Renovating a House or Apartment in Vevey: Where to Start

A 1970s villa above Corsier, a period apartment in the centre of Vevey, a family home in La Tour-de-Peilz: on the Swiss Riviera, many owners reach the same point. The place has potential, the lake view is there, but the interior no longer fits the life they want to live in it. Should you renovate everything or transform only certain rooms? Where do you start, and how do you avoid unpleasant surprises? Here is our method, illustrated by two projects near Vevey.

Full renovation or targeted transformation?

A full renovation takes on the whole home: room layout, technical systems (electrics, lighting, heating, ventilation), finishes, kitchen, bathrooms, interior joinery and furniture. It makes sense when the layout no longer works, when the systems are at the end of their life, or when you have just bought a property and want to make it your own.

A targeted transformation focuses on what changes daily life the most: opening the kitchen onto the living room, creating a walk-in wardrobe, rethinking a laundry room, bringing light into a dark room. Well designed, it changes how the whole house feels, with a controlled budget and a shorter building phase. In Chardonne, our Rouge project, for example, focused on a bespoke dressing room and laundry.

Either way, the right decision comes after a diagnosis, not before.

A good renovation is not only visible in the finishes. You feel it in the way the house works, from morning to night.

It all starts with a diagnosis

Before talking about style, we look at the place as it is and at the way you live in it:

• How you live. Who lives in the house, at what pace, what works and what gets in the way every day.
• Layout and light. Orientation, lake views, dark rooms, wasted circulation.
• Technical condition. Electrical installations, light points, heating, sound insulation, damp.
• What affects the building. Load-bearing walls, volumes, facade: this also determines the permits you need.

This diagnosis sets a clear scope and a realistic budget from the start. To see what follows, read the stages of an interior project.

Permits: what to know in the canton of Vaud

Vevey and the Riviera municipalities fall under Vaud law. As a rule, an interior refresh that does not redistribute volumes or floor areas (paint, flooring, a kitchen replaced in the same place) needs no permit. As soon as the work affects the load-bearing structure, the volume, the exterior appearance or the use of the premises, a building permit is required, often with a public inquiry. The municipality always has the final say, and in older buildings an asbestos survey is almost always required before work starts.

We check this during the diagnosis and build it into the schedule. Full details are in our guide to building permits in the canton of Vaud.

The most costly mistakes

• Choosing finishes before the layout. Beautiful tiles do not fix a badly placed kitchen.
• Thinking about lighting at the end. Light points are decided with the plans, before the walls are opened.
• Forgetting storage. Bespoke wardrobes, cupboards and built-in storage free up space and calm the house.
• Too many trades with no coordination. Without one person holding everything together, delays and extra costs pile up. See our article on site management.
• Turning your back on the view. On the Riviera, the light from the lake is a major asset: the layout should be organised around it.

Two projects near Vevey

Les Fontaines, Corsier-sur-Vevey: a villa redesigned around the kitchen

With an exceptional view over the lake, this villa renovation accompanies a couple into a new rhythm of life. The kitchen, dining room and living room were brought together in one open, mid-century inspired space. At its heart: a fully bespoke kitchen and a play of curved ceilings that visually link the three areas. Wood, marble, natural fabrics and golden details create a warm, serene atmosphere. See the project.

Chailly, La Tour-de-Peilz: an apartment fully redesigned

In this apartment close to Vevey and Montreux, the aim was to improve the layout, make better use of the corners in the main bedroom and living area, and redefine the study, guest room and laundry. Bespoke built-in furniture, a walk-in wardrobe, new lighting and a complete renewal of furniture and decoration created a coherent, warm whole. See the project.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to renovate a house in Vevey?

Not always. An interior refresh that does not change volumes is generally exempt. If the work affects the structure, the volume, the facade or the use of the premises, a permit is required. The municipality decides in every case, and we prepare the documents with you.

How much does a full renovation cost?

It depends on the floor area, the condition of the property, the scope of work and the share of bespoke elements. We set the budget with you from the first meeting. For orders of magnitude, see how much an interior design project costs in Switzerland.

How long should I plan for?

Design, any permits, craftsmen’s lead times and the building work all add up. Our article how long does an interior design project take explains each phase.

Do you work elsewhere on the Riviera?

Yes: Vevey, La Tour-de-Peilz, Corsier-sur-Vevey, Montreux, Chardonne and the whole Lake Geneva region as far as Lausanne and Geneva.

Planning to renovate a house or apartment in Vevey? Discover our interior architecture service, our bespoke furniture, or tell us about your project.