Tag: elsternwick

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The Block

Buyer’s advocate shares his thoughts on The Block auctions

He successfully snapped up Josh and Elyse’s winning house for comedian Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes at the weekend. Now buyer’s advocate Greville Pabst shares his thoughts on the auction results and the series overall.

Season 13 of The Block has been filled with drama from day one and Sunday’s auction was no exception. Five beautiful homes went under the hammer, as many potential buyers gathered to try and get their hands on a great piece of real estate. The dream family homes are perfectly located between the Elsternwick and Ripponlea villages with public transport, restaurants, cafes and also one of Australia’s best schools, Caulfield Grammar, within walking distance.

Greville Pabst successfully bid on Josh and Elyse’s house for his client Dave Hughes

Bidding at auction can be very nerve-racking, hence these days more and more people are seeking advice and lead from a buyer’s advocate like myself. A buyer’s advocate can guide a buyer or seller through the process in order to get the best possible outcome. This season, every one of the homes was purchased by a buyer’s advocate, bidding on their client’s behalf. My client was the wonderful Dave Hughes.

The auctions were off to a great start and I was able to place the winning bid on the greatest house of them all, Josh and Elyse’s, which Hughesy was very happy about. Josh and Elyse’s, or now Hughesy’s house, is located on the best spot of them all being a corner block facing north, with the smart roller garage door that opens onto the backyard, an impressive hallway with soaring high ceilings and solid hardwood floors. To top it all off, the Dave Franklin designed garden with plunge pool is simply stunning. I actually expected it to go for a bit more, so we are both happy with the final price.

The second house up for auction was Jason and Sarah’s, which also received a great result. When I brought buyers through the houses in the lead up to the auction, houses one and five were the most popular. I’m not surprised that they ended up in the top two with Josh and Elyse being the winning couple.

After the first two auctions, tensions increased when Sticks and Wombat reached $130,000 over reserve. The bidding continued to slow with a thin buying pool, so I’m not surprised that the remaining houses did not reach a better result. I’m actually more surprised that Ronnie and Georgia’s house was the only house that got passed in.

The past weekend was one of the busiest auction weekends in Melbourne history, with over 1,100 properties up for auction. This made the competition even harder, especially when five houses in the $2.5+ million price range are being auctioned back to back. It doesn’t normally happen, and if the auctions would have been staggered over a few months, we would likely have seen more competition and higher results.

Taking a quick look at the results of last year’s season, we can see that the auction order has a huge impact on the result, with the winners being the first ones up for auction two years in a row. 

Greville Pabst

There are many variables when placing the winning bid on auction day, here are just a handful of my tips and tricks:

  1. Before the auction, it’s important that you have all your financials sorted and have set a clear budget. It’s good to have an uneven number as your final limit, as it would be very frustrating to lose a property for just a couple of thousand dollars.
  2. During the auction, make sure you have a clear view of the auctioneer and can keep track of each bid that comes through to have good eye contact.
  3. Stand in a position where you can see your competition and be able to read their body language, it will reveal more than you think.
  4. Sometimes it’s all about the timing and knowing when to enter the bidding, when to pause, hold back and when to walk away. I tend to sit back and get a feel for the competition before making my first bid.
  5. An auction can be very nerve-racking, but the more prepared you are prior to auction, the better you will feel during the auction. Keep a relaxed face, show confidence and don’t let the opponents know your limit.

It’s been a great season of The Block and I’m very excited to see the transformation of The Gatwick coming up in 2018…

–Greville is CEO and executive chairman of WBP Group and one of the buyer’s advocates on The Block. He is a regular commentator on Sky News and the daily papers such as Herald Sun, the AFR and The Australian, helping everyday Australians make better property decisions.

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The Block

Josh and Elyse win The Block! Auction recap.

They did it! The young favourites, Josh and Elyse, won series 13 of The Block in last night’s (well, Saturday’s really) auction. Good on ’em! It was a beautiful house and they worked really hard. Taking home over half a million bucks, it was a great night for the couple, and somewhat underwhelming for others, but everyone was gracious and grateful for their winnings, which was nice to see.

