Workmanship and design go hand in hand for the dedicated couple who run Koru Building Contractors and Koru Furniture & Homewares. Builder Tony Newman and designer Bronte Skaines are the brains behind this Cairns-based custom home-building firm and interior design hub.

Utilising their diverse skills, the couple joined forces to produce Ombra, a home that works seamlessly with the lush tropical surroundings of North Queensland.

According to Bronte, the contemporary dwelling is a contrast to the classic Queenslander-style home found across the state. ‘Many houses in Northern Queensland use masonry rendered blocks. But instead, we chose to showcase different building principles. We experimented with products not often used in residential building in Far North Queensland, such as off-form concrete walls and modern metal cladding systems,’ she says.

‘It made this build quite technical as we had to use plenty of set-ups. Despite this, it was certainly worth taking on this complex project.’

The inspiration for Ombra, which means ‘shadow’ or ‘shade’, was the desire to create a sanctuary – a solid home with stillness and quietness emanating from and within it. 

An outdoor-indoor connection was a key element in the layout. A spacious outdoor entertaining area was incorporated, which is well-used in all seasons. Another essential, high ceilings, were installed throughout the home to add comfort and spaciousness. ‘We also incorporated curvaceous walls and a round pool, which adds some playfulness,’ says Bronte.

This custom-built three-bedroom home with a self-contained studio won a plethora of awards at the 2024 HIA-CSR North Queensland Housing, Kitchen & Bathroom Awards. This includes HIA-CSR Home of the Year, Custom Built Home, Outdoor Project, Outdoor Kitchen and Bathroom Design. HIA judges were impressed by the attention to detail and the difficulty of the build.

New beginnings

Koru Building Contractors has been operating in the Cairns region since 2011 and has progressively grown and strengthened its reputation for high-quality construction. 

In Maori design, the ‘koru’ symbolises new beginnings, growth and harmony. ‘This symbolises the lifecycle of the building process from the very early ideas and design stage right through the building process to when you get to enjoy living, working or playing in your new space,’ says the Koru website.

‘Building Ombra was an opportunity for Koru to push boundaries and work with new materials and products not often used in Far North Queensland,’ says Tony, who left school at 15. Even during his youth, he had a passion for construction. ‘I became a qualified carpenter in 1992 and have been in the building industry ever since. This is what I love to do,’ he says.

‘While I’ve been running the building business for 13 years, I still take a hands-on approach. During the Ombra build, I ran the day-to-day site operation, and I was there nearly every day,’ says Tony, who managed this build for 18 months.

Bronte has worked in the construction industry alongside Tony for the past 20 years. Now the manager of Koru Furniture & Homewares and Studio K Interior Design, she selects unique designer homewares from well-known Australian brands. 

Tony agrees: ‘We wanted it to make you exhale when you walked through the door. It’s a space where the world slows down.’

‘It was a great opportunity to display many of these elements when designing Ombra,’ she says. This included lush fabrics from Warwick Fabrics for the Roman blind fabric (‘Burano’) and cushion covers (‘Haven’).

Throughout the home, many furniture pieces from Ethnicraft were incorporated. This European brand is known for its stunning solid oak creations, emphasising a commitment to sustainability which is at the core of Koru Furniture and Homewares.

Jardan, an Australian-made and owned company, was also featured prominently in the furniture selection. It’s renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to sustainability.

‘The standout feature of the house – the kitchen – showcases Cosentino’s Dekton Laurent. This porcelain slab embodies the essence of Ombra with its deep hues and veining,’ says Bronte.

‘Ombra had to feel cool but warm in spirit and have elements of light and shade to reflect the movement of the shadows cast by the trees throughout the day,’ explains Bronte.

Book now!

The HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards – one of the country’s most talked-about events in the industry – will conclude the three-day HIA National Conference in Melbourne on 15-17 May.

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First published on 4 April 2025