Guest bedroom week, aka Week One on The Block, has officially wrapped up, culminating in some completely unexpected feedback from judges Shaynna, Darren and Neale.
This week, each team was given a budget of $21,000 to complete their guest bedroom. But in addition to building a bedroom from scratch, the contestants also had to design and finalise their floorplans. In previous seasons, floorplans designed by Block architect Julian Brenchley were set in stone. This year, however, the contestants have been given free reign to create the floorplan they think will most appeal to buyers come auction day.
Returning contestants Ronnie and Georgia and Mitch and Mark may have arrived on the scene with the advantage of experience, but the final scores (which were very close) show that the newbie teams, Luke and Josh, Tanya and Vito, and Kirsty and Jesse, are bringing their A-games to deliver high-quality rooms that will give the fave couples a run for their money.
Ronnie and Georgia: House 1
Returning contestants Ronnie and Georgia seemed to breeze through week one on The Block, delivering a small but sweet bedroom with a neutral colour scheme. Even foreman Keith and Dan were impressed by the quality of the couple’s work, finding zero flaws during their construction inspection.
Confident in both their workmanship and style direction, Ronnie and Georgia were hoping their sky high ceilings would wow the judges. And impress they did, with the judges immediately noting the ceiling height upon entry. After the initial shock moment, the judges quickly fell in love with the couple’s styling choices.
Ronnie and Georgia’s guest bedroom featured soaring ceilings. All bedding, cushions and throw rugs from Aura Home. ‘Arch’ side table from Trit House.
“Everything is so considered, there’s the arches in the artwork, you’ve got the arches in the side tables, you look at the little curves that are in the wall – it’s so considered it’s frightening,” says Shaynna.
Shaynna, who is known for commenting on the amount of available storage in a room, was also impressed with the sheer amount of cabinetry in the room. But the cabinetry was also a source of criticism from the judges, particularly Darren, who noted that the doors opened in an awkward direction.
“Everything is so considered,” said Shaynna. Framed art prints on shelf from So Worth Printing via Etsy. Framed art print on wall from Graphico.
The judges were impressed with the beautifully styled wardrobe which featured a benchtop in ‘Noble Grey’ by Caesarstone. ‘Aztec’ face vase from The Block Shop.
Despite this, Darren said “There’s so much to love. This is Ronnie and Georgia 2.0.”
“This shows how you can deliver a neutral room but keep it interesting,” agreed Neale. “What a start! I mean, it’s so resolved. It reminds me of what Ronnie and Georgia can do.”
Cash spent: $21,305
Score: 24½ (Winners!)
Mitch and Mark: House 2
This week Mitch and Mark almost beat the record for the fastest room ever completed on The Block, but after foremen Keith and Dan surveyed the room, they found a few minor flaws that needed fixing. The couple quickly rectified the issues to deliver a welcoming guest bedroom with a soft pink colour palette and subtle statement wallpaper.
The judges immediately noted Mitch and Mark’s new style direction, which they agreed is a complete departure from the mid-century look they channelled during the 2019 Oslo season. Despite this, the judges found themselves somewhat underwhelmed by the room.
Mitch and Mark’s completed guest bedroom. Cushions and bedding from L&M Home. ‘Seagrass’ pendant from Beacon Lighting. Framed wall art ‘Melon & Lime Daiquiri’ by Lisa Wisse Robinson from The Block Shop. ‘Nesst’ side tables from Freedom.
“I actually feel quite claustrophobic in here,” said Neale. “It feels very, very small – oppressively small, actually.” Neale believed the styling was partly to blame, with an indoor plant emphasising the room’s lack of space, “Now that’s not the kind of rookie error I’d expect Mitch and Mark would make,” he said.
“I really like Mitch and Mark, I really do and I was really excited to hear that they were back on The Block. But I feel this room is quite generic, and that is not a word I would ever, ever have used in connection with Mitch and Mark,” said Neale.
The pink wardrobe doors were one of the only things Neale liked about the room.
The judges agreed the study nook in the guest bedroom felt narrow and cramped. ‘Arenas’ table lamp, photo frames, coral sculpture and bookends from Freedom.
After they’d picked apart the flaws, the judges then focussed on the room’s positive aspects. They praised the soft colour palette, the “pink salt” wardrobe doors, and the elegant choice in wallpaper. Shaynna was especially impressed with the room’s lighting design.
Before leaving the room, Shaynna expressed her concern about a scented candle burning on the bedside table. “It could burn the whole room down,” she said, to which Neale replied, “It’s not such a bad thing – sorry, sorry, that was a joke!”
Needless to say, Mitch and Mark were not happy with the judges’ feedback.