Here’s how the auctions panned out…

First up: favourites Josh (with a man bun and no shoes!) and ever-glamorous Elyse, who humbly said any money was a bonus as the show had already opened many doors for them (I think we all know they’ll have sponsorship deals a plenty!). Bidding started at $2.6m and momentum kept going with buyers’ advocates Frank Valentic and Greville Pabst in on the action. Greville finally had the winning bid for his client of $3, 067, 000. The young couple were clearly overjoyed with their 447k winnings! What a great start! “That’s life-changing,” said an overwhelmed Elyse. And then it was revealed comedian and TV personality Dave (Hughesy) Hughes had bought it! Quite the coup!

Second up: Controversial Jason and Sarah! It was all about buyers’ advocates Frank Valentic and Nicole Jacobs this time with Nicole winning for her client at $3, 007,000. This meant a generous $387k for the couple. “It honestly changes our entire life,” Jason said. “It’s huge. It’s insane.”

Things were going so well!

Third up: That very likeable duo Sticks and Wombat! It was all about Frank and Nicole again! Things stalled at $2,650,000 and everything felt a bit flat with Sticks in particular looking pretty devastated and the other contestants visibly disappointed for him and Wombat. They still ended up with $130k though and took it so well. While Shelley Craft was almost in tears for them!

Fourth up, the polarising (in personality and house!) Ronnie and Georgia! And it was over as soon as it started with Georgia in tears as bidding stopped at $2,600,000, just below the reserve. The house was passed in on Scotty’s strong recommendation. Negotiations with highest bidder Frank brought it up to $2,725,000 as his best and final offer. Then Nicole came to the couple with her client’s best and final offer of 2,781,000, which was accepted. Ronnie and Georgia did seem surprisingly happy with their $161k while the other contestants clearly expected them to be a lot more disappointed. But as Ronnie said, it was like buying the winning scratchie and a good amount for 6 months’ work, tax free. Phew!

Fifth and final, the (albeit lovely) underdogs, Hannah and Clint! Tensions were high after Ronnie and Georgia’s underwhelming result. $2, 410,00 was the starting bid and the bids kept coming. But it was short lived. And the depressing music started as things stalled $20k under reserve at 2,5000,000. And then it started again! Frank got this one at $2,615,000 so $95k for the couple. Hannah said she was over the moon. “We’ve absolutely loved renovating,” said Clint. “It’s been an incredible 12 weeks.” Gosh, I love those two! “What a beautiful couple,” Scotty said. Clint added: “It clears all our debts. The show gives everyone the opportunity to change their lives and it has.” Bless him!

So the youngest couple, and indeed the favourites, did it! Josh and Elyse took home $577k with the extra $100k for winning. What an amazing result for anyone, let alone a couple in their 20s!

We’ll have Greville Pabst’s thoughts on the auction results for you tomorrow!

What am I going to watch on TV now?! Back to Netflix and the Lifestyle Channel it is… Actually, I am absolutely LOVING the new Love It or List It? How about you?

All our Block coverage.

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House Tours The Block

The Block series 13 studio reveals

Judge Neale Whitaker may have used every cliche in the book last night, but this year’s back yard studios really are the icing on the cake, the cream in the coffee and the ultimate gift with purchase, are they not?!

It was close, once again, with Ronnie and Georgia winning by half a point. Again! Sticks and Wombat and Josh and Elyse tied for second place with 29 points, Hannah and Clint were third with 27 and Jason and Sarah, who didn’t quite finish, came last with 26.

So, what did the judges have to say?

Jason and Sarah

Shaynna and Darren liked the way they’d shown you could have three distinct areas within the main space.

Shaynna thought the pitched ceiling was absolutely divine. “It feels so spacious.”

Neale loved the blue colour palette and said it showed how sophisticated Jason and Sarah’s style had now become. He and Darren both loved the walk-in robe and its finishes.

