Tag: judges

The Block series 13 week 3 room reveals: kids’ bedrooms

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date August 21, 2017
No Comments on The Block series 13 week 3 room reveals: kids’ bedrooms

Last night’s kids’ room reveals were more enjoyable than I expected. Much as I personally, as a mum, enjoy the fun of decorating a children’s room, they don’t always make the best TV. You can’t really showcase the luxury, glam and gadgets you can with, say, a master bedroom. But I was pleasantly surprised with all the great ideas the contestants came up with, as well as how sophisticated most of them looked. And I have to 100% agree with Ronnie and Georgia winning (second week in a row) as there was really nothing to criticise in their gorgeous space. I absolutely loved Sticks and Wombat’s though (what a shame about the wallpaper) and Jason and Sarah did a great job too. Without further a do, here are more photos, judges’ comments and our picks to buy, from first place to last.

FIRST: Ronnie and Georgia

Well, that wallpaper on the ceiling was a fantastic idea, beautifully executed and the judges loved it. Darren said everything about the room was wow and Shaynna said it was a bedroom memories are made of. Neale said they’d gone all out to reflect childhood; 100% whimsy. Shaynna thought the styling was perfect. Darren loved the storage and said the room would suit a child from two to 11 and could be easily reorientated to a teenager room with minor tweaks. Shaynna added it was one of the very best kids’ rooms she’d ever seen. “They’ve thought of everything.” Not surprisingly with comments like these, the couple scored the first perfect 10 of the season.

Our pick to buy: Incy Interiors Eden bed, Pottery Barn Kids tea sandwich set, cotton candy print.

SECOND: Jason and Sarah

Shaynna said it was good they hadn’t pigeon-holed the room to a certain age. Darren thought it was very sophisticated and loved the wallpaper. Neale said it was very child friendly but not childish; really beautiful. And Shyanna said their wallpaperer was a magician (someone introduce him to Sticks and Wombat!). Neale loved the level of restraint without sacrificing the sense of fun. Darren said the Jack and Jill en suite (shared by two bedrooms) was a master stroke of planning.

Our pick to buy: Eurowalls gold zebra wallpaper, giant rhino, Heatherly Design Bailey Bedhead.

THIRD: Sticks and Wombat

This room was all about the fun, but great craftmanship too. Darren was truly like a big kid, and said “this is mad!” and the stuff of many kids’ dreams. Neale said it was like their own private tower. Shaynna was first to notice the wallpapering disaster, although she loved the actual design. Darren said it was a real downer when everything else was “up up up”. Neale said no-one was going to forget the house with the climbing wall though. Too right!

Our pick to buy: Winston the Wombat print, Alessia wallpaper, Kylie the Kangaroo cushion, Sticks Photography wave print.

FOURTH: Josh and Elyse

These guys didn’t have a great week, with Keith and Dan shutting down their site for a time due to their unsafe demolition. Their mezzanine idea paid off though. The judges all agreed they were going for more of a teenager room and Neale said kids would be excited that it feels like a mini apartment. Shaynna and Darren loved the wardrobe too. But that’s where the positives ended. Shaynna hated that the room had been stripped bare of any heritage elements and Neale agreed it could easily be a room in a new build. The judges found the styling a bit underwhelming too. Darren said there was no great contrast and Neale would have liked to have seen a bit of romance or escapism; something to get excited about.

Our pick to buy: Leather bedhead by Heatherly Design Bedheads, west elm rug, Luca linen rectangle cushion.

LAST: Hannah and Clint

The floorplan change and having a sliding glass door to the outside in a children’s room did them no favours in the end. It wasn’t all bad though. Darren immediately loved the playfulness and Shaynna said all the styling choices were very gorgeous. Neale liked that it was very obviously a child’s room but without being sugary sweet. “It’s kind of modern and cool.” Darren said it was well finished and loved the wardrobe (even if the door knob came off in his hand! Oops!). He and Shaynna agreed the room was small and felt a bit squashed. Shaynna said you wouldn’t want a sliding door to a courtyard with kids because it was unsafe. The judges agreed their planning had brought them undone.

