A hypoallergenic plasterboard product from Gyprock played a crucial role in the transformation of a 1970s house into an allergy-smart home for an active young family in the beachside suburb of Toowoon Bay, NSW.
Former The Block contestants and keen renovators, Kyal and Kara Demmrich transformed the original three-bedroom red brick ‘box' with downstairs granny flat into an allergy-smart, stylish and functional six-bedroom, two-bathroom home through careful thought and planning. A new garage extension and self-contained studio in the backyard were also part of the renovation.
A key objective of the project was to create a healthy environment through the use of allergy-smart building materials. Gyprock Sensitive plasterboard was used throughout the main house and studio on the walls as well as the ceilings. The plasterboard’s moisture- and mould-resistant properties make it the ideal choice for building a space suitable for sensitive airways.
Gyprock Sensitive is the first and only residential plasterboard to be approved by the National Asthma Council Australia's Sensitive Choice program as a better choice for asthma and allergy sufferers. The material is treated with a powerful but gentle anti-fungal agent that resists mould growth to enhance the quality of living for the home's occupants.
Kyal and Kara also opted for floorboards instead of carpet in the home to enhance the allergy-safe environment. Large casement windows and strategically placed skylights assist with ventilation and flood the interiors with natural light.
While creating a functional, health-smart space, the renovator couple also turned the home into a stylish beachside retreat. To balance the other interior design features of the home and create aesthetic harmony between rooms, Gyprock Trio cornice was used as the finishing touch to the walls and ceilings. Trio's dramatic three-step profile and strong, modern lines offer a subtle update to this more traditional home.
The two-bedroom studio designed as a sub-let in the property's backyard has also been lined with Gyprock Sensitive. The open plan living space with north facing windows provides plenty of natural light, aided by the three skylights in the kitchen. A deck made from 140mm blackbutt complements the cladding and connects the master bedroom, second bedroom and living spaces to the outdoors.
Gyprock helped Kyal and Kara transform the old building into an asthma- and allergy-safe family beach house.
As new parents "it was important for us to create a healthy environment for ourselves and our little man Ziya," said Kara.
“Using allergy-smart building materials when renovating is an investment in health for every family. Moving forward with our next renovation at Long Jetty, we'll continue to focus on using allergy-smart materials."
