Renovations Architect, Bellingen & The Mid-North Coast NSW
Create the home you've always wanted from the one you already have.
Practical, beautiful renovations tailored to suit your lifestyle, site & budget.
With over 30 years’ experience as a registered architect, I specialise in smart renovations, alterations and additions across Bellingen, Coffs Harbour & Port Macquarie Regions, and throughout the Mid North Coast.
Whether you need a modest update or a major transformation, I deliver practical, site-responsive designs that respect your home and your budget.
Have a look at some of my successful renovation projects below.
Why choose Dustin Leaney for your next Renovation?
I focus on solutions that work beautifully and are straightforward for local builders to construct.
Clear cost planning from the beginning so there are no nasty surprises during construction.
Deep understanding of Bellingen and the Mid-North Coast climate, materials, planning rules and council requirements.
Registered Architect (NSW ARB 7931) with over 50 successful renovation and extension projects.
Ready to discuss your project?
What type of Renovation do you need?
By retaining the existing structure, we can significantly reduce costs and minimise waste, creating a more sustainable outcome. With a focus on “Reduce, Recycle, Reuse”, we transform your current home into a modern, comfortable living space while honouring its original character
We create seamless additions and extensions that feel like they’ve always been part of your home. Whether you need an extra bedroom, living area, or better connection to the outdoors, our designs maximise light, flow, and functionality while respecting your existing house and site.
Sometimes a smaller, strategic intervention makes the biggest difference. We specialise in targeted updates — such as reconfiguring living areas, improving energy efficiency, adding decks, or modernising key spaces — delivering maximum impact with minimal disruption and cost.
Practical, beautiful kitchens and bathrooms that improve daily living and add value to your home. Compact & clever or spacious luxury designs, every renovation is tailored to your lifestyle and budget. Working with many trusted local builders, we ensure high-quality and smooth delivery.
Six Feature Renovation Projects
Transit Hill Renovation, Port Macquarie
Completed in 2024, the Transit Hill renovation was a complete lifestyle shift for my clients. The entire project included a sub-division, development of a new home – The Transit Hill House – which became their temporary accommodation, during this renovation and an investment to sell to cover the costs of their new home.
The Transit Hill Renovation made use of the existing brick base and suspended slab floor underneath the dilapidated weatherboard beach shack, which was sitting on the prime location at the top of Transit Hill.
If you want to see more, please click on Transit Hill Renovation.
Butterfly Beach House Renovation
Coffs Harbour Region
My clients on the Butterfly Beach house had just one request. We’d like to transform our tired old beach house so that it has all of the appeal and amenity of our architect designed rural home in Bellingen … without the lawn mowing.
We were able to re-use much of the ground floor structure, whilst creating a new single level living upstairs, accessed by both the grand double height entry foyer and a lift to improve accessibility and support aging in place.
If you want to see more, please click on The Butterfly Beach House Renovation.
Casa Lasiandra Renovation, Bellingen
Casa Lasiandra is an example of a surgical renovation. The original building, although a bit tired had good bones – Tile roof, brick veneer construction, and a solid, stable sub-floor. To maximise a small budget, we focussed on the pain points to create a transformation.
Repointing the roof tiles with a coat of paint before a new solar installation. Fixing up water damaged ceilings inside. A small kitchen renovation, and a new coat of paint inside and out.
Amethyst Way, Basement Addition
Port Macquarie
My client in Amethyst Way, calls himself a very tall dwarf, as he was really looking forward to burrowing underneath his house to create a new ‘man cave’. The project included shoring up the existing structure, installing basement waterproofing and retaining walls, before fitting out the home theater, pool room, bar and spiral staircase access to upstairs.
The Sandon Holiday Home Renovation
Building in the Sandon has some very tricky logistical challenges. Access is via the beach, only at low tide, or by a barge across the bay. This meant no cement trucks, and lightweight construction techniques.
We made use of the entire downstairs building, just removing the roof. Because the downstairs footings were very small, we straddled the existing building with a timber portal frame to support the upstairs. The upstairs living area features a clerestory window bringing the beautiful northern sun deep into the plan. Another feature of the holiday home is the cantilevered balcony reaching out towards the Sandon Bay.
The North Shore Renovation
Port Macquarie
The owners of the North Shore Renovation made a conscious decision to downsize, with a renovation that was no bigger than the existing house. No compromises were made in terms of quality though. The new home captures views across the Hastings River towards Port Macquarie.
If you want to see more please click on The North Shore Renovation.
Ready to discuss your project?
Our Clear and Collaborative Renovation Process
- Initial Consultation – Understand your goals, lifestyle and budget
- Background Research – Existing Building Documentation, Site Analysis & Council Regulation Research.
- Concept Design – Explore options and possibilities
- Developed Design & Documentation – Detailed plans and specifications
- Council & Construction Approval – Navigate approvals smoothly
- Construction Support – Regular site visits and issue resolution
Testimonials
Dustin Leaney is someone who understands budgets, and is very creative and practical in achieving outcomes.
Our renovated home now offers a better utilisation of space, opens up to more natural light and the surrounding environment.
We are looking forward to retiring in our forever home.
I would highly recommend Dustin to anyone thinking of building or renovating a house. His design, from my initial design idea is nothing short of amazing.
Dustin is highly professional, knowledgeable, practical, helpful and high value for money.
He has helped me to get my design from concept to DA submission very quickly.
Visitors are amazed by the unique curved hallway every time they visit. We love entertaining and relaxing in the courtyard which offers passive solar benefits through the large sliding doors to the main living area, and provides outlook, natural light and ventilation to the bedrooms. Our family loves living in this home and we would definitely recommend Dustin to anyone who is looking for a unique and comfortable home.
Initially, Dustin worked to understand the varying cultural constraints to ensure he was meeting the needs of all involved. His design was very creative, progressive and very visual, making it easy for the community to 'see' what our future would look like.
I would highly recommend Dustin Leaney for any architectural designs, particularly when working with indigenous communities.
I nearly cried when Dustin showed me the 3D rendering of the design for our renovation. I couldn't believe it.
Now that it is built, our favourite time of the day is at the end of the afternoon, when we sit on our roof top terrace, in the hot tub with a beer, watching the whales swim by.
Dustin took our dream lifestyle and made it happen.
Serving the Port Macquarie/Hastings & Coffs Harbour Regions, Bellingen Shire and the wider Mid North Coast of NSW
With over 30 years’ experience, I combine technical expertise, creative problem-solving, and a strong focus on sustainability to deliver practical, beautiful renovations on the Mid North Coast.
I’m not a large firm — I’m a local architect who genuinely cares about your project and your outcomes. If you’re ready to transform your home, I’d love to discuss your ideas.
Ready to discuss your project?
Dustin & his family live and work on Gumbayngirr Country, paying respect to its traditional custodians past, present, and future.