Meet the builders behind this cedar-clad home on the shores of Lake Pupuke

If you stop by one of Downright Construction’s building sites at any stage of the construction process, you’re sure to find either founder Dan Hawke-Mills or business partner Dillon O’Leary project managing with tools in hand.

While many builders who reach this point in their career choose to take a step back from the day-to-day work on-site, the Downright Construction duo would rather get their hands dirty, taking on a smaller number of jobs per year to ensure they can give each one their undivided attention.

“Dan and I will be there for the initial meeting, we’ll be working alongside the team throughout the project, and we'll be there to sign off on everything as well,” says O’Leary.

When taking on a project, the key thing they’re looking for is passion. “That’s what gets us excited,” O’Leary explains. “When the clients know they’re going to be there forever, when they’re saying, ‘I want this area for when my kids grow up’, or, ‘we’ve had this land for a while and we’ve been wanting to develop it’ — it’s these cases where we know they’re going to be more focused on the outcome rather than the cost.”

It’s these bespoke projects that give the team the opportunity to showcase their craftsmanship and attention to detail.

One such project is the Lake Pupuke House, a stepped, cedar-clad home aptly named for its lakefront location. With no expenses spared, the home exudes luxury. “The client wanted quality, and everything else was sort of secondary,” Hawke-Mills explains. “From the flooring, kitchens, and home automation, to bathroom fixtures and fittings, literally everything is high spec.”

The owner’s love for cedar is apparent. Across the exterior, cedar has been used for the cladding, fascia, and soffits, and the material palette continues indoors in the form of a ‘waterfall’ running along the ceiling and down the wall of the main hallway, concealing the door to the upstairs bedrooms.

Stunning views of the lake can be enjoyed from every point in the upstairs living and dining area, whether you’re cooking dinner, grabbing a drink from the bar, or reclining on the covered deck.

Downstairs, a second living space and guest wing open out to a patio and outdoor entertainment area, where the homeowners and their guests can make the most of the summer months.

Once a project is complete, Downright Construction provide their clients with the maintenance schedule and warranty information through GTEE – a web-based software that holds the relevant warranty and maintenance information for all products and materials used on the job.

“With this technology at our disposal we can better support our clients,” O’Leary says, explaining that the software automatically notifies the homeowner about any upcoming maintenance — from repainting to gutter cleaning.

Hawke-Mills adds, “Though we've been there and done the job, [with the software] we’re able to continue the care and service afterwards as well.”

Explore more projects from Downright Construction.