Five new teams delivered beautiful guest bedrooms with a side of shock value! While we love a little drama, this year for the first time ever in The Block history, one team quits after the first challenge. Let’s jump right in.
Ever since it was announced that The Block was making a tree change this season, we’ve been dreaming of modern farmhouses with wrap-around verandahs overlooking lush countryside vistas with mud rooms, fireplaces and ceramic farmhouse sinks.
What could possibly go wrong in this bucolic setting?
(Photo: Nine) (Credit: Photo: Nine)Our first look at the teams this year shows a great mixture of skill, enthusiasm and bravado. We’re super excited about the direction producers have taken the show this season with Scotty renovating his own home and a focus on sustainability. In a first for The Block, the homes will be off-grid, with a 7-star sustainability rating. At stake is $100,000 for the winner of The Block, plus whatever profit each team makes on auction day.
Starting with a guest bedroom, each team is given a set budget – this week it’s $5,000 – to deliver a room which will be judged by seasoned professionals Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker, all of whom know a thing or two about designing, decorating and selling houses.
The winners of this first challenge get to decide which house they’ll renovate, followed by the other contestants in order of their point scores. There’s a lot to cover in the first 64 hours and by the time Scotty called the first “Tools down!”, we’d already picked our favourites. Let’s take a look at the room reveals.
Tom and Sarah-Jane
HOUSE 1
Spent: $4892.75
Score: 23½ WINNERS
Fire and style. Tom and Sarah-Jane mean business on The Block.
Feisty couple Tom and Sarah-Jane are very clear about what they want to achieve on The Block. Renovating House 1 this week, they fell in love with the Queenslander and its weatherboard charm, despite its dilapidated state.
After settling on/fighting about which room to renovate with “paper, scissors, rock!” they mucked in and motivated trades to get on the tools quick smart. Hiccups included Tom priming the walls before the plaster was dry (eeep!) and struggles over a paint spray gun.
In the design of their guest bedroom, Sarah-Jane and Tom opted for a modern farmhouse look, with brushed metal wall scones, autumn-coloured bedlinen and walls in green (with a tiny argument over the exact shade).
The judges were pleasantly surprised, with Shaynna loving the inspiration for the colour palette, saying, “It’s stunning, I think it’s perfection,” adding that it feels like a boutique hotel room. Bedlinen from Bed, Bath n’ Table, wall sconces from Beacon Lighting.
Not lost on the judges were the original ceiling rose and wainscoting installed to hero the height of the room and the general aesthetic nod to the heritage of the house and country locale.
Neale was amazed and impressed with Tom and Sarah-Jane’s vision, saying, “This couple has come in here knowing damn well but they wanted to do,” and proceeded to take notes for his own country farmhouse renovation. Tom and Sarah-Jane are off to a flying start.
Darren noted that “It’s not easy to create a room that feels like it belongs in this house. It’s got a traditional feeling but it feels very contemporary.” Mirror from Freedom, paint colours are ‘Olive Blend’ and ‘Whisper White’ from Mitre 10.
Dylan and Jenny
HOUSE 2
Spend: $4247.83
Score: 22½
Double trouble. Dylan and Jenny are both professional tradies.
While Dylan and Jenny weren’t thrilled with their starting house for this challenge, the builder and apprentice chippy wasted no time getting to work to transform the guest bedroom.
They kept the profile of the original skirting boards, installed a VJ-panelled niche wall behind the bedhead with beautiful precision and painted the wall above in a calming shade of sage green.
Finishing the look was a pair of glass ball pendant lights suspended on brass fittings above the bedside tables on each side.
Neale said Dylan and Jenny’s room was beautifully executed, however, “They’ve thrown everything at it in the hope that something sticks. It’s a bit of a mishmash.” Throw from Ikea, silver cushion from Kmart.
The judges praised the efforts of the two-tradie team, loving the sage green wall colour and detailed work, but Neale didn’t like the whole ‘vibe’ of the room, saying it remained too “urban”, with too much going on with the styling. Darren admired the clever use of a flatpack wardrobe with panelled doors to match the VJ panelling, saying that Dylan and Jenny have a good sense of the finishes required, but that their individual styling choices needed to be more cohesive.
The workmanship from Dylan and Jenny impressed the judges. Pendant lights from Beacon Lighting, bedside tables from Freedom.
Pot, olive tree and hanging plant from Riddells Creek Nursery. Arched mirror from Freedom,
Joel and Elle
HOUSE 3
Spend: $4640.83
Score: 21½
Country vs city. Elle and Joel’s “coastal cool” look created waves in the eyes of the judges. “Just smile,” was Elle’s reaction to criticism.
Sitting pretty on the top of the hill, in House 3 Joel and Elle may be a long way from their Bondi apartment but they seem to have brought it with them. The largest of all the houses and packed with old-world charm it features original archways, plaster mouldings and bay windows.