Our pick to buy: The Family Love tree bedhead.

The Block latest

Tags children's room, darren plmer, hannah and clint, josh and elyse, judges, judging, kids room, mezzanine, neale whitaker, ronnie and georgia, shaynna blaze, sticks and wombat, the block, wallpaper

House Tours The Block

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

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date August 14, 2017
1 Comment on 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.

***

All our Block coverage.

Tags bthroom, darren, elsternwick, en suite, guest bedroom, hannah and clint, jack and jill bathroom, jason and sarah, josh and elyse, judges, neale, room reveal, scores, season 13, shaynna, sticks and wombat, the block

Bathrooms House Tours The Block

The Block (season 13, week 1) bathroom reveals

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date August 7, 2017
1 Comment on The Block (season 13, week 1) bathroom reveals

Pic source: Ronnie and Georgia, The Block

Well I never, what a remarkable lot of room reveals we saw last night for week one! Impressed. Big time! You’d think there’d be at least one duff room, but I have to say, they all did really well. Although some, of course, did better than others. It was a tight race though, with only half a point between first and second place. Read on for all the details!

JASON AND SARAH (4th place with 24/30)

“How pretty,” said Shaynna, noting the beautiful tiles. Neale said it was nice to see a new, more subtle take on the Moroccan floor tile trend but thought the pendant light was overkill. Agreed!

Shaynna thought the functionality was spot on. A great start! She loved the underfloor heating, hydronic towel rail, double basin, good size vanity, cupboards and shelving. Darren would have preferred drawers, especially as there was no face-level storage (obviously this is going to be a big deal for the judges this season, but I 100% agree with them).

Neale was frustrated that they had chosen well on the big ticket items and really let themselves down with all the little details. The judges found the styling cluttered but all agreed they delivered a great room. As I was listening to the judges’ comments, I was already mentally removing all the bits and pieces from the space in my head, because underneath them, there’s a pretty stunning bathroom.

Our picks: Sussex Scala tapware and Milli Pure shower from Reece, arched leg planter, Aspar botanical handwash.

***

HANNAH AND CLINT (last place with 16/30)

Poor Hannah and Clint! Despite the lovely Sticks and Wombat helping the couple out cutting their tiles, they sadly ran out of time to get everything finished after a number of setbacks in the first few days. There were tears, but the beginners took the feedback with good attitudes.

Darren’s first world was “bummer” and Neale said it would be a nice bathroom if it was finished. He was pleased to see them try something bolder than last week though and loved the tile mix. Shaynna loved the layout, the type of bath, tapware, size of the vanity and styling efforts.

The couple had moved their bathroom to achieve a separate WC. Unfortunately Neale hated it. Really hated it! He said it was the meanest splashback he had ever seen and the pendant light looked wrong.

Can we talk about the black framed shower screen? I’m loving that look! And the black tub too.

Our picks: Hourglass stump stool, Kado Lux black bath from Reece, Ziporah Lifestyle towels.

***

GEORGIA AND RONNIE (3rd place with 25.5/30)

They started the week well by winning the challenge and $8.5k from Josh and Elyse’s budget. Then their builders made a number of mistakes which got them in trouble with Scotty and Dan. But an influx of trades helped them get back on track, delivering one of my favourite bathrooms.

Neale said it was bold and contemporary, neither too feminine or too masculine. “There’s so much to like,” he said. “If I walked in as a potential buyer, I’d be blown away.” High praise indeed.

Shaynna said it felt really good but majorly under-delivered on storage. She also criticised the placement of the powerpoints and the bath spout (agree on both counts).

Then we saw the first example of the judges disagreeing with each other this season over the gold speaker being overkill (Neale wasn’t so sure).

Our picks: Custom shower screen, Alape Circa matte black basin and Sussex Scala tapware from Reece, brass vase.

***

STICKS AND WOMBAT (2nd place with 26.5/30)

There were problems and setbacks for this pair too, mostly with tilers, but they managed to deliver a very unique and expertly finished (and really big) room!

