The Block is back for 2024 and in its momentous 20th year, five Blockhead pairs have been tasked with transforming an abandoned resort into luxury family holiday homes in regional Victoria.
The popular TV show’s picture perfect backdrop of Phillip Island will see contestants’ work cut out for them in their bid to bring to life five abodes at 113-119 Justice Road, Cowes.
Host Scott Cam is back for his 18th season, while judges Darren Palmer, Shaynna Blaze and Marty Fox are once again at the helm of the weekly room judging, and with five tradies amongst this year’s Blockheads, expectations are high.
Veteran judge Neale Whitaker has stepped back from judging this season, but is set to make a special guest appearance.
Jump to each week’s room reveal
- Week 12: Front Garden and Facade
- Week 11: Backyard and Pool
- Week 10: Guest Bedroom and Laundry
- Week 9: Office and Rumpus
- Week 8: Living and Dining
- Week 7: Second Guest Bathroom
- Week 6: Kitchen
- Week 5: Main Bedroom
- Week 4: Second Guest Bedroom
- Week 3: Main Ensuite
- Week 2: Guest Bedroom
- Week 1: Guest Bathroom
Week 12: Front Garden and Facade
Twelve weeks, or 85 days to be exact, of transforming an abandoned resort into luxury family holiday homes came to an end this week, with the final unveiling – the front yards and facades.
With the winning reveal scoring the team a Ford Mustang, the judges’ final thoughts on the houses before the November 9 auction day, was an episode of highs and lows.
Guest judge, landscape expert Dave Franklin returned this week.
| Team | Score | Place |
| House 1: Maddy and Charlotte | 31 | 4th |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 38 | 1st |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 36.5 | 2nd |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 26 | 5th |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 31.5 | 3rd |
Here’s a look at the reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Maddy and Charlotte’s front yard and facade reveal
Score: 31
Shaynna’s first impression was that the team had spent all their money in their backyard, with Dave noting the front yard was “nice” but needed something else.
However, the garage was a hit with Darren exclaiming it was one of the best styled garages he had ever seen on The Block.
The amenities for sustainability, such as the charger for the car, and solar battery power were praised by Shaynna, as was the grafico beach print on one wall.
“I love the scene, the grafico sets, that’s what how I remember Phillip island. So to me, that sets the nostalgia and that connection to this incredible space that they’ve been given,” she said.
“So they’re telling the story, they’re selling the dream. They’re selling the imagination in the garage.”
Architecturally, Darren said while the striking entryway “had lots going for it,” he and Marty both agreed it felt unfinished.
However, the judges finished off by praising the sisters for joining The Block after week four.
“They came in with a bang, and they did some really good stuff and like, you know, got 10s, and as much as they’ve let themselves down on the last one here, we’ve got to acknowledge how great they’ve done with the house,” Shaynna said.
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s winning front yard and facade reveal
Score: 38
Nailing the “perfect brief of coastal” was how Dave summed up Courtney and Grant’s winning design, which also saw them take home the Ford Mustang.
“I love it. Visually, it is warm, it’s cosy, it’s rich, and audibly, it’s just insane,” Marty said.
“You can hear those amazing water features, and it’s a really nice contrast as well with House One, how this exterior, it feels very beachy.”
The garage also impressed, and the entry way to the home was an instant hit.
“I love the handles. I love the profile of the door. This is entrance appeal,” Darren said.
A Kalamata olive tree paid homage to the home’s ‘Moditerranean’ theme.
“It all ties in so beautifully – it’s just stunning,” Marty said.
Darren said Courtney and Grant had a vision from day one for their house which they have delivered on every single week.
“It is still my favourite house on The Block. And they finished it, and they finished it with style,” he said.
Shaynna said the pair had created a house that people watching never knew they wanted, and they want “Moditerranean, and this sells the dream.”
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s front yard and garage reveal
Score: 36.5
The massive statement palm tree was in true keeping with the judges’ advice earlier in the series to go with the palm tree theme, the judges laughed.
The bright pink garage door was a hit, as was the vintage flamingo statue in the garden.
“It’s funny, because we’ve said over and over about this house, it’s not chic, but it’s fun,” Darren said.
“This is both. This is actually really inviting. It’s very sophisticated. It’s… it’s very elegant.”
The back garden was not a hit with Marty, saying it didn’t make a lot of sense, as the “food cubes” (garden planter boxes) were fantastic but as a holiday home, the owner would not be there all the time to care for them.
The gravel area was destined to be a “slush pot” during a wet Phillip Island winter, he added.
However, while Darren agreed it did let the area down, it was still a foodie’s backyard created without a landscaper.
But Marty praised the boys as being the “most impressive team in terms of listening and adapting” throughout the season.
“And they’ve actually built, all in all, a really appealing house in the marketplace,” he said.
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s front yard and facade reveal
Score: 26
The round stepper pathway and coastal plant choices was praised overall, with Shaynna adding that was the only thing she liked.
She said she “a couple of pieces of grass” did nothing to offset the big architectural wall.
“I love the entry doors, but then you’ve got these lights going. Why? Phillip Island is windy city, and those lights are going to be smashing against that wall,” she said.
Marty said it was almost like they had “checked out.”
“Because you don’t have a facade like this, which is absolutely breathtaking, and then just lay a little bit of grass, put a couple shrubs in, and call it a day,” he said.
One positive of the design, Marty noted was a big marketing hook – direct access to the tennis court.
“This is actually a massive feature for a buyer,” he said.
“This needs to be one of the biggest marketing hooks within the agent’s campaign, because this is a gift.”
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s front yard and garage reveal
Score: 31.5
The most unique facade of all five houses with a gated section for parking a boat and caravan was applauded by Marty and Darren.
The garage could have done with some painting to the brick wall, Marty noted.
The front yard entertaining area was an “amazing, simple, Aussie porch,” Marty noted, but upstairs, the entertaining space on the balcony should have been in the backyard, all judges thought.
“In every other house, there’s a connection to that barbecue area, to that living and dining space, to the outdoor that is also connected to a space,” Darren said.
“Kids can run around. They can be outdoors. But that’s not it here.”
However, Darren noted that overall House 5 was consistently good, in particular its bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms.
“They have put a lot of care and attention and time and effort into this house, and it shows,” he said.
“There’s never been anything like this on The Block, and there never will be again,” Shaynna added.
