Katrina and Shaun Hewald in the second Downey Designer Homes
Words Vicki Ravlich-Horan, Images Brydie Thompson
We’ve all heard it – building a home is stressful! Not so, according to Jenni and Jason Hare and Katrina and Shaun Hewald, both of whom loved the process and results so much they have done it twice. And impressively both times with Downey Designer Homes.
Jason and Jenni are not moving far, just next door in fact. Having built with Downey 11 years ago, their family and needs have grown. “Jason needs a bigger shed,” Jenni says laughing.
So they are doing it again. Jason says Downey were definitely front runners to get the job the second time around. After all, their current home, built by Downey, won Gold in their category in the Waikato Master Builders Awards. But it wasn’t a forgone conclusion. He still needed to talk with the team and ascertain the same people and processes were in place.
This is what had drawn the couple to Downey in the first instance. Jason wanted to meet the people planning and building their home and be confident they would complete the job on time and on budget. “As a project manager [for a job], you get a bit of a feel for people.”
Jenni says quality was important too, with Jason confessing he is reasonably fussy.
An initial meeting with Kirsty Johnson, Downey’s Sales Consultant, impressed the Hares, who were then reassured when they discovered Pat Burke was still at the helm. Next, Jason presented the dream, and developed their plan with Dylan, Downey’s Architectural Designer, who incidentally drew up their first house plans too.
A few meetings and Zooms later and the Hare’s had the plans for their new home. When we spoke, they were just about to break ground.
Trust in the Downey process was key to Katrina and Shaun Hewald’s decision to build with them the second time too. That trust extended to the Downey team knowing the couple were expecting twins before their families did!
The young couple built one of Downey’s designs in Ōtorohanga after a friend had recommended them. Katrina says, “We went to the Downey show home and were ‘wow!’ We had been to heaps of show homes and none were like Downey’s.”
“Being upfront about what your money gets you”, Shaun says, helped the couple know they were making the right decision. “We liked they were so transparent,” adds Katrina.
The second time around, the Hewald’s started with a plan they liked – The Riverside, and began tweaking this to their needs, including adding an extra bedroom when news their family was about to expand from five to seven.
With four boys, a guest toilet was non-negotiable for Katrina. They also added a guest suite, future proofing the house for possible Airbnb income or coming in handy for a future nanny or grandparents.
Adding much needed square metreage meant some trimming of budgets was necessary, which the couple agree was not a problem, especially with small touches that meant they still got the family home they love.
The kitchen is gorgeous, with little details like the tiles that change direction and include a detail strip between, matching the cabinetry handles. Katrina says the added bonus of having interior designer Bronwyn Turton’s advice “gave me the confidence to do these things I wouldn’t normally”.
Staying in the kitchen, the square island is perfect for a large family, with all five kids being able to fit around, plus plenty of workspace. And ingeniously tucked away in the island is the robo vac, which can come and go.
The laundry is Shaun’s domain, as he’s in charge of the family’s washing, so he was in charge of the benchtop and tile choices in here, leaving the rest of the house in the capable hands of Katrina and Bronwyn, including the snug movie room.
“I’d build again. I love it!” enthuses Katrina.
Shaun agrees the process and results have been great. “This time we knew what was happening, knew everyone and it was just so easy.”
Downey Designer Homes
54 Church Road, Pukete, Hamilton 3200