Neale said the ceiling was beautiful and Shaynna called it an architectural success. Darren agreed, saying the symmetry was fantastic. Neale said the luxury was the amount of space. Darren said he was seeing a lot of personality in an appropriate way. And of course they loved the face level storage!

Shaynna said the level of finishing off blew her away. Quality workmanship. The handmade elements being at odds with the tapware, which was in turn at odds with the cabinetry handles (my first thoughts too and I didn’t like the mosaic feature either), worried her. But these are pretty easily changed later if they want to. Neale said top marks for giving it a go and doing something different. And Darren said they’d struck the balance of quirkiness just right. Neale added he couldn’t wait to see what they did with the rest of the house.

Our picks: Custom Rifco mirror cabinet and Kado Era bath from Reece, timber bath caddy.

***

JOSH AND ELYSE (1st place with 27/30)

WOWEE. I mean OMG. I absolutely loved this and knew they would have to come first, if only by half a point! Phew! Stunning bathroom!

The youngsters were the first to waterproof and tile and the first to use a round bath in Block history. I’m still not 100% sure on how comfortable it would be to bathe in (I’m a serious bath afficianado) but it sure looks hot!

The judges immediately loved the bath and the skylight. Neale said it was really dramatic and Darren loved all the play on circles. The only thing letting it down, said Shaynna, was the too-small vanity.

The judges said the design was at a professional level and I’d totally agree. It seems these two are not to be underestimated and written off as the token good-looking couple. They have some great ideas!

Our picks: Wild About Wood vanity, Milli and Sussex tapware and hardware from Reece, timber stool.

Tags bath, bathroom, bathroom week, bathrooms, darren palmer, judges, neale whitaker, room reveal, round bath, scores, season 13, shaynna blaze, shower, the block, tiles, week one, win, winners

Bathrooms House Tours The Block

The first Block series 13 room reveals

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date August 1, 2017
No Comments on The first Block series 13 room reveals

So, here we are with season 13 of The Block’s first room reveals! To be honest, I wasn’t loving any of them and thought the judges were very kind, that said, it is week 1 and they only had 48 hours, so we can’t expect masterpieces. Yet!

The stakes were high because depending on how well they did, the couples got to choose their preferred house from the five 1920s California bungalows.

So, here’s how they did! What did you think?

Sarah and Jason

Older (read mid-40s!) Perth couple Sarah and Jason, a nurse and a plumber, came in third. Their Myne by Prudence Caroline artwork was gorgeous but personally, I didn’t feel the room pulled together very well at all. But what do I know?! Shaynna criticised them for pulling out the period features people buy these kinds of houses for. But Neale was kinder, saying the room had come together really well.

But can we please talk about the state of that rug and the creased bed linen?! I hope it’s true that the room in reality was better than these photos!

Our pick: Branford dresser from Pottery Barn

***

Ronnie and Georgia

This pair came first, which is just the start of the drama, as this enabled them to get their first choice house, house 3, and all the goodies that came in the mystery safe (vouchers and cash). They also got to take the same amount they spent on their challenge room from another couple’s budget. Poor Elyse and Josh did not take the news well, and Georgia wasn’t too happy with their reaction. Well, you’d hardly expect them to be delighted but the tension was 100% clear! Eek! Tears already!

Back to the room, which turned out well, if a little too grey for my liking, despite the floor-sanding disaster and eventual carpeting. Neale liked the ceiling rose with the modern pendant and the cornicing. He said it was a great balance of heritage detailing and contemporary flavour. Shaynna said the lighting could have been better planned as the pendant was offset to the bed.

I really liked the wardrobe!

Our pick: Jersey doona cover set

***

Josh and Elyse

I think I liked this room the best, although agreed with Shaynna they should have left some period details behind! Darren said it was very Blocky! But Neale said more like it belonged on The Block in week 5, 6 or 7. Darren said the floor had come up a treat. Didn’t it just? I’d seen enough carpet! I admired the fact they tried to do something different, even if I didn’t love that feature wall colour.