Week 11: Backyard and Pool
Backyard and pool reveal week saw the unveiling of five backyards that were the biggest ever seen on The Block. This week landscaping expert Dave Franklin joined the judging team.
| Team | Score | Place |
| House 1: Maddy and Charlotte | 37 | 2nd |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 39 | 1st |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 32 | 4th |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 27 | 5th |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 35 | 3rd |
Here’s a look at the reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Maddy and Charlotte’s backyard and pool reveal
Score: 37
A “heavy hitting, big swing of a backyard” was Darren’s immediate reaction upon stepping foot into the area.
The sisters’ choice of plants was well received, with Marty noting as the trees grow over time, privacy would be created.
The raised plunge pool’s stone and timber surrounds, and the big play area with a basketball court, were big hits with the judges.
Spotting the new spiral staircase leading to the retreat room impressed Marty.
“From a marketing perspective, as we’ve spoken about this being something that could be leased out independently of the house – I mean this is insane,” he said.
“So outdoor kitchen, outdoor lounge, fire pit area, main retreat, and a kid’s basketball court with a swimming pool.
“How do you actually do all that within one week to this standard? “
“This is three backyards in one,” exclaimed Shaynna.
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s winning backyard and pool reveal
Score: 39
Scoring perfect 10s from Darren and Shaynna, the barbecue area was highly praised, with Dave loving that it was surrounded by olive, lemon and bay leave trees that could be used while cooking.
Marty said the outdoor area was Courtney and Grant’s sales hook.
“This indoor, outdoor flow, this is what people pay for,” he said.
“This is what gets them emotionally connected to a property, envisaging themselves with all their family and friends, feeling at home.”
A seating area with a fire pit, a smoker and pizza oven was highly praised, with Darren stating: “There’s so many different functions, from entertaining to just sitting around enjoying the fire pit, all the different cooking options. It actually has a lot of use.”
He applauded the time the pair spent planning the space, describing it as “miraculous” for how good it was for the timeframe they had.
“This is very unique for an outdoor space of this size, isn’t it? This is 35 to 40 metres of perfection,” Marty added.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s backyard and pool reveal
Score: 32
“This is a backyard,” Dave exclaimed as he stepped foot in Ricky and Haydn’s space.
He noted the team did not have a landscaper and created the design themselves.
Initially stating she was unimpressed, Shaynna immediately apologised when she turned the corner to see a sculpture, a swing set, curves and the largest pool seen so far.
Darren said the design was consistent with the inside of the house in that it was fun, and planned beautifully for holiday living.
Shaynna said the backyard “ticks so many great boxes” for kids to play cricket, football, use the swings and the pool.
“It just doesn’t have the finesse and the finishings,” she said.
“If they had a professional landscaper, they would have sold the dream more.”
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s backyard and pool reveal
Score: 27
Wasted space and “giving me absolutely nothing” was how Dave summed up the pool area.
“It might be a budget thing, but there’s no real big trees here that can have a canopy over it, and this has got enough area around to put trees with canopies around the pool,” he said.
Darren was also unimpressed: “I question the amount of decking, the amount of sitting, the amount of amenity that’s in this space.
“You have lots of walkways, lots of different types and different materials, but not a lot of function, not a lot of enjoyable space.”
The fire pit seating area needed more pavers, was uninviting and was not finished off properly, Dave said.
“There’s nothing about this that says, ‘Come and hang in my backyard,’” Shaynna said.
Marty said the pair seemed to “plonk things in without any consideration as to what people throw their hands up for come auction day.”
However, Darren said the house was still amazing and it would not deter him from buying it.
“It’s a beautiful looking house from the outside. It actually has one of the two biggest pools on The Block,” he said.
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s backyard and pool reveal
Score: 35
Dave was immediately drawn to the pool area, which “screamed resort,” he said.
“Even though it’s just a small deck with two chairs, you’ve got all the grass around there that you could lay on as well and be part of the pool environment,” Shaynna said.
Wooden piers wrapped in rope paid homage to the Philip Island location.
“It’s like they’ve picked up a piece of Phillip Island,” Darren said.
“They’ve put it here in the landscaping for us. That’s really effective.”
However, a long walk from the kitchen to the outdoor dining area was an issue, Marty said, making for a difficult place to entertain people over dinner.
A lack of a barbecue in the space was criticised.
A large basketball court was a hit, and the fire pit was Dave’s favourite of the day.
Week 10: Guest Bedroom and Laundry
Guest bedroom and laundry week saw The Blockheads create two spaces and marked the final interior overhaul of the season.
| Team | Score | Place | Spend |
| House 1: Maddy and Charlotte | 20 | 5th | $26,043 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 28.5 plus penguin point = 29.5 | 1st | $24,361 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 29 | 2nd | $30,544 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 22.5 | 3rd | $26,260 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 20.5 | 4th | $34,160 |
Here’s a look at the room reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Maddy and Charlotte’s guest bedroom and laundry reveal
Score: 20
The tables turned for the sisters this week, coming last place with their unfinished bedroom lacking “magic” and an “emotional pull,” according to Marty.
“It just doesn’t feel like a second wing. It just feels like, ‘Yep, we can put four kids in here, and they’ve got an extra play area’,” Shaynna agreed.
Darren disagreed and said with a robe, a beautifully crafted bed, a self-contained kitchen, lounge and bathroom, he could not see what part of the market the room was not hitting.
“What I am saying is that they’re trying to cover too many markets, and I don’t feel this does it well enough. I just, I don’t,” Shaynna said.
The laundry – also unfinished – did not function well for a house that could sleep 10 people, Marty said.
He said areas were underutilised that could have featured storage cabinetry, and five weeks in to being on The Block, the sisters had hit a lull.
“It’s one of those rooms, it’ll shoot well and inspect terribly,” he said.
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s winning guest bedroom and laundry reveal
Score: 28.5 plus penguin point = 29.5
Using the penguin they won from an earlier challenge saw Courtney and Grant win by half a point, with the finished area serving as a little apartment, Shaynna noted.
The ensuite – which did not fare well when it was judged weeks ago – was now praised.
“The size of this room had to mirror and compliment the size of the day spa next door, because that is now a day spa,” Shaynna said.
“Dare I say it? This is the main wing that I would personally like to sleep in within this house,” Marty added.
Marty believed the area was a “huge piece of the campaign”.
“This is a massive selling feature for the agencies targeting the right buyers, and what they pull together is simply superb,” he said.
In the laundry, Darren was concerned about the placement of the washer and dryer and the risk of hitting your head on the angled wall.
The omission of a toilet was also a concern.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s guest bedroom and laundry reveal
Score: 29
If it weren’t for Courtney and Grant using their bonus penguin point, the boys would have been the week’s winners.