Instead of embracing the heritage of the home, however, Elle and Joel treated it, “like a blank canvas” and set out to “add some of our magic…” and, “put a bit of our coolness into the space.”
Working with a neutral colour palette, they white-washed the room and removed the skirting boards and architraves (this hurt to watch), then used a big chunk of their budget on a timber floor to create a “wow!” moment.
“Where are we?” Shaynna asked when they entered Joel and Elle’s guest bedroom. Rug from Spotlight, armchair from Life Interiors.
Joel and Elle thought the judges would be wowed by their pared-back style highlighting the beautiful bay windows, however, their “farmhouse cool” look failed to impress Shaynna, who was horrified by the square-set ceiling and new door, saying, “They have smashed the life out of this home and that breaks my heart.”
Neale suggested Elle and Joel should consider saving the modern aesthetic for the newer section and, “have respect for the original bones of the house” in the old part.
The ‘coastal cool’ aesthetic wall didn’t wash with the judges. Bedlinen and vases from Spotlight, artwork, Life Interiors.
In terms of style, the judges felt Elle and Joel had completely missed the mark to create a room that neither honoured the heritage of the house nor was in keeping with the country location. “This is going to be the big question mark hanging over this season of The Block,” says Neale. “What does country mean?”
Ankur and Sharon
HOUSE 4
Spend: $4,907.30
Score: 22
Reno rookies: What they lack in experience they make up for in enthusiasm.
(Photo: Nine) (Credit: Photo: Nine)Despite their reno rookie status, Ankur and Sharon were brimming with ideas to create a rustic-style room with a focus on the stunning bay window.
Vibing on reclaimed timber, Sharon immediately started making plans for a massive timber feature wall behind the bed, which Scotty tried to steer her away from but she pushed ahead with the idea, only to find that the judges agreed with Scotty.
A good effort, but perhaps too ‘man cave’ and not enough Country Style. Pendant light and bedlinen from Freedom, ‘Herbal Green’ and ‘Whisper White’ wall paint from Mitre 10.
They also chose green for the walls and timber beams were installed in the ceiling but were too short and needed to be patched up at the ends. Darren said it felt mildly French country but that the styling was not quite there. “It all works, it’s just that this extremely rustic approach is going to be very divisive for the market,” he said.
Shaynna appreciated the skill and effort that went into the space, noting that Sharon obviously has a very good eye for design. Sharon’s dream to win the challenge and keep House 4 was dashed, while Ankur tried to keep a lid on his anxiety and roll with the punches.
Country style, but which country? Armchair and cabinet from Freedom.
Scotty’s prediction played out – the judges didn’t love the extremely rustic feature wall. Timber beams from Mitre 10, carpet from Carpet Court.
Omar and Oz
HOUSE 5
Spend: $4660.64
Score: 21
All smiles. Happy-go-lucky Omar and Oz plan to take challenges in their stride.
Racing to another stunning Queenslander at the bottom of the hill were best mates Omar and Oz. With uninterrupted views of the Macedon Ranges, House 5 is a Federation home with high ceilings, timber-lined walls, stained glass windows and an iconic wrap-around verandah.
While they loved the original wall linings, Oz (who works in building maintenance but has never seen an episode of The Block) set about sourcing a new, larger window to replace the original heritage window – not a hit with the judges.
Neale said Oz and Omar’s room, “felt like property styling” and recommended a trip into town for Oz and Omar for local inspiration. Bed frame from Tommy Swiss, bedlinen from Target.
Darren didn’t love the door positioning but all the judges appreciated the preservation of the heritage features. Aesthetically, they felt the room looked luxe but was too neutral and generic.
The judges loved the original wall boards but want to see more personality in Oz and Omar’s styling. Bedhead and beside table from Tommy Swiss.
A little country colour and texture, please! Chest of drawers from Tommy Swiss. Freestanding mirror from Target.
Shock news: Joel and Elle quit The Block!
Things took a dramatic turn the next morning as the news was revealed by Scotty that Joel and Elle had decided to leave the show, saying The Block didn’t “feel right” and wasn’t “on brand” for them.
The other contestants were shocked and bewildered but didn’t miss a beat. Before we could say, “What just happened?!” Scotty announced that two new contestants were already on their way. Enter Rachel and Ryan who, with just 48 hours notice, rearranged their entire life to make it on the show and grab a set of plans from foremen Keith and Dan.
The show must go on. Teams are baffled by the shock exit of Joel and Elle.
(Photo: Nine) (Credit: Photo: Nine)After a lightning fast brief from Scotty, plumbing business owners Ryan and Rachel were grateful to be hitting the ground running in bathroom week at least. Donning hardhats and work boots, they joined the other contestants for bathroom week with a $22,000 budget and headed to House 4 to start choosing tiles and tapware on the double.
Will they be disadvantaged by their late start? Stay tuned.
New kids on The Block. Rachel and Ryan hit the ground running as they race to fill the void left by Joel and Elle.
(Photo: Nine) (Credit: Photo: Nine)