Cash spent: $13,823.20
Score: 22½
Tanya and Vito: House 3
After an “emotional rollercoaster” of a week, Tanya and Vito delivered a guest bedroom with a fresh and fun colour palette, raked ceilings and plenty of natural light.
Initially, the judges had only good things to say about the room. Shaynna was immediately taken by the couple’s choice of bedding,”I love this colour – absolutely adore!” she said. Darren agreed that the colour combo was “cool,” and also praised the pair for selecting a sheer curtain in a unique shade.
The judges loved Tanya and Vito’s choice in artwork and bedding. All bedding from Bungalow Trading Co. Canvas print ‘Flower Fields’ by Aurora Art from The Block Shop. Table lamps from Freedom.
But, then came the cons. The judges were underwhelmed by the wardrobe, the size of the sheer curtain, the cheap curtain rail and an uneven wall that “kicks out like a flared trouser.”
Many of the issues picked up by foremen Dan and Keith during their construction inspection (including a wonky door and uneven skylights) were not rectified by Tanya and Vito ahead of tools down.
While there were flaws with the room, the judges couldn’t fault the couple’s eye for style. ‘Addison’ bedside tables in slate from Satara. Lotion, dish and room spray from Freedom.
The judges were underwhelmed by the size of Tanya and Vito’s wardrobe.
“It’s got a sense of life, it’s got a sense of vibrancy about it,” said Neale, who could not fault the couple’s sense of style which he likened to a contemporary spin on 50s style.
“I think they’ve done a bloody brilliant job,” he said.
Cash spent: $14,199.98
Score: 23
Luke and Josh: House 4
This week, each of the teams received a budget of $21,000 to complete their rooms. Luke and Josh made the strategic decision to go big, sinking almost their entire budget into their bedroom in an effort to win the judges over.
There were two hero features in the room, a floor-to-ceiling velvet bedhead and a bifolding door that will eventually lead out to a private deck.
Josh and Luke’s decision to install bi-fold doors was praised by the judges. The glass-front wardrobes, however, were divisive. Bedding from Freedom, cushions from L&M Home.
“This is way better than what we saw last week,” said Darren, who was impressed by the boys’ willingness to make big structural calls during week one on The Block. Darren also loved their choice of wardrobe, which featured what he described as “hot” glass doors.
Neale also loved the cabinetry, but Shaynna, on the other hand, could not hide her distaste, “I hate it,” she said
Neale was impressed with the boys’ talent for colour. Candle from Mitch & Mark Home, lamp from Clu Living, vase from The Block Shop.
The glass-front wardrobes divided the judges. Darren called them “hot”, while Shaynna could not hide her distaste.
Once their focus turned away from the divisive wardrobe design, the judges found plenty to like in the room.
The styling of the cushions was one major area the judges felt the boys had improved. Luke and Josh admitted they had a helping hand from Mitch and Mark when it came to dressing their bed this week.
Cash spent: $20,722.80
Score: 24
Kirsty and Jesse: House 5
After winning the challenge room reveal, Kirsty and Jesse began guest bedroom week with confidence, knowing the judges loved their Hamptons-meets-country look. But that didn’t mean the week went without a hiccup.
After having their site shutdown over unauthorised building works, the pair got on with the job to deliver a classic room with a spacious walk-in wardrobe, calm blue colour scheme and the pair’s signature wainscoted walls.
The judges were impressed by the quality of the workmanship in Kirsty and Jesse’s guest bedroom. All bedding from Aura Home. Framed art print from The Block Shop.
“We’ve been transported to somewhere coastal, chic, a little bit plantation and a little bit country,” said Darren upon entering the room. Neale agreed and loved the couple’s choice of wallpaper, which featured a subtle blue palm tree print.
Shaynna, on the other hand, was impressed by the quality of the finishes in the room, including the wall panelling, skirting, cornices and chair rail.
The judges loved the subtle blue wallpaper Kirsty and Jesse selected. ‘Bayswater’ bedside table from Freedom. ‘Marie Cream Crackle’ table lamp from Living Styles.
Kirsty and Jesse were the only couple to deliver a walk-in wardrobe this week. ‘Angui’ gold wardrobe mirror from Trit House.
While there was a lot to love about the room, Neale said he was in some ways, a little underwhelmed, “I don’t want them to become a sort of, one trick pony. I want to see more nuance.” One part of the room the judges felt could have been better was the wall opposite the bed, which they agreed felt unfinished.
“You walk in here and all you’re faced with is this blank expanse of nothing,” said Neale, who said even something as a sheer curtain could have vastly improved the look of the room.
Cash spent: $14,757.58
Score: 23