“This is the last week internally on The Block, and the boys finally hit their stride,” Darren said.
Bunk beds in the guest room made the home a “12 sleeping house,” hosting the most accommodation on The Block this year, Marty noted.
“The floorplan segmentation, this has been absolutely nailed for a holiday getaway home,” he said.
Shaynna noted everything said “perfect holiday home” for families.
“It’s got such broad appeal, and when this goes online, it will still be that one property that feels relaxing, that is knock about, that kids will look at and say, ‘Mum, Dad, I need to have that space,’ and having that emotional connection is so important on a holiday home,” Marty said.
Beautifully appointed, with gorgeous floor tiles and a functional space was among the praise of the laundry.
Marty said the room’s bench space, functionality, mud room, washer and dryer ticked every box.
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s guest bedroom and laundry reveal
Score: 22.5
The black and white feature wallpaper was a hit but Shaynna said the impact could not be taken in because “you’re bumping into the bed.”
“And I feel the artwork needs to be high, because we have these high ceilings, so everything is just gone really low,” she said.
Marty asked whether their judging feedback had been received by Kylie and Brad as “there’s a seesaw happening with house four,” with the whole mezzanine level being “wrong.”
While the laundry was noted as more of the quality that had previously been seen from Kylie and Brad, having the washing machine and dryer behind doors did not work.
The black and white theme used again, also had to end, Marty said.
“They’ve never won a room on a black and white theme, and yet they’re coming back to black and white themes after winning rooms. Why are they doing this?” he said.
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s guest bedroom and laundry reveal
Score: 20.5
Upon walking into the guest bedroom, the judges noted not a word of their feedback from the previous week had been taken on board.
“They haven’t listened to the feedback, though, because we’re in a bedroom opposite the communal area with all of this glazing, this should have been the downstairs rumpus,” Marty said.
Darren questioned whether the room would have been better as a living space.
“That’s how it was designed. Well, I guess we can call it now. It is an error. It’s definitely a mistake,” he said.
However, as a bedroom Shaynna said she could not fault its look and feel.
Marty noted the house was now the only one that has a swimming pool that was not accessed off a living area.
“This house is a hard sell, and it’s because of the decisions that they’ve made throughout the competition,” he said.
However, the laundry was met with happier feedback, with the green appliances a hit, as was the bench and drying spaces, hanging area and access to the outside.
“This is probably the laundry of the day. This is a stunning laundry,” Darren said.
Week 9: Office and Rumpus
It was a week of highs and lows during office and rumpus room week with joint winners and a space dubbed by one judge as the “most uncomfortable room” seen this season.
With the finish line in sight for the Blockheads, front runners unravelled and two underdog teams had some of their best judging weeks yet.
| Team | Score | Place | Spend |
| House 1: Maddy and Charlotte | 28 | Equal 1st | $38,833 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 23.5 | 2nd | $29,091 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 28 | Equal 1st | $39,119 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 16 | 3rd | $31,366 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 12.5 | 4th | $34,492 |
House 1: Maddy and Charlotte’s winning rumpus and office reveal
Score: 28
The sisters styling was finally on track with Shaynna impressed by their artwork choices and colour tones that created a cosy and intimate feel.
“How do you make it feel so cosy when it’s never been lived? I think that the girls have nailed it,” Marty said of the rumpus/sitting area.
Their lights – comprising of up lighting sconces and LED lights under the TV unit – was the first time this season a team had successfully achieved the right lighting plan, Shaynna said.
The second guest retreat room – with works in place to add a separate external access door – garnered a heap of praise.
Darren said the decision to create a space with the potential to rent out might have just put Maddy and Charlotte “ahead of the pack.”
“So from an investment point of view, it makes this house a dual income property,” he said.
“It’s so multi-generational, multi-faceted, multi-income generating.
“They have opened up a massive amount of possibilities by changing that window to a door. It’s genius.”
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s rumpus and office reveal
Score: 23.5
Likened to a therapy session space, the team’s office did not impress the judging trio with Darren stating an office in a holiday home needed privacy.
“It’s the loudest room in the house, and it’s been set up to be the most private and quiet room of the house,” Marty said.
The lounge room area was better received and Darren said the furniture and colours were great.
“It’s interesting. It definitely fits the rest of the house, like decision after decision here – great – with style in spades,” he said.
However, Marty said while it was “instagram-able” and would shoot better than House 1, it would not fare well when it came down to house inspections.
“This is 1000 square metre home which effectively has one main wing. Categorically, that’s an issue from a real estate perspective,” he said.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s winning rumpus and office reveal
Score: 28
Dubbed the “most Phillip Island house” of the five homes, the boys finally won a room reveal.
Their Phillip Island wall grafico and a sofa bed to accommodate more guests were praised.
“So again, it’s leaning towards that investment piece for the end user of this property,” Marty said.
Darren said the home will have strong appeal to a buyer who wants a “relaxed, less uptight style,” despite not personally being excited by the room’s aesthetic himself.
The next space – a games arcade with a pool table – was a massive hit.
“This is what you call a league of your own. This is genius,” Marty said.
“The boys have been so smart, and the agent representing this would be sitting back, rubbing their hands together going: ‘We have something that none of the others have, which is the fun factor’.
“This is the fun house. This is the fun factory.”
Marty went even further saying it was pulling on his heartstrings and he wanted the home for his family.
“This is actually the most emotional I’ve felt in any of these rooms judging. I think they’ve hit it out of the ballpark.”
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s rumpus and office reveal
Score: 16
It was a massive fall from grace for last week’s winners with this week’s efforts earning savage criticism.
“Ridiculous”, “weird,” “confused” and words Marty admitted he couldn’t say on The Block, was how the trio summed up what they saw.
A couch 30cm from a glass balustrade, black theatre curtains and a desk facing a blank wall mystified the judges.
“This is functionally useless,” Darren said.
Things were no better in the rumpus room, with Darren summing it up as “16sqm of useless sh*t.”
“10 out of 10 for creating the most uncomfortable room we’ve seen this season,” Marty added.
Shaynna could only say that she loved flooring: “This is so disappointing at this stage of the game to be feeling like this.”
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s rumpus reveal
Score: 12.5
After failing to finish their upstairs bedroom, the couple’s downstairs rumpus was deemed basic and likened to a display suite.
They had swapped the space from a bedroom to a rumpus room to be close to the pool.
“It’s so basic I haven’t seen a room with this many things that I like separately, that looks so boring together, like this is a nice couch, it’s a great coffee table, but it’s ‘meh’,” Darren said.