They came 2nd.

Our pick: Bedhead by Heatherly Design Bedheads

***

Sticks and Wombat

Bless them! I’m just going to love this pair, especially Wombat! What a character! I love what they did with the bedhead even though I don’t think it suits the house at all! The less said about that armchair, the better. Darren walked in and straight away said two blokes did this room! Correct! Shaynna said it felt very eighties but Neale said even though the room 70% sucked, the remaining 30% was gold and he was intrigued to know more about the people behind it!

They came 4th.

Our pick: Merino chunky knit throw by Cindee Collections

***

Hannah and Clint

A mixed bag of reviews for this room, which came last. Darren said the cornice was lovely and the wall colour pretty, but everything else was lacking personality. Shaynna said it lacked soul because it was trying to be perfect. Darren said it lacked a big ticket item for a focal point but was still a very strong start. Neale said he hoped they wouldn’t be as safe next time.

Our pick: Kimmy Hogan print

***

The episode finished with us seeing how they got started on the next challenge: the main bathroom, which they’ll have a week to complete. A big call! Clearly, there’s going to be a lot of drama, but we wouldn’t have it any other way, would we?!

I can’t wait to see what they do. We’ll be bringing you each and every room reveal, as always!

Fancy giving The Block a go yourself? Pop back later today for some top tips from the man who is responsible for casting the contestants!

The Block latest.

Tags bathroom, bedroom, challenge, elyse and josh, guest room, hannah and clint, judges, judging, ronnie and georgia, series 13, srah and jason, sticks and wombat, the block, winner

The Block

The Block challenge apartment first room reveals

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date October 31, 2016
No Comments on The Block challenge apartment first room reveals

We don’t have time (or the inclination, frankly) to write about all the bitching and drama, so let’s just stick to last night’s room reveals shall we?!

Kim and Chris won with their outdoor area and 28.5 points, taking $20k off their reserve. Dan and Carleen’s bathroom got them 27.5 points, second place and $15k off their reserve. Then the boys, Andy and Ben, came third with their master en suite, 26 points and $10k off their reserve. Sadly for Will and Karlie (fourth) and Julia and Sasha (last) they got nada!

What the judges said…

Andy and Ben’s master en suite

The judges, especially gadget fiend Darren, loved the voice activated features to turn on the lights and shower. Very cool. These were seen throughout the ‘house of the future’.

They loved the restored terrazzo incorporated into the room, it was a beautiful feature and Shaynna said it warmed her heart they’d used it. Darren liked the layout while Neale said it was elegant and simple, and Deco. Shaynna liked the black edge strip, which worked with the Art Deco vibe.

While the vanity was beautiful, Shaynna said it didn’t have enough storage. Darren said his cosmetics alone would fill it!

Overall, the judges thought it was very well planed with great lighting and good inclusions and was very desirable and modern.

Our pick: LEDlux Strix LED pendant

Dan and Carleen’s main bathroom

Neale gave it a real wow. Shaynna loved the way they’d used subway tiles and black grout to great effect on a budget as well as the amazing Zuster vanity from Reece “It’s the perfect piece for the room.”

Neale loved the gold wall lights and guessed (incorrectly!) that the room had been done by Will and Karlie!

Our pick: Brass wall lights

Karlie and Will’s guest bedroom

Neale said the room had a real sense of the Deco period due to the height of the ceiling, panelling and window, but the styling really let it down with the pendant lights not working.

Shaynna said the pendants, style and size aside, were way too high, the bedsides weren’t really bedsides and the chair was too small and belonged in a kid’s room.

Neale said there was so much more they could made of it and Darren said it was probably budget which had stopped them.

Our pick: Art Deco silver leaf wall art

Julia and Sasha’s kid’s room

Well this one didn’t go down too well at all and I suppose I’d have to agree that this is the least favourite room so far by my favourites Julia and Sasha. Neale said he had never seen such a miserable kid’s room and that it shouldn’t have been grey! “It needs all the help it can get.”