Shaynna said the en suite was beautiful and Neale absolutely loved the tiles.

But the missing grout and floor drain didn’t go unnoticed. “They must be kicking themselves because they’ve done such a beautiful job of layout and selection of finishes,” Shaynna said. “This is the pinnacle for them.” Neale commented while they’d clearly run out of time, they certainly had not run out of steam.

What to buy? Kimmy Hogan print (I have this one at home myself) and mid grey round Flynn mirror from Life Interiors.

Hannah and Clint

The couple were going for a Mid Century feel and the judges really liked it. Darren said it was a nice big open space and Neale said it had a great feel. Shaynna loved the styling and Darren said it was probably the best room they’d done all season. Neale agreed.

But while Shaynna found it hard to fault and called it beautiful, she just wasn’t feeling it and didn’t think it showed the possibilities of the space as much as Jason and Sarah’s before them.

They all loved the simple and practical walk-in. Neale loved the en suite tiles and said it was simplicity at its best. Darren loved the black accents and said it was all really nicely considered.

What to buy? MJG denim ottoman from Life Interiors, Skandi rug from Life Interiors (I am so in love with this!), Issy vanity from Reece.

Ronnie and Georgia

Shaynna loved the way they presented the room and said it felt like it had a real purpose. Darren agreed, saying you could have 6 to 8 staff and run your empire from there!

Neale said the pair always pushed the envelope that little bit further and was mad about their colour scheme and art choices.  Darren said it was an interesting choice to lower the ceiling and it had paid off, giving the room a more human scale.

They were all impressed with the walk-in and Shaynna said it was smart to have cabinets that could be taken away so the space could be used for something else entirely.

The en suite also went down well with all the judges, especially the ceramic tiles, which looked like real stone.

What to buy? Confetti Rain print by Tania Blanchard (or definitely an original if the budget stretches!), Larsson display cabinet in oak from Freedom (from the walk-in), Den leather armchair from Freedom.

Sticks and Wombat

Well, didn’t those four skylights make an impression?! Neale said it was like a barn and absolutely beautiful! Darren went as far as to say it was the most successful treatment of the vast high ceilings and Neale said he didn’t think he had ever seen skylights used so beautifully. Darren said the decision to panel the ceiling was sensational.

The judges liked the walk-in (with doors and everything!) and while they agreed the en suite didn’t have wow factor, they liked the tile choice and loved the underfloor heating.

Darren said overall the boys had learnt a great deal and grown a huge amount.

What to buy? Viridian framed print from Freedom, sofa bed with chaise from Modern Furniture, Orissa rug from Freedom (I’ve had two of these and they’re great rugs!).

Josh and Elyse

With its rendered wall and distinct living, sleeping and working areas, Shaynna said it didn’t have the flexibility of quite a few of the others but Darren disagreed and thought he could still imagine running a business out of there.

Neale said it was absolutely stunning. Darren loved the drapery and said they knew how to balance out all their elements.

Shaynna loved the bedhead, Darren raved about the colour palette and Neale said it was that beautiful mismatch which Josh and Elyse did so well.

That black walk-in robe was a great contrast and while the bathroom was nice, Shaynna thought the shower screen was much too narrow and Darren said it would cause a lot of water on the floor.

What to buy? Cutout wood bedhead (of course!) and fringed cushion from Cult Traders, The Pond artwork by Alieska, that black steel door.

Which was YOUR favourite?

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RENO ADDICT The Block

Julia and Sasha’s new reno, week 3: Not-So-Little-Willow!

It’s instalment three of our exclusive series with former Blockheads Julia and Sasha and so much has happened! Read on for Julia’s warts and all account, some exciting developments (and, let’s be a honest, a few fails!).

Remember last time when I said Little Willow was off to a pretty good start? Well, she was for a day but you know what they say about life and lemons. A few weeks in and we could open our own Solo factory. Why? I’m glad you asked. Let’s jump straight in, shall we?!