Shaynna said for a cabana it was not pool friendly.
“If you’re got a plunge pool there and you want to come in and watch TV and play games, don’t you want to have surfaces that kids can be in their bathers and have a good time,” she said.
“Isn’t that what they’re trying to sell?”
Marty said the area should have stayed as a bedroom.
“If you are going to change the floor plan to your advantage, you have to blow us away,” Shaynna said.
“This has zero connection to lifestyle outside.”
Week 8: Living and Dining
Living and dining room week saw the Blockheads tasked with overhauling the biggest rooms of The Block so far, with the spaces ranging from 50sqm to 75sqm.
All up the teams’ transformed a collective total of 300sqm of real estate, according to Scott Cam, in a week where one team notched up perfect scores from two of the three judges.
| Team | Score | Place | Spend |
| House 1: Maddy and Charlotte | 25.5 | 3rd | $34,719 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 26.5 | 2nd | $36,282 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 25 | 4th | $49,479 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 29.5 | 1st | $50,235 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 23.5 | 5th | $14,552 |
Here’s a look at the room reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Maddy and Charlotte’s living and dining reveal
Score: 25.5
Cohesive, inviting, homely and friendly were among the words the judges used upon casting their eyes across the area.
“What a space,” Shaynna said. “That ceiling line and those Veluxes there, it just soars and just flooded with natural light and look how it’s beautifully dappled through those curtains.”
She did take issue with the dining table and said it should have been an eight to ten seater.
Darren liked the colour palette but said it needed more drama, and Shaynna said the styling let the team down.
However, Marty said while the room was not dramatic it was sophisticated and inviting.
“From this house’s perspective, not doing too much wrong, isn’t a bad outcome,” he said.
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s living and dining reveal
Score: 26.5
The placement of the fire place and feature lights were the only criticisms the judges had this week.
Marty said the fireplace was placed in “possibly the worst position within a room of this size.”
”And guess what every buyer will do when they walk in?” he said.
“Instead of talking about the beautiful architecture and the stone that they’ve used in the kitchen, they’re all walking around going, why is that over there?”
Overall, Darren adored the room and said: “It’s just exceptionally beautiful. In terms of all the inclusions, all the decisions, how all that repetition of colour and shape, this feels absolutely consistent, from bedroom to kitchen to living space.
“Aesthetically, I love every decision.”
The sales agent of the home was in for an easy job, according to Marty, who said from a marketing perspective, the home would photograph differently to “anything else on The Block this year.”
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s living and dining reveal
Score: 25
The scale of Ricky and Haydn’s living and dining room was likened to a football oval by Shaynna, while Marty said it was about 5m bigger than the other houses.
Marty found the furniture placement jarring and Shaynna said the dining table needed to be at least double the width for the size of the room.
The fireplace in the living room was a hit, and Darren said the area felt intimate despite the vast space.
“None of the other homes have this amount of square meterage within this living space, and being a lower ceiling, it has that anchoring feeling where I don’t really want to leave,” Marty said.
While it was not “high on the detail,” or “sophisticated in its styling,” Marty thought the space for a buyer’s “bang for buck” was incredible.
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s winning living and dining reveal
In a Block first, Shaynna sung in excitement as she stepped foot into the living and dining area, which won the week with two 10 out of 10 scores from herself and Marty.
“This is 75 square metres, so you could fit a two bedroom apartment, maybe a three bedroom apartment in this,” Darren said.
Marty – who said the room was his favourite so far of the season – said the symmetry of the room was spectacular.
Darren said despite the space’s expanse and very high ceilings, he was hot from the fireplace in spite of how chilly it was outside.
Another level of sophistication was on offer in the house, Marty said.
“So when buyers come to this home, they’re looking at something that none of the other contestants are offering,” he said.
“It has that darker tone, and if they have to have this colour palette there isn’t another option on this series. So they’re playing a very strategic card, which I think could pay dividends.”
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s living and dining reveal
Failing to capitalise on the views by centring the living room around the television was a massive error, according to Shaynna.
“As much as we love Disney + and as much as we love our TV, I’m not coming to the beach for my whole lounge room to be built around a TV,” she said.
“Kristian and Mimi have won more money than anybody here on The Block. This doesn’t say expensive to me.”
With a space that was on the smaller side, Marty said it needed to be balanced by upping the luxury in materiality.
“There is no sophistication within this space whatsoever,” he said.
“They’ve missed out on that opportunity to create a marketing pool.”
Darren didn’t agree with Marty or Shaynna and said: “It’s nicely proportioned. I think it has a great outlook.
“I think it would function really beautifully for a holiday home. I think the connection to that big outdoor space means that you’ve got ample living.”
Week 7: Second guest bathroom
Considered one of the hardest rooms to overhaul in the space of seven days, this week’s guest ensuite was the last bathroom of the competition, which was welcomed by the Blockheads.
Some of the spaces left the judges divided, with one team marking their first win of the series.
Second guest bathroom scores
| Team | Score | Place | Spend |
| House 1: Maddy and Charlotte | 27.5 | 1st place | $19,657 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 24 | 4th place | $27,573 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 25 | 2nd place | $33,112 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 24 | 4th place | $28,148 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 24.5 | 3rd place | $27,722 |
Here’s a look at the room reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Maddy and Charlotte’s winning ensuite reveal
Score: 27.5
The first space the sisters had designed from scratch since taking over from Jesse and Paige saw the girls win the week, with Shaynna coining a new style name for their efforts – classic simplicity.
“I love the girls direction, and I really glad that they found their own personality, because this is the first space that is truly theirs,” she said.
Marty said their background in flipping houses together was shining through.
“We see so many people get frazzled on The Block, but these guys have just taken it to a duck to water, because this is what they do,” he said.
There was very little to fault, Darren noted, and he loved the tile choices, brass detailing and the colour palette.
“It’s subtle and simple and sophisticated – (it’s) beautiful,” he said.
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s ensuite reveal
Score: 24
The marble used on the vanity was the only element Marty liked and said taking space from the second living room to make the ensuite bigger was a massive error from a real estate perspective.
“Then when I look at everything that they’ve done being ‘Moditerranean,’ I feel that this is just pushing it too far,” he said.
“That will not translate well into a marketing campaign. I feel like, you know, when you drive into Phillip Island, you go past that kids’ maze? This is like walking into the Phillip Island maze, and I absolutely hate it.”
Darren disagreed: “You could open any number of magazines right now and see that it’s hot, it looks awesome. It’s so good and so exciting. It’ll look fantastic on a marketing brochure.”
