Architecture & Interior Design for Life
Forever Homes, Inspiring Schools, and On-brand Workspaces
Kew architects for substantial renovations and custom homes
Planning a substantial renovation or custom home in Kew?
We help you understand what your site can support, what the options may cost and which direction makes sense before you commit further.
OR
Kew architects for substantial renovations to established homes
Kew includes substantial period homes, heritage properties and established sites where landscape, slope, neighbouring buildings and planning controls can materially affect the design. A successful response begins with the particular property rather than a predetermined style.
We look for the useful qualities already present, then test how new work can improve light, circulation, comfort and connection to the garden while respecting the scale and character of the setting.
Families residing in Kew enjoy access to a plethora of upscale amenities, including top-tier educational institutions, sprawling parks, and recreational facilities, ensuring a luxurious and well-rounded living experience. The picturesque Yarra Bend Park, with its extensive walking trails, scenic picnic spots, and panoramic views of the Yarra River, provides an idyllic setting for outdoor activities and family outings, further enhancing the suburb's allure as a serene and family-friendly destination. With its lush greenery, exclusive residential offerings, and easy access to Melbourne's city center, Kew continues to be a popular choice for families seeking an opulent and tranquil lifestyle with a focus on sophistication, privacy, and natural beauty.
Thoughtful renovation advice before you commit
A successful Kew renovation should feel like your home, not a generic solution applied to the site. We start by understanding how you live, what is not working and what you want the next stage of the house to make possible.
Start with the real decisions
Before design becomes detailed, we test the questions that drive the project: retain or rebuild, extend up or out, protect the garden or increase floor area, and where the budget will make the greatest difference.
Work with the site
Orientation, neighbouring buildings, vegetation, access and planning controls all affect the right response. We assess these conditions together so the design grows from the property rather than fighting it.
Design for daily life
Storage, acoustics, accessibility, natural light and the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces are considered together, not added as separate features at the end.
Plan for cost and construction
Clear early options help you understand scope, likely cost and planning risk before you invest heavily in documentation. Our Home Masterplan Report is designed for exactly this stage.
Begin with clarity
If you are considering a substantial renovation or custom home in Kew, begin with a free 20-minute Clarity Call. We will discuss the property, your priorities and the most useful next step.
Testimonials
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"We engaged Whisker Architecture to design our forever home and we are over the moon with the result. We specifically wanted an energy-efficient, passive solar home that will serve us from having young children, through their teen years and beyond."
Micaela & Benjamin, Client
Beaconsfield Hillside Home -
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"We have engaged Whisker Architecture to renovate our four-bedroom home. Both Audrey and Winnie have been a pleasure to work with and we are thrilled with the new design. We highly recommend the team at Whisker."
David & Sima, Client
Banksia Renewed -
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"Audrey and her Whisker team I refer frequently because I trust her and the team with my closest family and friends to give honest and thoughtful advice and amazing well-thought-out beautiful designs."
Paul Harrison, Consultant
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“The whole process […] was seamless and stress free. […] At the end of the project they both attended onsite and walked the perimeter of the school with me to ensure I was happy with the completed work. Any follow‐up needed was done immediately. Their commitment and professionalism was exemplary.”
Joanne Wood, Principal
Tinternvale Primary School -
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"Audrey & the team at Whisker Architecture are absolute superstars! With a tight budget, they took a dark, boxy house & created a beautifully functional home that complements the way we live."
Aimee, Client
Rainforest Retreat -
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"Audrey has been great to work with. her designs are very warm and modern! She really listens to what you (the client) wants, and works around that. Recommend highly"
Louise, Client
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"Audrey and her Whisker team I refer frequently because I trust her and the team with my closest family and friends to give honest and thoughtful advice and amazing well thought out beautiful designs."
Paul Harrison, Business Owner
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"Attentive and knowledgeable, the team from Whisker can be relied on to create beautiful spaces and manage the project from start to finish."
David & Megan, Client
Bungalow Reborn -
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"They took the time to understand our lifestyle, delivering three high-level design options that maximize our backyard and create a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Each came with a clear cost breakdown, showing us how much we could achieve within our budget. [...] Highly recommend!"
An & Hana, Client
Williamstown Renovation
“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us”
— Sir Winston Churchill