As former fan favourites of The Block, Kyal and Kara Demmrich have turned their talent for transforming the most mundane of spaces into their passion and their livelihood.
And they’re good at it too. They’re renovating full-time and, as current ambassadors of the Weet-Bix Messy Kids photo competition, are juggling a plate full of new parent responsibilities, life in the public eye and the messy, nitty-gritty of renovating.
So, we put some questions to them: How can the average couple renovate with no skills? What should they focus on? And where do they even start?
What changes to your house will add the most value?
Kyal: “I think first and foremost, before we go making too many massive changes, it’s good to know a coat of paint can make a massive change. White walls in particular can give it a fresh feel.
“Paint is one of the cheapest things you can buy and can be a really good starting point.
“So, that will definitely freshen up the inside. And then on the outside, I would start with some really basic landscaping, getting rid of any overwhelming bushes or trees. It can totally transform your house.”
Kara: “Having a clear path to the front door is also really important, because first impressions really count. That could be using stepping stones or just paving it yourself.
“You can get pavers from a hardware store and generally they are not that expensive and something you could do yourself.”
What’s something everyone should know before they renovate?
Kara: “What your goal is when renovating. Are you going to be there for a year? If so, it’s going to be a cheap, cosmetic renovation.
“Otherwise, is this the house you’re going to be in five years or 10 years or long term? Making sure you know what your goal is and making sure you know if you’re renovating to stay or renovating to sell.”
Listen: Shaynna Blaze on all the things she just can’t live without. (Post continues…)
Kyal: “If you’re planning to have a couple of kids, do you think about extending the house a bit? You don’t want to be making changes now that you are going to be ripping out in a year.”