Michael Bell Construction
All projects
Cooks Hill, Heritage renovation2025

Dawson Street, Cooks Hill

MBC's award-nominated project: a complete transformation of a century-old Cooks Hill cottage in poor condition and under heritage restrictions. The front of the house was restored to its former glory — including the original cast-iron cooker, kept in the new kitchen wall — while the rear add-ons were replaced with a modern design: a black-and-stone kitchen, a double-sided sandstone fireplace, sea-green zellige bathrooms with brass tapware, and an outdoor kitchen behind. In their words: “Every space was reimagined, redesigned, and rebuilt to create something truly special.”

Scope

  • Full-home renovation of a century-old cottage
  • Heritage restrictions & original features preserved
  • Named HIA Housing Awards finalist
  • Double-sided sandstone fireplace & outdoor kitchen
The new dining and kitchen space — black dining table under the raked timber ceiling, Cooks Hill
Double-sided sandstone fireplace between living and dining
The restored heritage cottage front — brick, weatherboard and picket fence
The original cast-iron cooker, restored and kept in the new kitchen wall
Living room — olive lounge, leather ottoman and black joinery
Sea-green zellige tiles with brass shower rail
Arched shower niche in sea-green tile with brass tapware
Arched doorway to the freestanding bath and walk-in shower
Stone-tiled shower with brass rainhead beside fluted glass
Restored bay-window seat with cushions in the heritage front rooms
Terrazzo-topped vanity with arched mirror and brass taps
Outdoor kitchen under a timber-lined roof behind the cottage
New stone chimney meeting the timber-lined eaves

On this project

  • Architecture@plancentre
  • Interior design@studiosovia
  • Styling@monsoonliving
  • Tiles@earpbros
  • Tiling@ajr_tiling_pty_ltd
  • Photography@thestandingfree