As a secondary ensuite, Shaynna agreed it was a waste of space, but visually it was incredibly unique.
“This is in a league of its own,” she said.
“But for me today, this is form over function. I think this floorplan is a big mistake in layout.
“It’s a big mistake in the real estate they’ve taken from the living space. I’m going to stand by their design choice, but I’m not going to stand by their floorplan choice.”
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s ensuite reveal
Score: 25
The team’s circular theme, layout and design choices were a hit with the judges this week.
Shaynna said she was proud of the boys for their style and taking on their feedback from previous weeks.
“I feel like they’ve upped the ante in their shapes, their connection and layout,” she said.
“I think there’s a lot of good, good things in here.”
Her only criticism was the clashing of yellow hues, which could be fixed by repainting the door.
Marty praised the layout and said the bathroom might not be an amazing bathroom that gets the senses going but it was marketable.
Darren liked the boys’ natural style that had a sense of play, which they needed to embrace.
“And I think they could have something really fun and really popular and really saleable,” he said.
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s ensuite reveal
Score: 24
“The right bathroom for this house” was Darren’s initial reaction and he loved the timber look tiles in the shower.
“I think that it encapsulated that shower space so beautifully and it needs this balance,” he said.
“It needs that softness, even if it’s not a real timber. I think it’s a really beautiful use of this tile. So I really, really like it.”
Marty disliked the tiles masquerading as timber, while Shaynna felt overall the ensuite showed Kylie and Brad had grown in their sophistication from week one.
“Will everyone love it? I don’t think so. But to me, there’s a lot of wins here for me,” she said.
Darren said Kylie and Brad were in the “game now” with a look and style that set them apart from the other houses.
“They’ve done this beautifully in terms of the materials palette and linking those spaces together,” he said.
“They’re on the money here. They have something special, they really do.”
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s ensuite reveal
Score: 24.5
Darren said he was underwhelmed by the aesthetic this week, purely because he had seen it in the house before but there was still a lot to like.
“I like the consistency. I like that on their marketing brochure, on their website, on social media, that its going to look like each room belongs to each other, the bathroom or the bedroom,” he said.
While Marty said the ensuite was clean, marketable and put together well.
“It’s not exciting me, because I’ve seen them do it – it’s rinse, lather, repeat,” Shaynna said.
“Is it a wow factor? Absolutely not. Does it work? Absolutely yes. Is it consistent? 100%.”
Week 6: Kitchen
Kitchen week marked a significant milestone of the season, with the competition now at the halfway point.
This week Darren, Marty and Shaynna agreed that all the kitchens were stunning, yet completely different.
“We haven’t seen one house that is anything like the other,” Shaynna said
“That’s why I love kitchen week because it’s so unique and different.”
Kitchen scores
| Team | Score | Place | Spend |
| House 1: Maddy and Charlotte | 29 | 2nd place | $15,253 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 27 | 3rd place | $13,402 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 23 | 5th place | $16,869 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 28.5 (plus penguin bonus point = 29.5) | 1st place | $12,030 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 26.5 | 4th place | $20,815 |
Here’s a look at the room reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Maddy and Charlotte’s kitchen reveal
Score: 29
With a design and fittings inherited by their predecessors Jesse and Paige, the team’s styling was their own personal touch, which Shaynna loved.
She described the styling as “spot on” with the native flowers used a nice reflection of Phillip Island’s native bushland.
Marty said the girls had succeeded in making the property feel like home: “This feels lived in. This feels homely, and it does not feel overdone whatsoever,” he said.
Darren – who gave the room a perfect 10 out of 10 score – said the kitchen was the right scale for the house’s size.
The Smeg Neptune ovens, the Herringbone flooring, the choice of stone and joinery were all a hit with the judges.
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s kitchen reveal
Score: 27
Darren could barely contain himself when he walked in describing the kitchen as “unreal” and “stimulating.”
Shaynna was equally as excited and said she was salivating.
Marty completely disagreed and said the team’s “Moditerranean” style was nowhere to be seen.
“I love the layout. I love the butler’s (pantry) around the corner, which I can see on the way in,” he said.
“However, I particularly don’t feel like this kitchen matches the level of quality and sophistication that I had seen in the previous rooms.
“They aren’t actually blowing anyone away, particularly myself.”
“I do not agree,” Darren said.
“I think you’re looking at a completely different kitchen to me. Everything in here is just beautiful.”
However, they did agree there were not enough chairs at the island bench for a holiday home.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s kitchen reveal
Score: 23
While this week the team finally presented a completely finished room, the judges’ criticisms were fierce with Shaynna describing the styling as too basic.
“It’s not a functioning kitchen, and it doesn’t get the heart fluttering and we always say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and this heart just needs a little bit of a defibrillator,” she said.
It was not functional either, she said, with a single sink and appliances situated on top of another in a major walkway was a big “no no,” she added.
“Being in a thoroughfare, is one of the biggest faux pas that you can do in designing your kitchen,” Marty said.
The size of the kitchen, and the ability to sit up to nine to 10 people for entertaining, was praised by Marty.
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s winning kitchen reveal
Score: 28.5 (plus penguin bonus point = 29.5)
Finally using the penguin they won from an earlier challenge saw the team win by half a point, with Darren describing their design as “moody and sexy.”
“It’s absolutely in line with what Kylie and Brad have been trying to do every single week,” he said.
“They’ve tried for this. But this is on the money.”
Shaynna said the pair had finally found their sweet spot.
“This is perfection in the fact that they’ve found this style. This is the look, and they found it in the kitchen, one of the most important parts of the house,” she said.
Marty loved the simple styling and said his only concern was the lack of an appliance cupboard, which Shaynna said they should look at adding in a service area in laundry week.
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s kitchen reveal
Score: 26.5
“Well, Kristian and Mimi, don’t let us down, do they?” Darren said as he cast eyes on the space, loving the warmth, choice of stone, sink and tapware as a whole mix.
“These guys are really, really in their stride, aren’t they?”
Marty disagreed disliking the choice of triple stacked stone, the green appliances and said they will polarise buyers.
“And unfortunately, when you segregate a market in the most expensive room of your campaign, it’s risky, and I think this is a risk that they necessarily shouldn’t have taken,” he said.
Shaynna said the fridge placement was all she didn’t like and thought the green appliances were great.
“I always love to do things like this in some sort of way, to create drama, to shock people, to give them something,” she said.
“Well, it’s about giving you something you didn’t know you wanted.”
