Mountain ranges are constant companions to those lucky enough to live in and around Cromwell, but this impressive 293sqm home also has a strong relationship to water. The four-bedroom house lounges across a site within cooee of Lake Dunstan and has an in-ground swimming pool. They’re game-changers in the middle of a searing Central Otago summer. With so much going for it in terms of the great outdoors, you’d think the interior might pale into insignificance, but that’s far from the case here. Craftsmanship and special details abound, starting with the exterior entrance clad with cedar gables and a wall of Wānaka schist. Inside, the lobby echoes the exterior with more timber and stone. To the left is the living pavilion with cathedral ceilings, clerestory window and designer kitchen with pantry. This is also the gateway to the loggia that looks out to the pool and across to hills in the distance. Turn right and you’ll come across the bedrooms, including the main suite with raking ceiling, walk-in robe and ensuite. The builders’ attention to detail is evident wherever you look — in the snug, study, garage, attic, feature walls and even in the recess window that frames a tree. A log burner, heat-pump system and solar panels keep things toasty.