Renovations
Character Home Renovations Brisbane
Our architects have spent over 35 years renovating Brisbane’s character homes, the pre-1946 Queenslanders, workers cottages, colonials and interwar homes that give our streets their identity. We keep the character your suburb is known for and rework everything behind it so the home finally works for the way your family lives.
Design Focus
Our Character Home Architects in Brisbane
At dion seminara architecture, we understand that renovating a character home takes more than adding space. Our architects respect what makes the home special, the roof form, the verandahs, the timber detailing and the street presence, while redesigning the spaces behind them for modern family life.
We can help with your character home renovation, whether it is:
- Designing additional living space that keeps the proportions and detail of the original home.
- Re-designing homes that have suffered from poor past alterations or unsympathetic extensions.
- Working within Brisbane City Council’s traditional building character overlay, with designs that pass council scrutiny because the character thinking is there from day one.
- Creating rear extensions and raise-and-build-under designs that flow beautifully from old to new.
Renovating a home from a specific era? See our dedicated Queenslander, workers cottage, colonial and post-war pages.
Pre-1946
What Counts as a Character Home in Brisbane?
Brisbane City Council’s traditional building character overlay protects much of the city’s pre-1946 housing. If your home falls inside it, demolition is heavily restricted and any renovation or extension must respect the traditional character of the street. Far from limiting your renovation, the overlay protects the street appeal and character that make these homes so valuable.
Our architects work with the overlay every week and design character house renovations that pass council scrutiny because the character thinking is in the design from day one, not patched on for the approval.
Character Home Styles in Brisbane
Every Queenslander is a character home, but not every character home is a Queenslander. The traditional building character overlay covers several distinct styles, and each one asks for a different approach.
Queenslanders. Elevated timber homes on stumps with wide verandahs and corrugated iron roofs, built for the subtropical climate. Most gain the space they need by raising and building under.
Workers cottages. Smaller timber cottages from the 1900s to 1930s, usually on tight inner-city blocks where every metre counts.
Colonials. The timber residences of the 1880s to 1900s that give our oldest streets their character.
Californian bungalows. Low-set interwar homes with broad gables, heavy porch piers and casement windows, common through Ashgrove, Wooloowin and Camp Hill.
Art Deco and interwar homes. Brick and rendered homes of the 1930s and early 1940s, with curved corners, stepped parapets and geometric detailing.
If your home is a Queenslander, a workers cottage or a colonial, our dedicated pages cover each style in detail. This page is for character homes as a whole, and for the interwar styles that do not have a page of their own.
More Space
Character Home Extensions
Most character homes are short on living space, storage and connection to the backyard. A character home extension solves that without touching what the street sees: extending to the rear, raising and building under, or opening the home to outdoor living.
Our architects design extensions that match the scale and rhythm of the original so the join is invisible.
Raising and building under is often the smartest way to double the liveable space of a highset character home. The original rooms keep their charm and street appeal, while the new lower level gives your family the open living, storage and connection to outdoor living that older homes rarely offer.
Because our registered architects handle the design, the council approvals and the construction documentation together, your character home extension in Brisbane is planned as one project, not a series of surprises. The result is a forever home that keeps its character and works for the way you live, now and into the future.
Designed Through the SHAPE Design Method
Every character home we design follows the SHAPE Design Method, developed by Dion Seminara: Simplicity, Harmony, Adaptability, Personalization and Excellence. It is how our architects make sure every design decision serves your lifestyle first. The journey starts with a SHAPE Design Consultation, where you sit down with our architects and test your ideas against your site, your budget and your home’s character before committing to anything.
Have a Question?
Ask an Architect
Have a question about your project or our services? We’re here to help, and we’d love to speak with you.
During your free call with one of our experienced Brisbane architects, you can:
- Share an overview of your property or project
- Ask questions about the design, approval, or build process
- Understand the design outcomes you can expect — from layout to liveability and beyond
We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Free Download
7 Mistakes To Avoid When Renovating Your Forever Home
Starting a renovation can be overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to begin or what pitfalls to avoid. That’s where our free guide comes in. Inside, you’ll discover:
- A simple, structured approach to start your renovation project
- Key research tips to help you better understand your home before making changes
- A clear breakdown of what’s involved in a renovation — so you’re fully informed from day one
Download your copy today. It’s practical, easy to follow, and could save you time, money, and stress.