Shaynna loved the wallpaper and the reading area but the judges all hated the steel house frame bed, saying it was an accident waiting to happen with someone hitting their head. And while Shaynna loved the hanging chair she said this too was impractical.

Our pick: Cloud rug

Kim and Chris’s outdoor area

After seeing the magnificent concrete table and the rendered wall, the judges knew who had done this room straight away.

Darren loved the statement pendant lights saying they worked really nicely. In fact he said everything above the floor (which was marked with paint spills and footprints) was beautiful.

When they realised there was a projector too for movie nights, the judges were sold!

Our pick: Fandango pendants

More challenge apartment room reveals coming next week…

Tags challenge apartment, judges, room reveals, the block

Kitchens The Block

The Block week 8 room reveals: kitchens

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date October 17, 2016
1 Comment on The Block week 8 room reveals: kitchens

There were some pretty stunning results in last night’s kitchen reveals with two 30 out of 30 perfect scores for both Will and Karlie and Dan and Carleen. Considering they only had a week for such an involved and large room, all the couples did amazingly well. Here are the pix, the scores and the judges’ comments. If I had to pick a favourite personally, mine would be Julia and Sasha’s. How about you?

Check back here later this afternoon for our video tours with the top scoring couples and their kitchens!

KARLIE & WILL: 30/30, joint winners

The judges could barely contain their excitement. Darren said it was gigantic, the polished concrete flooring was absolutely spectacular and the colours worked brilliantly. Shaynna said the palette was divine and worked well with the other rooms. Darren was blown away by the benchtop, beautiful tapware and the sink. Shaynna thought it was superbly planned. Darren thought you felt you stood in the space and felt totally in control of the whole apartment. Neale said it was the nerve centre of the whole apartment.

Although Neale said the bar area felt unresolved, this was about the only criticism between them. Once they got into the butler’s pantry, Shaynna got really excited. Neale went as far as saying: “this is genius” and like a separate self-contained kitchen. As it turned out, the same could be said about all the couples’ pantries. “Visually it absolutely stunning, sleek and glamorous,” said Neale, adding that black is the new white in kitchens.

Shaynna said the kitchen did justice to the building and the rest of their apartment.

Get the look:

Freedom Kitchens cabinetry and other details

Neff coffee centre

Russell Hobbs Sienna Black Diamond toaster

DAN & CARLEEN: 30/30, joint winners

It started very well with Darren saying: “wow, I love that cabinetry.” The judges said the whole space sang! Neale said it felt incredibly spacious, beautifully understated and sophisticated. Shaynna said the benchtop was so massive it needed its own postcode! Darren called it the cherry on top. Shaynna loved the light fitting, even though it wouldn’t work in many kitchens and she also thought the styling was superb. Neale loved being able to see into the butler’s pantry too.

Again, there was little to criticise, apart from the lack of drawers picked up by Darren. Neale thought it was their best room yet and Shaynna said it was a very high end European kitchen.

Get the look:

Hensley crystal pendant

Freedom Kitchens cabinetry and other details

Morphy Richards copper colour kettle

ANDY & BEN: 29/30, second place

Considering the boys’ serious lack of funds (which will really affect them this week it seems) they did well to pull off second place! Although it was a shame they wasted their bonus point as it turns out it wouldn’t have been enough to get them a win and the $10,000 they desperately needed.

Neale said felt very modern but referenced the Deco era. Shaynna loved the different colours. Another huge benchtop and luxury butler’s pantry, and the judges were still very happy!

Shaynna said the styling let it down and she’d like to see them remove a lot of the items and keep it simple. But overall it was magnificent and the party kitchen of the block. She said even though they’d kept a fun aspect from day one, they’d got more and more sophisticated.

Get the look:

Timber door handles

Freedom Kitchens cabinetry and other details

Siemens integrated rangehood

JULIA & SASHA: 28/30, third place

I loved this kitchen and thought it was very feminine and elegant. Darren was right when he said it was pretty and that Sasha and Julia had walked the line of a really simple palette, adding all the luxury touches you’d want.

