Meet the new kid on Kyal and Kara’s Block
THE Block favourites Kyal and Kara Demmrich introduce baby number two to the world and ponder a return to the TV show that made them famous.
Stellar
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KARA Demmrich readily admits that she and husband Kyal don’t know how to relax.
This is not all that surprising, given the duo run a successful design and construction business. But she did recently give birth to second child Vada (named after the “strong and independent” character from the 1991 film My Girl), and under typical circumstances she would probably consider popping the little one in a bouncer so she could go about demolishing a kitchen.
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There’s just one small issue: the couple haven’t found the right kitchen to demolish recently — let alone the right house.
“We’ve been looking for months and we haven’t found one yet. It’s probably a bit of a blessing in disguise because it has forced us to not be renovating,” Kara, 31, tells Stellar. Not that the duo is completely project-free. Kyal, 32, is busy building a cubby house for son Ziya, who is almost two, and they maintain a raft of regular appearances on Network Ten’s The Living Room.
Still, their current pace is much slower than what Kyal and Kara are used to. Since placing third on the Nine Network’s series The Block: Fans v Faves in 2014, they have ploughed ahead. Aside from starting their business, they have been involved in more than 28 renovation projects and auctioned off three houses (including one on The Block). Not bad for a pair who once had just $30 per week to put towards a savings account.
Their focus, drive and calm demeanour have made Kyal and Kara, affectionately known as the Super Ks on The Block, one of the most well-liked couples to appear on the renovation show.
“We just felt really privileged to even be there,” Kyal says. “I mean, there were definitely some pretty tough times as the weeks progressed. But we kept reminding ourselves that it’s such an honour to have this experience, and that not many people get to do it.”
The serene vibe they exude does not mean they don’t bicker like a normal couple. Kara laughs as she admits: “We do argue. All our close friends and tradies would agree with that! But we try to be respectful when we talk to each other. There are so many times I want to just bite his head off. But you’ve got to be patient.”
They met and fell in love when they were aged just 16 and 17, so after 15 years together the duo like to think they know each other even better than their own selves. “We don’t often have blow-ups. And at the end of the day, The Block is just a TV show,” Kyal says. “Our marriage and the respect we have for each other takes a front seat.”
So do their children. Having Ziya and Vada gave Kara “relatively positive birthing experiences”, and she went through hypnobirthing training during her pregnancy with Vada.
“I felt, mentally, in a really good place. I had the first part of my labour at home with Kyal and my mum,” she says. “We were able to put Ziya to bed and say goodnight to him, knowing that the next time I saw him we would have another little one.”
For Kyal, Vada’s birth was all the more special because he helped deliver the baby. “I was pretty stoked to be a part of that,” he says, his voice tinged with pride. “It was a miracle. I could talk about it all day.”
Ziya is enjoying being a big brother, although his parents agree he can be a little too enthusiastic.
“He runs and jumps on her — you’ve got to explain that babies are very delicate and you need to be gentle. I say ‘gentle’ about 100 times a day,” Kara says. “He’s obsessed with little Matchbox cars at the moment and he’ll just go and plonk them on her face.”
Despite having two kids under two and a business to run, Kyal declares he would happily return for another season on The Block: “Yes, 100 per cent” is his firm answer. Kara, on the other hand, is not so sure.
“I don’t know that I could because I’ve got two kids now,” she says. “I can’t imagine leaving them for that amount of time. A credit to the families who do it — I know they’re doing it to get ahead — but I don’t think I could leave them.” There’s a pause. “It would be really hard to turn down, though...”