If there’s one word that makes my skin crawl it’s demolition. It all sounds simple enough. Therapeutic even, if you’ve got unresolved anger issues and know your way around a sledgehammer. Be warned though: it’s not all sunshine and unicorns. It’s also not as funny as my dad-jokes on The Block but I wouldn’t torture you with those again. Actually, who am I kidding? Of course I will.

Before Little Willow could take shape, she had to shed her behind. The permit came through in stages, making it tough to lock in a dedicated demo company, so we decided to do it ourselves. Now, normally I’d demand a round of applause for this nobility but in actual fact, it was to our detriment. Our builders are working to a cost-plus model which means we pay them an hourly rate instead of a fixed lump sum. What was supposed to be a few walls over a few days turned into the mother of all demos. I’m not sure how but the house seemed to get bigger with every skerrick removed.

Want to know what’s really expensive? Skip bins. They charge a pretty penny and when you’re knocking down a house, you’ll go through at least 15. Whilst I love our trades, packing is not their strong suit. Rumour has it I spent two weeks inside a skip bin stacking it like a Tetris ninja. Yes, it’s as sexy as it sounds and yes, I will probably die from tetanus given all the rusty nails, but at least I can sleep at night knowing there were literally no gaps among the debris.

Julia the bin-filling Tetris ninja!

In the end, it took four builders over a fortnight to pull Little Willow apart. They did a stellar job but from a financial perspective, it wasn’t a smart move. Ultimately, we were paying qualified chippies to do a labourer’s work and our costs blew out like you wouldn’t believe. We tried to save by roping our dads in to help but the terrain was uneven and there were a few busted ankles. It’s been a tough learning curve but in all honesty, demo companies are worth waiting for. They salvage so much and are far more cost-effective. By locking in a fixed price, there are no nasty surprises and you won’t be forced to sub in to spare a dollar. (You also won’t be left onsite wondering if the white powdery stuff in your bare hands is asbestos. Not that I’d know anything about that. Ahem.)

Sasha in an excavator

OK, now that’s out of the way let’s talk framing. Our intentions to keep the front of the house were good but once the plaster came off, it was apparent Little Willow wasn’t straight. Like, not at all. You could take her to The Castro on a Saturday night and she’d fit right in. We couldn’t move forward with crooked walls so we made a plan to straighten what we could. This meant removing a million nails, which was about as fun as driving through a safari park in a car made of steak. Once this was done, it was time to move those babies into a better position. Unfortunately, not all could be saved so the boys made a plan to replace them. The house also needed to be re-stumped so we called in the experts and they jacked her up. It took three days and was as fascinating to watch as Say Yes to the Dress. Love you, Monty!

Due to our massive time crunch, we elected to have the new frame made offsite. In the industry it’s known as prefab and no, it’s not short for fabulous (Believe me, I’ve already made that joke and no one laughed). This was one of our better decisions as our builders could focus on laying the foundations. Once again, you need to allow a decent whack of time for this to happen. Holes need to be dug, stumps inserted, and concrete poured before the inspector comes out and gives a yay or nay.

Foundations

With the tick of approval, it was time for our plumber to come in and lay the pipes. Honestly, Brett Franklin is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet and can rough in like no one else. He was our plumber on The Block and dropped everything at a moment’s notice to help us at Little Willow. We put him through hell last year and yet he turned up with a smile on his face ready to do it all again. Here’s hoping you don’t regret it, Brett!

Steel is an important part of every build, particularly if you’re going up a level, yet it almost slipped through the cracks. We’d gotten a bit wrapped up in all the pretty stuff — picking wallpaper and carpet and what type of apples to display in the kitchen*. By the time we reached out to steel fabricators, we only had two weeks up our sleeves and were cutting it mighty fine. Thankfully we were able to lock in a supplier who delivered only two days behind schedule. It wasn’t a total debacle but could have been avoided if we’d been more focused. Of course, it pays to learn the hard way and it’s a mistake we won’t make again. Silver linings and all that.