Shaynna said the lighting was exactly right but the benchtop size felt a little mean especially with the oversized cooktop. Darren hugged the fridge and was like a kid at Christmas with all the high end appliances, especially the pop-up rangehood! The steam oven was too high though and an accident waiting to happen.

Neale said compared to the kitchens he sees in magazines, this ticked all the boxes and someone was going to walk in and be blown away.

Get the look:

Solid brass handles

Gold bar stools

Freedom Kitchens cabinetry and other details

KIM & CHRIS: 24/30, last place

All the judges loved the timber breakfast bar but Shaynna was concerned about how well the stone and the timber went together because they were both heroes. Neale felt it was a little bit clumsy and didn’t have the same flow as the other kitchens. “Everything slightly clashes.” Shaynna said it felt very top heavy and she would have preferred smokey glass to the mirrored splash back.

On the plus side, they thought the layout was fantastic and very functional. Darren liked the bench space on either side and the double swing doorway into the butler’s pantry. They were all amazed at the scale of the pantry and storage wise and design wise, Darren said it was really fantastic. They all thought Kim and Chris had produced an excellent kitchen but it just didn’t move them to the same level of emotion as some of the others. Shaynna said she couldn’t see two buyers fighting over the room.

Get the look:

LED lighting system

Siemens 90cm gas cooktop

Freedom Kitchens cabinetry and other details

–Our part-time Reno Addict features writer, Channel Nine journalist Lauren Ellis, has been at The Block for us, getting a better look around all the kitchens. We’ll be sharing the video footage here all week so make sure to check back in The Block section of the site!

Tags appliances, benchtop, judges, judging, kitchen, kitchen design, room reveals, the block, winner

Bedrooms The Block

The Block week 6 room reveals: master bedrooms

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date October 4, 2016
1 Comment on The Block week 6 room reveals: master bedrooms

I think I actually shed a tear when underdogs Kim and Chris took out the master bedroom (sorry, suite) win last night because oh my goodness, didn’t they deserve it?! It was divine! And massive. And absolutely nothing like the previous week’s confused country-style living/dining. It was amazing to see such a change and such progress. I felt so proud of them!

h5_r6_masterbed_ck_raws-14 — Chris and Kim’s winning master suite. The pictures don’t do it justice in my opinion.

So, the results were:

First place: Kim and Chris
Second place: Julia and Sasha
Third place: Will and Karlie
Fourth place: Dan and Carleen
Last place: Ben and Andy

And here’s what the judges had to say…

Karlie and Will

All three judges were wowed by the timber feature wall and rightly so. Wasn’t it gorgeous and so much work involved! I always love it when Darren Palmer comes out with comments like “holy moley!” He also said it showed extraordinary workmanship. Neale Whitaker agreed it was absolutely stunning and obviously the big idea they’d been working up to. “It just works.”

The black double doors also got lots of praise. Neale said: “It’s a very contemporary bedroom, I love it.”

They found the wardrobe, although it great storage plus powerpoints, a bit of a letdown, and said it felt like an afterthought.

We loved the dimmable LED pendants lights.

Dan and Carleen

Darren said the room was so calming and tranquil and Neale was in love with the original deco pendant lights (from the vault). The judges said they’d got the balance just right; contemporary but with well thought through references to deco. There was lots of pattern but it worked because it had been subtly done.

The wardrobe however clearly lost them a lot of points when it was revealed the top section was not deep enough to hang a jacket or shirt in. The judges said it was a big letdown on functionality.

I liked this room but it didn’t wow me. The curtains were gorgeous though as were the West Elm bedsides.

Andy and Ben

Although the boys lost half of their wardrobe to their en suite, Darren said you could hardly notice and it didn’t feel any smaller. Winning!

While Neale said it had a nice, fresh feel, Shaynna was underwhelmed and said it was a bit impersonal, and a bit of a bachelor pad. Darren agreed, although he said he could see the boys had given it a really good shot, but it needed an extra layer of luxury. And Neale said the styling was a bit off!

Things got more positive in the walk-in, where the bench seat, dressing table and shoe carousel went down a storm!

