under floors justify more.
Is a cheaper builder's quote always better value?
Not always. A low quote can leave out items, use provisional sums that rise later, or assume lesser finishes. A Quote Check reviews a builder's or joiner's quote line by line for gaps before you sign.
General information only, as at 2026. Figures are indicative and include GST. For strata and heritage approvals, confirm requirements with your owners corporation or council.
Ways to begin
Not ready for a full renovation? Start here.
How we work
One studio. One vision. One point of contact.
Total responsibility
Design, trades and delivery, managed by LLP Design from first sketch to handover.
A fixed design fee
Agreed before work begins. You will never be surprised by a cost.
Your written approval
Nothing proceeds without it. Every selection and every change is signed off first.
Progress payments
Tied to the build and staged through the contract, so trades are paid as the work is completed.
Begin with a conversation
Is your budget in the ballpark?
Send a few photos and the rooms you have in mind. Luis reads every enquiry personally.
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