A family-led Melbourne builder you can trust

We’re a family-led Melbourne builder focused on care, craftsmanship and clear communication. Our story starts with Founder and Director Damian Kot, a carpenter turned construction leader, and his wife, Founder and General Manager Katryna Kot, whose strengths in operations, marketing and systems bring structure and clarity to everything we do. Together, Damian and Katryna set the tone for a builder that values quality work, transparency and a genuinely supportive client experience.

Damian’s passion for building started young, learning hands-on skills alongside his dad through renovations and weekend projects. After moving to Melbourne at 12, he met Andrew and Tom Dyduk at high school. What began as a strong friendship grew into years of building, creating and working together. The trio even began Engineering at university before choosing different paths: Damian pursued a carpentry apprenticeship, Andrew moved into web development, and Tom joined his father in hospitality, launching the first Schnitz store. Seeing its potential, Andrew later helped scale Schnitz into a successful national franchise. That experience in systems, operations and customer service now complements Damian’s on-site expertise and Katryna’s management focus.

Damian’s carpentry journey took him across Melbourne on projects ranging from $50,000 to $3 million, giving him broad exposure to sites, budgets and client expectations. After meeting Katryna, he stepped into leadership roles in the building industry, starting as a Site Manager with a major volume builder, then progressing into Construction Manager roles. He went on to support the growth of other successful building companies, building a reputation for clear planning, quality delivery and steady leadership.

When a major builder collapsed and families were left in limbo, the four formalised Ellari Homes to restore confidence and help people finish the homes they’d dreamt of. Our name reflects our family roots: Ellari blends the names of Damian and Katryna’s children, Ellena and Arek (Ari). With more than 20 years in the building industry, Damian leads delivery, while Katryna, Andrew and Tom bring strong business acumen and operational discipline. Backed by the Dyduk family, Ellari Homes combines practical know-how with robust systems, financial strength and a commitment to deliver excellence and peace of mind for our clients.

Today, our promise is simple: we build homes by our family, for your family. Guided by honesty, integrity, transparency and accuracy, we deliver modern, liveable homes across Melbourne and Victoria, with a process that keeps you informed, supported and confident from start to finish.