WHEN Katie Vagg and Ben Spry found their dream home there was just one problem — it was one bedroom short.
So they decided to think inside the box — said box being the large family room.
The couple had three children aged five, nine and 10 and wanted them to have their own rooms.
Their first step was to sit down with a floor plan of the house.
They realised that the family room, which was lined floor-to-ceiling with wood paneling and distinctly lacking in charm, could be divided into two bedrooms.
Ben was a keen home handyman, which gave them the confidence to tackle the project themselves and helped to cut costs.
Gyprock's HomeStyle e-magazine had inspired the idea of dividing the family room in half, so Katie and Ben used the company's plasterboard and cornices for the job.
"Cornice was an important feature of the design," Ms Vagg said.
"I love the sense of framing that cornice brings.
"I chose Gyprock Alto for its clean lines and contemporary feel.
"It's not overly decorative, but has the finishing effect of cornice."
The couple's 10-year-old son Mason loves skateboarding, comic books and drawing, so his room is painted in bold primary colours and "teenish" furnishings with a chalkboard wall and a skateboard shelf.
Tayah is a nine-year-old with a love of pink and aqua, cute toys and fairies.
She also likes to draw, colour-in and write notes to friends.
Her room has a desk nook next to her built-in wardrobe and colours inspired by gelati flavours and lollies.
Details: gyprock.com.au.
More inspiration on the pintrest handles: yourhomefairfax and csrgyprock.