By far the best moment was when our frame arrived. Not that we were there to enjoy it as Sash was literally in surgery as it rolled up. Still, our relief was palpable. The beauty of prefab is the hard yards are done for you so you can literally set and forget. The boys had both levels up quick sticks and Little Willow started taking shape. Just between us, she’s bloody huge and has the most amazing city views from the first floor. A friend of ours has dubbed her Not So Little Willow and it couldn’t be more accurate. We still have a long way to go and a thousand decisions to make but one thing’s for sure, this is going to be a stunning family home.

Thanks for following along so far. Next time we’ll be talking roof plumbing, wall cladding, and a whole lot more. Until then, gang.

Julia xx

*In case you were wondering, Granny Smith apples come up best in photos.

Missed a bit? Week 1 | Week 2

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House Tours The Block

Julia and Sasha’s Little Willow reno: update 2

Last week, we introduced our new series with last year’s Blockheads Julia and Sasha, following their new Melbourne reno. This week, Julia’s talking about the phase before settlement, designing the house and locking in trades.

We bought Little Willow in November last year. The Block had just wrapped and for some strange reason, we missed the adrenaline that goes with having to make a million decisions when you’re tired, stressed, and living off Pot Noodles and Mars Bars. We’ve been told The Block’s like childbirth: hell at the time but a few weeks later you’re all rose-coloured glasses and ready to go again. We’d clearly been downing the Kool-Aid because we were eager to jump in and get cracking. However, the silly season was about to kick off so we cooled our jets and asked for a longer settlement. This was wise for two reasons. One, it gave us time to actually sit down and plan every detail and two, it meant we didn’t have to pay the mortgage for four months. Merry Christmas to us!

Julia and Sasha

The previous owners of Little Willow had already vacated the property and were very kind in giving us access on a few occasions. We had a pretty clear idea of what we wanted to do, and it was made easier by visiting the site before settlement. We engaged a draftsman straight off the bat and worked together on the floorplan. This process typically takes a few weeks but if you’re a Virgo like me (read: super critical/nightmare), expect it to blow out.

Our first renovation took place in the street adjacent to Little Willow so we knew the area well and had an understanding of the buyer we’re targeting. Elsternwick is a family-friendly suburb with excellent schools, shopping, and transport links. It’s only nine kilometres from the CBD and within walking distance to the beach. With this in mind, our best bet was to create a four-bedroom home with enough space for a young, growing family. Easy, right? Well, yes and no. The site is only 360sqm, standard for the area but challenging when you’re trying to wrangle enough space for the Kody Brown clan. So, what were two girls and their draftsman to do? Our aim was to maximise the footprint without creating a monolith. We were determined to keep the front façade, with the addition of French doors and a sweet veranda. Beyond that, anything was possible and after a little to and fro (OK, a lot) we finally agreed on a floorplan we love.

By the time settlement took place, our design was shipshape and ready for the surveyor. One of our primary considerations was council approval, or lack thereof. Given we’re flipping the property, we needed things to move forward at a rapid rate which meant abiding by all regulations including boundary setbacks and window heights. In doing this, our surveyor avoided having to go through council as we only required a building permit. Typically, these are granted within a few weeks so we were off and racing.

As anyone in the property game will attest, budget is everything. Structural renovations don’t come cheap and there’s no point spending squillions if you’ll never get it back. The only way to stay on track is by having a super organised person on your squad. Someone who loves negotiating, paying invoices, and documenting it all in spreadsheets. Enter Sasha. I swear she was an accountant in a past life and knows every damn trick in Excel. (Truth be told, she probably needs to get out more, but that’s neither here nor there.) We set our budget early on, taking into consideration how much we paid for the house and the proposed building costs. Of course, we have a budget and then we have a budget. Builds are famous for exceeding fiscal expectations so we set a reasonable limit then another that’s a-bit-of-a-stretch-but-at-least-we’ll-still-be-able-to-feed-our-dog kinda limit. Once this was locked and loaded, it was time for the nitty gritty: employing trades.

Demo time!