Week 5: Main Bedroom
In a season first, main bedroom week saw two teams share the winner’s crown, where the final results were the tightest ever.
This week, the Blockheads had their work cut out for them, with all bedrooms 30sqm plus in size, which Scott Cam said were triple the size of an average Australian bedroom.
Main bedroom week also marked Maddy and Charlotte’s first room reveal, which they pulled together in a matter of days.
Main bedroom and walk-in wardrobe scores
| Team | Score | Place | Spend |
| House 1: Maddy and Charlotte | 24.5 | 4th place | $22,537 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 28 | 1st place | $27,637 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 21.5 | 5th place | $25,405 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 27.5 | 3rd place | $18,587 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 28 | 1st place | $19,570 |
Here’s a look at the room reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Maddy and Charlotte’s main bedroom reveal
Score: 24.5
Just days into the competition after replacing Jesse and Paige, the judges marvelled at the team’s efforts in such little time.
“That’s absolutely amazing. This is such a fantastic result for the constraints they had,” Darren exclaimed.
He also praised the pair’s evolution of their predecessor’s modern colonial style, while Shaynna questioned some of the stylings, in particular the low chairs and wall sconces that were too high.
“There’s actually another eight or nine weeks to go so the whole modern colonial could actually be spun, and they could run with their own style because really, the hero rooms of the property start from the main suite,” Marty said.
“From what I’m seeing now, Maddy and Charlotte can be a real contender to take out this competition.”
The walk-in robe was also a hit, with Darren stating: “This is a very successful week for Maddie and Charlotte. Welcome to The Block.”
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s winning main bedroom reveal
Score: 28
Darren could hardly contain his excitement upon first casting his eye across the room.
“Oh yum! It’s visceral. I can feel this room,” he said.
Like nothing she had seen before, Shaynna said it had a very Italian feel.
Marty stated the space was “the most marketable room” seen so far on The Block.
“A buyer will walk in here exactly like us, just react and think ‘I have not seen a room like it’,” he said.
“The detail, the planning, the fact that they can pull this together in the space of a week, blows my mind.”
So in love with the room, Marty wanted to see if he could get Channel 9’s permission to bid come auction day.
The praise continued for the walk-in robe, with the colour palette, stone, leather look finishes and timber grains a winning mix.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s main bedroom reveal
Score: 21.5
Once again, the judges were presented with an unfinished room, with Marty saying he wished he could give them a good score but the craftsmanship let them down, but he did praise the direction they were heading.
“I can see in my imagination what this looks like resolved and complete, but I’m disappointed that I have to use my imagination to do that,” Darren added.
Their walk-in robe was lauded as grand, but Shaynna was confused why carpet was used straight from the ensuite bathroom.
“I’m a bit concerned at the attention to detail,” she said.
“I feel panic in these rooms. I really do.”
She said an unpainted wall, a lack of sheer curtains, among other elements, highlighted the pair needed to step up their planning, organisation and attention to detail.
“This is a competition, not a game,” she said.
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s main bedroom reveal
Score: 27.5
“Talk about personality!” Marty stated as he walked in.
“I am so in love with this. Oh my gosh. Yum!” Darren said, describing it as classy, luxe and sophisticated.
Shaynna – who had been quite vocal in her criticism over the pair’s previous efforts – said she was over the moon they had finally met the judges’ requests in the middle.
The metallic wallpaper lined ceiling was a hit, which Marty hailed as unique and risky.
“But it’s actually not off putting. It’s actually going to bring the buyer in and go, ‘Well, this is the house that has that quirkiness to it, but now they’re nailing the materiality,’” Marty said.
The walk-in robe was likened to walking into a jewellery box Darren said.
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s winning main bedroom reveal
Score: 28
Calming, coastal and luxurious were among the accolades Marty used, while stating it was the “most hotel like room” of the day.
“Not only architecturally is this house different from the rest, and that’s a gift, but they are delivering on the finish,” Marty said.
“I was not expecting this. This takes my breath away. It absolutely takes my breath away,” Shaynna said.
Darren said Kristian and Mimi had adorned this house in the most beautiful way.
“This is going to be an absolutely photographable, saleable, beautiful home with proportions like no other house in The Block,” he said.
Week 4: Second Guest Bedroom
Guest bedroom reveal week marked positive turning points for a few teams, and a return to winning form for one couple.
The Block Week 4 Second Guest Bedroom Scores
| Team | Score | Place | Spend |
| House 1: Jesse and Paige | 26.5 | 4th place | $14,382 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 27 | 3rd place | $8,946 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 26.5 | 4th place | $13,948 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 27.5 | 2nd place | $9,504 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 28 | 1st place | $18,135 |
Here’s a look at the room reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Jesse and Paige’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 26.5
The pair’s modern colonial theme continued to wow the judges with Marty stating they had nailed their style, which was setting them up for success.
“This is absolutely the next step in their puzzle. This is what I want to see,” Darren said.
The kids themed room’s gelato colour palette and “ice cream drips,” and “everything cute” worked beautifully, he added.
Elegant and classy, with so much to connect with, while not being juvenile, was how Shaynna summed the space up.
The accolades were interrupted when Darren noticed missing wallpaper and raw plaster in the wardrobe, and Shaynna noted the pink scalloped desk was too low.
However, Marty finished off by stating: “I’m really picking up what they’re putting down and I think buyers will walk in here and love it – the colour palette, the finish, the panelling, the Velux (skylights).
“It’s a really nice guest room.”
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 27
The room was an absolute hit with the judges, with Marty making an early call declaring Courtney and Grant as the “front runner,” with so much thought put into all the little details.
“I think that’s what really separates Courtney and Grant’s rooms is that they go so intricate and it just feels like a different level of finish,” he said.
“This feels extremely high end.”
Darren exclaimed: “My heart just jumped out of my chest.”
He loved the skirting boards, which curved with the wall.
“That skirting is sexy,” he said.
“A curved profile on a curved wall. They would have had to cut that on the back like little slots and then gently mould it and then fill it and sand it. That’s hot.”
Shaynna was equally impressed but did question the choice of pendant lights, likening them to space ships.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 26.5
So impressed with the room – particularly after last week’s empty bathroom – Shaynna questioned whether she was actually standing in Ricky and Haydn’s bedroom.
Darren praised the shadow line between the ceiling and the walls, and said the bedroom was “streets ahead” of every other room they had done so far.
“I think that they’ve delivered a room that a buyer will walk through and really appreciate, and it will shoot well,” Marty said.
Shaynna did express concern over their colour choices but praised them as being the first team to take inspiration from the palm trees lining the street.
