Kew Is Home — And We Paint It With Pride
Kew is more than just another suburb we service — it is where we are based. Our operations run from 5 Edgecombe Street, Kew, which means we know these streets as well as anyone. We drive past the homes we have painted on the way to work each morning. We see the results of our labour holding up season after season, year after year. That kind of accountability matters, and it shapes the way we approach every project in the suburb.
Kew is one of Melbourne's finest established residential areas. Stretching from the leafy avenues near Studley Park and the Yarra River through to the family-friendly streets around Kew Junction, Cotham Road and High Street, the suburb offers a rich tapestry of architectural styles. Grand Victorian and Edwardian homes sit alongside imposing interwar mansions, mid-century residences and contemporary architect-designed houses. Each demands a different approach, and we have the experience and product knowledge to deliver outstanding results across all of them.
At Darryl Hathway Painting, our connection to Kew runs deep. We have painted hundreds of homes in the suburb and its surrounding areas, including Hawthorn, Hawthorn East and Toorak. We understand the local council requirements, the heritage sensitivities and the expectations of homeowners who invest in quality. Being local means we are always nearby, always responsive and always personally invested in the result.
Heritage Homes and Period Architecture
Kew contains one of the highest concentrations of heritage-listed and heritage-overlay properties in the City of Boroondara. Streets near the Kew Gardens, along Walpole Street, around Sackville Street and throughout the avenues between Cotham Road and Barkers Road are home to some of Melbourne's most distinguished Victorian, Edwardian and interwar residences. Many of these properties are subject to planning controls that govern changes to external paint colours and restoration work.
We have completed numerous heritage painting projects in Kew, working within council guidelines to deliver colour schemes that honour the period of each home while meeting the practical expectations of modern owners. Our heritage work includes meticulous preparation of ornate timber fretwork, turned verandah posts, decorative bargeboards, cast-iron lacework, corbelled brickwork and detailed render mouldings.
Preparation is the foundation of a lasting heritage paint job. We hand-scrape and sand old coatings, stabilise cracked render, fill and repair timber decay, and prime bare surfaces with products designed for the substrate. Only then do we apply premium finish coats that protect and enhance the home for years to come.
Learn more about our specialist approach to heritage and period homes.
Interior Painting for Kew Family Homes
Kew is a premier family suburb. Excellent schools including Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School, Xavier College and a host of outstanding primary schools draw families who are committed to staying in the area for the long term. These families invest in their homes, and a quality interior repaint is one of the most effective ways to refresh and protect a property.
Many Kew homes feature a blend of original period interiors and modern extensions. The front of the house may have ornate plaster ceilings, deep skirting boards, picture rails and panelled doors, while the rear opens into a contemporary kitchen, living and dining area designed for modern family life. We handle both with equal care and expertise.
In period rooms, we take the time to repair aged plaster, fill hairline cracks, sand timber joinery to a seamless finish and apply coatings that respect the character of the space. In modern areas, we deliver the crisp, precise finish that contemporary design demands — flat or low-sheen walls, satin joinery, and clean colour transitions between rooms. We use premium paints from Dulux, Haymes and Taubmans, selecting products that balance aesthetic quality with practical durability for busy family homes.
Our painters work respectfully inside your home. Furniture is protected, floors are covered, and every room is left tidy at the end of each day. We understand the disruption that interior painting can cause, and we work efficiently to minimise the impact on your household.
Explore our full range of residential painting services.
Exterior Painting Across Kew and Kew East
Kew's streetscapes are among the most visually cohesive in Melbourne. Well-maintained gardens, established trees and handsome period homes create a sense of order and permanence that residents are understandably protective of. A freshly painted exterior does not just improve the individual home — it lifts the entire street.
Our exterior painting process is thorough and methodical. We begin with a complete assessment of every surface, identifying areas of paint failure, timber decay, rust staining, cracked render, deteriorated caulking and any other issues that need to be addressed before painting can begin. We wash all surfaces, scrape and sand where required, prime bare areas and apply full coats of premium exterior paint formulated for Melbourne's variable climate.
Colour selection is critical in Kew, where many homes sit within heritage overlay zones and exterior schemes must complement the established streetscape. We provide expert colour advice based on decades of experience, taking into account the period of the home, the tones of neighbouring properties and the specific requirements of the Boroondara City Council heritage guidelines where applicable.
In Kew East, the housing stock transitions toward mid-century and more modern homes. Here, exterior painting often involves rendered surfaces, feature cladding and contemporary colour palettes. We are equally at home with these projects, bringing the same level of preparation and attention to detail that we apply to every job.
View where we have worked recently on our project heatmap.
How We Work in Our Home Suburb
Being based in Kew gives us practical advantages that benefit every project. We know the parking restrictions around Kew Junction and High Street. We know which streets have narrow side access and which properties share driveways. We know the council permit requirements and the heritage overlay boundaries. This local knowledge saves time, avoids problems and allows us to focus on what matters most — delivering an exceptional paint finish.
Our proximity also means we can respond quickly to queries, return for inspections promptly and provide ongoing support long after the project is complete. Many of our Kew clients have become long-term relationships — homeowners who call us back every few years for the next stage of their property maintenance, confident in the quality and reliability we provide.
Projects in Kew typically run from two to six weeks depending on the size and scope of the home. We provide a clear timeline at the quoting stage and communicate progress at every step. Our site practices are professional and considerate — clean work areas, protected gardens, minimal noise disruption and clear communication with neighbours where required.
See examples of our completed work in the portfolio.
What Kew Homeowners Say
“As a local Kew business, Darryl Hathway understood our home perfectly. They repainted our entire Edwardian house — inside and out — and the quality is exceptional. The heritage colour advice was invaluable, and the preparation was more thorough than any painter we have used before.”
— Homeowner, Kew
“We have used Darryl Hathway twice now, once for our exterior and again for a full interior repaint. Both times the work was outstanding. They are genuinely local, they care about their reputation in the suburb, and it shows in every detail of the finished result.”
— Homeowner, Kew East
Ready to Transform Your Kew Home?
Whether you are restoring a heritage property, refreshing a family home or updating a Kew East renovation, we would love to hear about your project. As your local painters, we are always nearby and always ready to help.
Also serving: Hawthorn | Hawthorn East | Toorak | South Yarra | Richmond | All Inner East