If we’ve learned one thing, it’s this: get as many quotes as possible. They vary so much and it’s important to give yourself enough time to consider your options. We created a scope of work that allowed us to compare apples for apples. It pains me to say but construction’s still a man’s game and we’ve been taken for a ride on a few occasions. It’s a good thing we don’t suffer fools however as those rides were short-lived!

Frank Lloyd Wright wasn’t lying when he said trades make or break a design. Every build is dependant on skill and communication and these traits were top of mind when engaging our team. We developed a great relationship with our builders before they signed on and were upfront about our needs and expectations. Given our tight timeline, delays are an absolute no-go so we’ve been insistent on sticking to a project schedule.

Sasha on the tools!

All in all, Little Willow’s off to a pretty good start but I’ve got lots of dirt to dish in coming weeks. Even with two renovations under our belts, there’s so much to learn and we’re the first to admit we’re still guinea pigs.

Send through any questions you may have and I’ll see you next time!

Julia xx

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House Tours The Block

The Block season 13, room 2 (guest bedroom) reveals

Ah, what satisfying watching that was last night! Five fabulous bedrooms (some with en suites, some without, interestingly!). The judges said the quality of all the rooms was more like what they’d expect at end of the competition. And it was close with only 1.5 points between first and last place. And can we talk about the bedheads? So many utterly stunning choices (and not surprisingly, four out of five were from Heatherly Design Bedheads, who recently made me one). So, onto the photos, judges’ comments, scores and our favourite picks and where to buy…

Jason and Sarah (joint third with 27/30)

The couple cleverly created a Jack and Jill en suite to serve not one but two guest bedrooms. I like it! And they went brave with a dark colour scheme of black and charcoal which worked so well!

Shaynna said it immediately felt beautiful. Neale called it beautiful and dramatic. And Darren said it reminded him of a boutique hotel. Darren said the wallpaper hit the right note and loved the metallic, saying it was the perfect example of how important contrast is in a room.

After last week’s cluttered styling, this week, the judges noticed a subtlety in their choices, with Neale saying they hit a nice balance of vintage and contemporary.

Shaynna criticised the painting a bit, but overall said it was a winning room, that aside.

The en suite went down well too, unfinished painting aside, and Neale said it felt luxurious.

OUR PICKS: Bedhead from Heatherly Design Bedheads, brass wardrobe handles from Lo & Co Interiors, Larkin brass table lamp from Pottery Barn.

 

Hannah and Clint (joint third with 27/30)

It was a tough week for these two. Their bathroom didn’t meet code and had to come down, so they decided to stick to just the bedroom, no wet room. Then Clint’s grandfather died.

Luckily, there was plenty of praise for their room. Darren said, unlike their last bedroom, this wasn’t bland and it had the right level of contrast in it. Shaynna said the styling on the bedside tables was superb and loved the wall sconces. Neale and Darren loved the grey wardrobes with brass handles and Shaynna loved the desk nook.

Neale hated the art however, and found the room quite visually cluttered. While the room showed a real confidence, Neale said there was a danger of them going too far the other way.

All  the judges said it was above and beyond the best work they’d done to date. The wardrobes were definitely my favourite feature.

OUR PICKS: Bedhead from Heatherly Design Bedheads, Stiletto marble and black sides tables from Freedom, velvet cushion from Eadie Lifestyle.

 

Ronnie and Georgia (first place with 28/30)

Anyone else finding Georgia annoyingly arrogant? I know it’s probably TV and editing, but gah! Case in point knocking off the night before reveal and going to the movies. Can’t knock it though; they produced the winning room and it was gorgeous!

The judges were clearly wowed, starting with the dark timber floorboards. Shaynna said the room was so glamorous, Darren called it “just a really beautiful room,” and Neale said it was timeless in its sophistication. Shaynna loved the cornice and the ceiling rose.

About the only criticism was for the black, “off the shelf” curtain rail. Darren said there was lots of interest but nothing was jarring with anything else. And Shaynna said the couple had impeccable style. Forget the attitude, I’ve got to agree there!