“That is their look and feel now. I think it should be holiday resort,” she said.
“We are in a resort. No one else has done it. It’s theirs.”
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 27.5
“Wait a minute, where are we?” Darren happily said as he walked in, exclaiming Kylie and Brad were now where they needed to be.
Shaynna loved that all elements connected, such as the timber floor’s textured rug with the tiny flecks of black connecting to the wardrobe, in addition to the black ceiling fan, which while being a little bit industrial, remained earthy because of the natural timbers.
Marty said so far, the house was also the only one to accommodate the most people, meaning that they were one person ahead of the pack – and in a holiday home that equalled the highest rent, and the chance to build an amazing investment opportunity.
Meanwhile, Shaynna was concerned about the placement of a swing chair in front of the window, with the potential of it hitting the glass.
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s winning guest bedroom reveal
Score: 28
“For goodness sake, make our jobs easier!” Darren said in awe of the pair’s efforts.
He said the cloud bedheads with a silver lining and a rainbow behind them, was the idea of the day.
“Everything in here, I could say are beautiful and then just point to something, because it’s a beautiful ottoman and a beautiful throw and a beautiful bed cover, and a beautiful bed head,” he said.
Shaynna adored the sophisticated soft colour palette, which while actually being Art Deco and 1950s like, it had been turned it into a “beautiful modern beach feel.”
Darren noted after Kristian and Mimi were criticised for being complacent last week, there was no hint of that this week.
“I just see expertise. I see attention to detail, higher levels of finish, beautiful layouts, great decisions and design,” he said.
“I mean, they’re back baby.”
The pair won guest bedroom week by half a point, marking their third win in four weeks of the competition.
Week 3: Main ensuite
While this week saw one team’s efforts awarded the first perfect score of the season, master ensuite bathroom week was a mixed bag of judges’ feedback.
One team delivered a completely unfinished room, while another couple’s bathroom design was slammed as being complacent and arrogant.
The Block main ensuite scores
| Team | Score | Rank | Spend |
| House 1: Jesse and Paige | 27.5 | 2 | $23,758 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 28 | 1 | $20,575 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 4 | 5 | $13,162 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 23 | 3 | $22,225 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 21.5 | 4 | $32,805 |
Here’s a look at the room reveals and what the judges had to say:
House 1: Jesse and Paige’s master ensuite bathroom reveal
Score: 27.5
After failing to finish their first bathroom in week one, the judges were thrilled to see a completed space and that elements that did not work in that room, had now been simplified.
“This is more sophisticated, fresh. It’s elegant. Oh, I’m so proud of them,” Shaynna said.
Marty said a master ensuite was a “real money room” for buyers, and was where they cast judgement of a house.
“This here is ticking all the boxes for a buyer – double shower, double basin, and with the slight elevation in terms of its finish,” he said.
Darren – who gave the pair a perfect 10 out 10 for their efforts – admitted he was initially worried about their creative and aesthetic direction, but said this highlighted the best of their bedroom design from last week, and the best of what could have been in week one’s bathroom.
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s master ensuite bathroom reveal
Score: 28
After two consecutive weeks of missing out on winning by a mere half a point, Courtney and Grant won ensuite bathroom reveal week by half a point.
“Insane”, “beautiful” and “touch-worthy” were among the accolades of the judges as they walked into the room.
“It’s classic. It’s got a very muted palette, but you walk in and you go, ‘Oh, it’s sexy’, and it’s because of the texture, it’s because of the matte finish, and it’s because this beautiful marble,” Shaynna said.
Marty said the room was very “Phillip Island,” and something that you would find in a six star hotel anywhere in the world.
Darren said the pair’s efforts would be taken away with him in his “happy memories for the rest of the day.”
“Actually, it’s really high point, and it’s going to be a point of comparison for me today,” he said.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s unfinished master ensuite bathroom
Score: 4
“You’re kidding me,” Marty said as he walked into the empty room.
Darren said it felt like a tradie left the team in the lurch, and if that was the case, he felt sorry for them.
But looking for a positive, Marty noted the layout was great, and from a planning perspective, everything was in the right spot.
“That would have been a double feature shower, double vanity over to the left, toilet tucked in behind the right,” he said.
“What’s quite annoying is that if this was say Monday or Tuesday, and we walked in here, I would have actually felt quite excited for them, because this skylight is amazing.”
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s master ensuite bathroom reveal
Score: 23
“Beyond nervous” was how Shaynna summed up her thoughts on Kylie and Brad work this week.
“I feel like they’re lost. They’re not listening,” she said.
“This is not the right bathroom. This does not say beach house. It doesn’t say modern contemporary.”
She hated the art deco styling and wanted it to stop.
Marty, on the other hand, said he understood Shaynna’s views but Phillip Island was not just about the beach, being just two hours from Melbourne.
“So, for the buyers that are looking at these properties, these guys are designing something that maybe just has a broader appeal,” he said.
“It doesn’t have to be ultra-beachy for them to be successful in the market.”
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s master ensuite bathroom reveal
Score: 21.5
The winning streak didn’t continue for Kristian and Mimi this week with the judges saying they had become cocky and complacent, with bad planning and a shower that was too big.
“I’ve never seen such a big, useless shower,” Marty said.
“There’s no bath for so much square meterage.”
Notes to the judges stuck on the door explaining why certain aspects were unfinished was not received well.
“You’ve been winning, you’ve got the budget, you’ve got the ability to really turn it up a notch upstairs for one of the most valuable rooms in a campaign, and you’ve missed the mark,” Marty said.
“This is a massive drop of the ball for the winners of the previous weeks.”
Week 2: Guest Bedroom
Guest bedroom week couldn’t arrive soon enough for the Blockheads as it marked the end of their ‘tent city’ outdoor camping quarters and the creations of the rooms they will live in as the build continues.
With the judges declaring three teams out of five had nailed their design, they warned the remaining two teams were at risk of being left behind.
In what he admitted was an early call to make, Marty went even further by identifying one team that could “be extremely hard to beat” if they continued on their current path.
With $10,000 and a getaway with Scott Cam up for grabs, only half a point stood between the winning team and second place.
Week 2: Guest bedroom scores
| Team | Score | Place | Spend |
| House 1: Jesse and Paige | 27 | 3rd place | $9,377 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 27.5 | 2nd place | $8,317 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 22 | 4th place | $8,062 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 22 | 4th place | $11,611 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 28 | 1st place | $12,016 |
House 1: Jesse and Paige’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 27
After last week’s unfinished bathroom left Darren with not enough sense of who the couple were, their guest bedroom was a classic yet cool change of direction.
