Sharing a block, and often the same floorplan, residential duplex design can often be very conventional. On occasion, two homes sitting side by side and sharing the same floor plan can result in two very distinct homes emerging.

Expert renovators Kyal and Kara Demmrich have achieved this with their latest project – Bay Builds, located on NSW’s Central Coast. The side-by-side duplex, with a mirror-image floorplan by design, has allowed Kyal and Kara to deliver distinct and unique interior styles, while featuring their signature Coastal style complete with helical staircases, unique outdoor pools and complementary landscaping.

Each of the duplex homes, designed by Kyal and Kara and Etchells Building Design, and built by Kyal’s Diverse Design and Construct, features three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, office, and media room over 350 square metres.

“Situated on the southern aspect of the block, Bay Builds House 1 leans into a light, refined, French-inspired elegant interior scheme,” said Kara Demmrich. “Travertine, French render and champagne metallic accents adorn each space. House 2, on the northern aspect of the block, is moody, and rustic. Warm micro-cement, aged American Oak and Vancouver natural stone deliver a coastal Spanish interior.”

To ensure the homes not only look great, but feel comfortable and can stand up to everyday knocks of family life, Kyal and Kara needed a solution that had impact and sound resistant benefits.

“On the walls, we used Gyprock Plus plasterboard, which features optimised core technology, making it stronger and lighter and perfect for high traffic areas,” said Kara, who notes that in any of their projects, the point where they get to using CSR Gyprock is always an exciting moment. “I love the part of the building process when we’re putting up the Gyprock as it’s when the fun part of the building starts.”

While generous, the property still manages to feel relaxed enough to accommodate family living. Curved geometry defines the inside space, resulting in an organic, natural sensation throughout the home. Statement architectural features are layered throughout the interior in a palette of fresh white and soft cream, juxtaposed with striking furnishings, while floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors enable natural light to flood the downstairs living area, maximising the connection with the outdoor space.

To achieve the curves in the kitchens and master bedrooms, Kyal and Kara used Gyprock Flexible. The 6.5mm thick plasterboard sheets have an enhanced gypsum core, which is designed to bend and enables builders to easily create curved walls and ceilings and add visual interest to a space.

As well as being a stunning feature you can see from the different living spaces, the curved helical stairs provide a design link to the curved walls found in each home. “We’ve used curves as a design element and we wanted to add that architectural feature in the master bedrooms,” said Kyal. “The curved wall that leads from the entrance of the bedroom really softens the look of the space and feels luxurious and has made it one of our favourite rooms.”

The bathrooms are a great example of using varying textures with similar colour tones to create a room that’s interesting and packs a punch. Gyprock’s Aquachek plasterboard, which is specifically designed for use as a lining in wet areas due to its moisture and humidity resistant properties, provides the base for the styling, where curved finger tiles and tactile accessories set the scene. “It’s so important to make sure you’re using the right substrate to build on,” said Kyal. “We’ve used Gyprock Aquachek 10mm, which offers great moisture resistance and tile weight capacity.”

One of the couples’ trademark features is their attention to detail and Bay Builds is no different. In a subtle nod to the curves throughout the homes, Kyal and Kara have chosen to use cornices in bedrooms 2 and 3 of both homes. “Cornices make up an important part of any room, bringing walls and ceilings together harmoniously and make the room feel special,” said Kyal. House 1 sees Gyprock Concerto cornice combining smooth curves, distinctive lines and a sharp centre step that creates shadows to instantly add depth of character. For House 2 they loved the ‘wave effect’ of Gyprock Symphony cornice, with its multidirectional smooth curves that exudes elegance.

The crowning glory of both the homes is the ‘outdoor entertaining space to die for’ featuring gorgeous mosaic tiled pools, alongside lush greenery and a stunning stone wall. Overall, with the use of carefully selected quality building materials and a strong design vision, Kyal and Kara have created a beautiful bayside sanctuary, designed to last a lifetime.

Photography: Grace Picot