And how cool were the switches and USB chargers incorporated into the side of the bed base. Man, would I love something like that?!

A well deserved win, even without an en suite!

OUR PICKS: Bedhead from Heatherly Design Bedheads, Wild Roses art print from Co.Co, blush fur cushion from Co.Co, Lexi armchair from Freedom, grey floor rug from Freedom, Orion brass pendant light from Beacon Lighting.

 

Sticks and Wombat (last place with 26.5)

The boys suffered a wonky wall, a wonky floor, and their plumber hitting a pipe but still managed to pull off a bedroom (with fireplae), walk-in robe and en suite. What?! amazing.

Neale said it was absolutely stunning, Darren cooed over the “absolutely beautiful” real Blackbutt floors and Neale said there were times when only a ‘wow’ will do. He added it was sensational and felt right.

Thank GOD Shaynna mentioned the eyesore that was the bed and its styling though. Someone teach them not to put cushions on a point ASAP, please! My eyes! As the others showed, the choice of bedhead and bed styling is so important. But good on them, everything else in that room was well done. Although the rustic bedsides worried Neale too!

While I agree with Shaynna that the ultra modern en suite wasn’t in keeping with the bedroom, it was, as she said “mind blowing” that they’d done one, and such a big one!

The judges said the architectural choices the boys are making are outstanding but warned them to think about continuity and how the whole house will come together at the end.

OUR PICKS: Hardwood flooring from Carpet Court, cast iron fireplace from Schots.

 

Elyse and Josh (second place with 27.5/30)

Their room being smaller was definitely not a disadvantage with Neale saying good things come in small packages! I seriously loved the paneling and the bedhead in this room. I now need to panel a room in my home immediately!

Darren said the velvet bedhead looked (and felt!) amazing. Neale said they were demonstrating a real sense of balance.

They were in love with the en suite too (and me!), Shaynna praised the handmade subway tiles. Neale said their level of taste was really something; exquisite!

Although Shaynna thought the shower shelf was too high, she said the execution throughout both rooms was utterly perfect.

A shame this pair didn’t win if you ask me.

OUR PICKS: Bedhead by Heatherly Design Bedheads, black rattan plant stands from Fenton & Fenton, tan leather cushion from Barnaby Lane, wall sconces from Schots.

***

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Interviews The Block

Darren Palmer chats about The Block season starting on Sunday

With the hotly anticipated new season of The Block due to kick off this Sunday, we spoke to judge Darren Palmer and tried (unsuccessfully if we’re honest!) to get some secrets out of him! That said, he assures us we have a lot to look forward to watching and hinted it’s one of the best series yet. I am so excited, I can’t wait! The Block is just what cold nights in on the couch with a blanket have been calling for!

Darren, pictured with fellow judges Neale and Shaynna and host Scotty Cam, loves going to work at The Block

“I love working on The Block and returning every season to the familiar faces behind the scenes as well as my fellow judges,” Darren says. “The working environment is brilliant and it’s always exciting, making filming every season something I really look forward to. That said, some seasons have been harder or more challenging in terms of having an uneven balance of skills and good results to judge but this season is constantly surprising and uplifting and seeing what the contestants have been able to do with these dream houses has made this season a standout favourite of mine.”

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen houses, rather than apartments, on the show, so that in itself is something that will bring changes. “The houses make it easier to film, give us much more to see and give us some great opportunities to judge things that apartments might prohibit in terms of scale, detail or amenity,” Darren says. “I think people at home across the country that live in houses will see opportunities in their own homes they might not have recognised and you definitely have that luxury, aspirational side of The Block loud and clear on this season. These are true, long-term, dream houses.”

If you haven’t kept up with the spoilers, this year, The Block have upped and moved four heritage weatherboards (literally cut them in half and put them on trucks!), ripe for demolition, and plonked them in Melbourne’s Elsternwick (a site that cost a rumoured $10 million) to give them a new lease on life, 9km from the CBD. “It’s great that they’ve saved these old beauties, isn’t it? I loved walking into the first week with that visible scar running down the centre of the buildings. The houses start off as pretty ramshackle, but it only improves from there.”

