Two housing markets in one suburb
The centre. Around Chatswood station and the Pacific Highway and Victoria Avenue corridors, residential towers from the 1990s onward sit beside older mid-rise blocks and walk-ups. Kitchens here are compact, frequently open to the living room, and governed by strata by-laws.
The streets. East and west of the centre, and through Willoughby and Artarmon, are Federation and interwar houses — some within heritage conservation areas — along with post-war brick bungalows and 1960s–80s family homes. These are where larger kitchen renovations, wall removals and sculleries happen.
Kitchens that are cooked in
Many Chatswood households cook intensively: wok cooking at high heat, braising, steaming and frying, often daily and often for extended families. That makes a few design decisions more important than usual.
Extraction first. A ducted rangehood vented outside, with capacity matched to the cooktop and a short duct run, is the single most important appliance choice. A hood that looks good but recirculates grease will leave its mark on the ceiling and joinery within a few years.
Cooktop choice. High-output gas wok burners remain popular, while powerful induction is increasingly used. Each has implications: gas needs clearances and a licensed gasfitter; induction needs electrical capacity that older switchboards may not have.
A second zone. In larger houses, a scullery or wok kitchen behind the main kitchen keeps heavy cooking and its smells away from the show space. See butler's pantries and sculleries.
Surfaces that clean hard. Stainless steel, porcelain and granite handle heat and oil well. Marble and timber are less forgiving near a wok burner. See benchtops and splashbacks.
Storage by volume. Rice cookers, steamers, large pots and bulk pantry goods need deep drawers and appliance cupboards with power.
Houses: opening the back
Post-war and 1960s brick homes across Chatswood West, Willoughby and Artarmon often have a closed kitchen separated from a family room or rear sunroom. Removing that wall is common and usually rewarding.
- The wall's load is checked, and an engineer designs a beam where needed.
- The floor is inspected — timber on piers is easier to run new plumbing through than a slab.
- Houses built before about 1990 are tested for asbestos in eaves, wall linings and old flooring before demolition.
In Federation and interwar houses, the approach follows the character of the house, with more attention to cornices, ceiling heights and heritage controls.
Towers: fixed services, flexible finishes
In a Chatswood tower, the plumbing stack, exhaust riser and electrical supply are set by the building. The kitchen renovation works within them:
- Replacing joinery with full-height, integrated cabinets
- Upgrading appliances to suit the available power
- Swapping tired surfaces for porcelain or stone
- Adding task and ambient lighting
- Planning lift access for slabs and panels
Building managers commonly require inductions, protection of lifts and corridors, and certificates of insurance before trades arrive. See apartment and strata kitchens.
Artarmon and Willoughby
Artarmon's streets include many interwar and Federation houses, some in conservation areas, alongside walk-up flats near the station. Willoughby mixes Federation cottages, post-war homes and newer builds. Kitchen briefs in both tend toward practical family kitchens with an island or peninsula and a bit more storage than the original ever had.
Nearby
Also serving Chatswood West, Willoughby, Artarmon, Roseville and Castlecrag. See Lane Cove and Lindfield.
Costs: see the 2026 cost bands.
Call 02 5657 4821 or send your kitchen details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
Which council handles Chatswood kitchen renovations?
Chatswood, Willoughby and Artarmon are in Willoughby City Council. Parts of Chatswood West fall within Lane Cove Council. An internal kitchen renovation in a house that does not change structure is generally exempt development, while external work and listed heritage items need a check of the relevant council's controls.
What rangehood do I need for high-heat cooking?
Wok cooking, searing and deep frying produce a lot of heat, grease and steam. A ducted rangehood vented to outside, sized to the cooktop and with a short, smooth duct run, removes far more than a recirculating unit. Some households add a second, enclosed wok zone in a scullery. In apartments the building decides whether external ducting is possible.
Can a Chatswood tower apartment kitchen be renovated?
Yes, within the building's rules. Expect owners corporation approval, lift bookings, a building manager's induction, strict working hours and insurance requirements. Plumbing and exhaust positions are largely fixed, so the renovation is usually about joinery, surfaces, appliances and lighting.
Are there heritage areas in Chatswood?
Yes. Willoughby City Council has heritage conservation areas and listed items across Chatswood and neighbouring suburbs, protecting Federation and interwar streetscapes. Internal kitchen work is rarely affected, but changes visible from the street can be.