All three judges believed Paige and Jesse got it just right this week, and particularly liked their choice of wallpaper, artwork and the wardrobe.
While Shaynna identified the room as a modern colonial theme, she said they’d nailed their style and if they consistently continued with this look throughout, it will a stunning house.
“I have walked in here, and I really feel at home, like I just want to jump into this bed the way that they’ve made it.” Marty said.
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 27.5
Creating a kids themed bedroom, the choice of colours, execution and styling were a hit with all three judges.
Marty admitted he could not praise the room enough.
“I can imagine my daughter’s running in here, having a play, running around, sitting down in the little drawing nook,” he said.
“And these guys, they know what they’re doing. There’s no down lights. It’s beautiful and calm. The feature lighting, the mood lighting, everything is unfaultable.”
While Darren described the room as “cute as heck,” he identified one tiny fault – the positioning of a door stop, which was a risk of someone breaking their toe on.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 22
While a grafico world map print on the wardrobe doors drew praise as being appropriate for a holiday home kids’ room, the room layout and bunk bed orientation drew some criticism.
Marty also identified issues with the rough ceiling painting, while Shaynna felt off centre upon walking in the room.
“When you’re walking in, you’re going to trip over the beanbag,” she said.
“The door doesn’t close. The plastering is an issue. This feels like a retrofit of a Phillip Island home.”
Meanwhile, Darren did not see problems with the room stating he liked the bunk beds and its colour palette.
“I don’t even mind the layout. You’ve got lots of open space to get to the robes,” he said.
Marty said from a real estate perspective there was no major issues but it was a “flat room.”
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 22
At odds to its location once again was how Darren summed up Kylie and Brad’s efforts.
“I feel like they’ve put things in for the sake of putting them in to make it look like it’s tricked up,” he said.
“But I don’t think it works in this environment. I feel like this room doesn’t belong here.”
Shaynna agreed saying it felt like art deco but it was not working.
Marty disagreed: “This is palatable. This is marketable. This is a room where, if you had 10 buyers walk through, you’re not having that jarring affect by at least half of them like what we had last week, which I think was an issue.”
He said the room’s fundamentals were great and was happy it was not as intense, dated and night clubby as last week’s efforts.
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s guest bedroom reveal
Score: 28
For the second week running, the duo scooped the pool, beating Courtney and Grant once again by half a point.
Shaynna described the space as “boutique beach hotel,” while Marty made an early call, saying Mimi and Kristian are the team that will be extremely hard to beat.
“I’m calling it early because how they’re designing it, how they’re executing it, the craftsmanship. It’s very hard to fault,” he said.
Darren praised the effort and money put into the finer details.
“And those things, are the things that elevate a house from good to great,” he said.
Week 1: Guest Bathroom
The Blockheads were thrown straight into the deep end in week one with the challenge of creating a bathroom, and in true Block fashion there was no shortage of drama with a scorching heatwave, one unfinished room and the arrival of a Block Baby to round out the first week.
Week 1: Guest bathroom scores
| Team | Score | Rank | Spend |
| House 1: Jesse and Paige | 18.5 | 5th place | $26,109 |
| House 2: Courtney and Grant | 28 | 2nd place | $35,016 |
| House 3: Ricky and Haydn | 24 | 3rd place | $31,848 |
| House 4: Kylie and Brad | 22 | 4th place | $27,739 |
| House 5: Kristian and Mimi | 28.5 | 1st place | $21,732 |
House 1: Jesse and Paige’s guest bathroom reveal
While Shaynna loved the duo’s choice of materials, including brushed chrome, she said the incomplete room with its unfinished tiling was a reflection the pair were too ambitious attempting floor-to-ceiling tiling in under a week.
Marty was less forgiving: “There’s a chippy within this team, and to have a room unfinished for me, I believe that there is no excuses if other teams have finished this week, and this team hasn’t. My margin for error is very, very small,” he said.
The interesting shaped room was tricky Darren noted, and said there was lots going on and “feels a little hectic.”
House 2: Courtney and Grant’s guest bathroom reveal
Shaynna and Marty disagreed on elements of the bathroom’s styling and aesthetics, with Shaynna wanting more drama.
“I want people to really bring it this year. It’s a holiday place. This isn’t about safeties,” she said.
“These are people coming for holidays that want to be wowed… I’m loving the neutral palette, this is the one hero but you can take it further – you really can.”
However, Marty said the styling was right and could work in other Melbourne suburbs, such as Albert Park, and fitted a Melbourne buyer’s bill.
“Any of those buyers that see value coming down here will absolutely gobble this up,” he said.
Darren agreed with both judges: “So I think that drama in holiday houses is really important. Instagram-ability does help you market them in terms of getting people to come and stay,” he said.
House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s guest bathroom reveal
With one man down while Haydn left the island for the birth of his first child, the judges commended the floorplan and layout.
However, Shaynna said the lines of the tiles, panelling, bath and vanity were impact for impact’s sake and it needed to “slow down,” with the colour palette also mismatched.
Darren said the pair’s efforts were a “bloody good start.”
“I mean, this is a cracking bathroom. Week one hardest bathroom ever, in the hardest location ever in 20 years,” he said.
House 4: Kylie and Brad’s guest bathroom reveal
Score: 22
Both Marty and Shaynna declared the all black room “grabbed” them but for Marty it was for the wrong reasons.
Darren said if the dark palette marked the starting point of a “black shack” it was awesome but the herringbone tiling above the vanity de-elevated the space, and a bath should have been incorporated.
With little positive feedback to add Marty said: “The only thing that I like about this room is the skylight, because when I’m looking up, I don’t have to see anything else in this room.”
He said the home needed to appeal to the masses if it is to sell for more than double the average Phillip Island sales price.
“It needs to feel, I believe, relaxing, coastal and a getaway. This is heavy. This is dark. If they continue this theme throughout the other rooms, this is going to be possibly the biggest disaster we’ve seen in 20 seasons.”
House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s guest bathroom reveal
Score: 28.5
Winning bathroom week by half a point, the judges had plenty of accolades for the newlywed team’s efforts.
“This truly is a proper family bathroom where we won’t feel like we’re on top of each other,” Marty said.
Describing the space as a huge success, Darren said he loved the beautiful materials used, particularly the floor tiles.
Shaynna was impressed with the balance of tone and texture, and felt the “watery tiles” reflected the Philip Island location.
The post The Block 2024: Every room reveal of the season appeared first on realestate.com.au.