Darren loves that the homes in season 13 are being restored and reinvigorated in a new location with modern amenities. “It’s a really neat take on fusing the old and the new.”

What constantly surprises viewers, or what you may not realise, is that the judges rarely get to meet the contestants until it’s all over. “I didn’t get to meet any of the contestants this season,” Darren shares. “We rarely do, save for perhaps a challenge once a season, but this season the most contact I’ve had with any of them is to wave hello to a tired contestant on a Sunday morning.” So there you go!

Darren has a reputation for swapping between Mr Nice Guy and Bad Cop from season to season. “My judging really depends on the approach of the contestants and how well they interpret the brief. If they listen, take on advice and understand what they’re delivering to the market and create high quality interiors that suit the area, I’m full of praise and good vibes.”

The chemistry between Darren and fellow judges Neale Whitaker and Shaynna Blaze shines through on screen, although they certainly don’t always agree. “I love those guys. They are two of the most hard working and talented humans. We make each other laugh. We have a great friendship that has spanned many years and we respect each other.

“They relentlessly mock me behind the scenes and that seems to bring them joy. I have a thick skin so I’m ok with it! They’re genuinely funny and warm people and I’m very blessed to be able to work with good friends.”

While you might think the interior designer lives out of a suitcase, he reveals he usually goes between home in Sydney and his Block commitments in Melbourne on the same day, traveling light. Nevertheless, he’s a busy guy, so he works hard to keep healthy and happy. “My tips are eat super clean, lots and lots of vegetables, and have a really low sugar intake (most of the time). I do whatever I can to relax and unwind when I’m not working.

“I train at the gym, more now than I have for the last few years, but I’m getting back to peak health and fitness slowly but surely. I’m very diligent at looking after myself and prioritise time with my family and to keep myself well maintained rather than saying yes to everything that comes my way. It’s important to create the balance you need to thrive and I feel I’m doing a fairly good job of that at the moment.”

He has lots more happening at the moment too, including his own homewares range for Myer, launching very soon. “I’m bursting with excitement about seeing my logo and name on swing tags on the most beautiful product I’ve been working on for a good while now. I haven’t been able to talk about it, but now that it will be in all Myer stores across the country, I could not be happier.

The Block season 13 site

“I’m working on a few projects of my own and I have plenty of brilliant and interesting corporate relationships like writing for Domain, the ambassadorships with Audi, Hafele and Carpet Court as well as some interesting short term alliances. I’ll be doing another Yourtown Christmas prize home later in the year and will have a few shoots and things to keep me occupied. As always, watch this space!”

His own home needs a lot of time and money spent on it, but has amazing potential. “It’s a slow but steady process. I do what I can that doesn’t cost much or that I can DIY, working with my favourite suppliers as much as possible. My house is a sort of pre-reno fix-up. I’ve painted walls and ceilings and laid floors, tizzed up [that’s a technical term!] a few rooms here and there and styled my lovely Myer range throughout, but there’s a lot left to do and a lot I want to do with the house. It has huge potential but the real reno is going to have to be done in stages and will take a lot of time and money. I’m patient though and I can see clearly what the house will become, which is good, but it also makes me very eager to see it in reality.”

Of course, you can rely on us to bring you all The Block room reveal details, pictures and gossip as the series progresses. We can’t wait!

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Interiors Addict

Ducklings and doonas in Elsternwick

Do you live in Melbourne? Do you want to cuddle some gorgeous ducklings? Do you want to win yourself a new doona cover set? Get yourself down to Forty Winks Elsternwick on Wednesday 21 November for a fun event.

Duckprint are taking over the store and setting up 3 bedroom displays, styling them with their unique range of bed linen as well as a fun selection of homewares from local suppliers. If you can’t make it on Wednesday, visit any time between 21 November and 18 December to be in the running to win one of 3 doona covers on display.