I loved the Jessica Skye Baker resin artwork! Buy similar.

Julia and Sasha

The judges loved the smart technology and the mega bedhead (me too) by Heatherly Design in this room. Neale said it felt like they’d really raised their game this week and hit it spot on. Personally, I don’t like it half as much as some of their other rooms and just felt it wasn’t very cohesive. Shaynna loved it too though, saying it was luxurious and the artwork was very clever and incredibly art deco.

Neale said the walk-in (which was amazing!) felt like an extremely high end boutique. “It’s really quite beautiful. Darren loved everything about it; the lighting, the handles and the gloss.

h4_r6_masterbed_js_raws-43 — I preferred the wardrobe to the room!

Kim and Chris

Well, well, well, this is where it got really good with Kim and Chris’s huge suite, which Neale said was bigger than his house (which just sold at the weekend)!

Again, I don’t think the photos do it justice.

Shaynna said “ridiculous,” Darren said “insane,” and Neale said “absolutely magnificent”. Darren was totally in love with the bed and said the furniture all tied beautifully together.

Neale said it was penthouse living and they’d found a level of luxury he didn’t think they were capable of finding. “Luxury in spades.”

Darren said it lifted the calibre of the whole apartment, he just would have loved to see a door to the bathroom.

Neale, who loved seeing old fashioned doors on the wardrobes for once, put it out there, saying: “I think this is the most glam bedroom I’ve ever seen on The Block.”

We liked the pendant lights too.

Tags art deco, judges, judging, master bedroom, master suite, room reveals, the block, winners

The Block

The Block week 5 room reveals: lounge/dining room

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date September 26, 2016
2 Comments on The Block week 5 room reveals: lounge/dining room

Here we go with all the pictures, judges’ comments, scoring, my thoughts and where to buy from last night’s room reveals!

Will and Karlie: last with 20.5 points

First impressions seemed to be good but the judges’ comments soon turned to criticism, mainly about the use of space and having too much in it!

Neale said he felt hemmed in and he didn’t know why they would choose to make the column bigger by cladding it with timber.

Shaynna said they’d made the room feel half as big as it was.

My thoughts? Wasn’t keen on the timber cladding or the large artwork and agreed about it being too busy but it was still a nice room. Loved the West Elm rug.

Dan and Carleen: won with 26.5 points

Lucky these two chose to use their bonus point from last week as it ended up making all the difference. Until that point (literally!) they’d been tied with Julia and Sasha, who were then pushed into second place.

Shaynna said the space felt open and twice the size of Karlie and Will’s. Neale said it had a different vibe to the rest of their apartment; quite luxe and glamorous. “They’ve taken the Deco theme and turned up the dial.”

Darren loved the feature TV wall, saying it felt like it was from a high end furniture store.

Neale said a young, design savvy buyer would appreciate what had been done and that they’d upped their styling game.

Shaynna thought the dining table and chairs were beautiful but Darren questioned why they’d picked tiles for the floor and then not used underfloor heating. In often-chilly Melbourne!

Neale concluded they’d really grown in the last few weeks and that the room felt expensive.

My thoughts? A great room but I preferred the girls’ and thought it should have won. In here, I loved the Pottery Barn gold coffee table and side table.

Ben and Andy: third with 22 points

Shaynna said the artwork real was a real signature for the boys now but Neale said they were in danger of overdoing the big artworks referencing the building’s history. Enough now!

Neale liked the feel and palette but Shaynna said the dining area and couches weren’t high end enough. Darren agreed, saying it felt like a display suite. Oh, and the couches were too far from the coffee table and the TV, too high!

Shaynna concluded the boys had come a long way and if they took advice on board it would be great. Neale said the room had enough visual interest to keep them in the game.

My thoughts? Not a patch on some of their other rooms and didn’t feel cohesive at all. Needed a much bigger rug too! I agree with Neale that the they’re in danger of overdoing the wall mural art. I hope they’ll be back on top form next week because they can do so much better!

Julia and Sasha: second with 25.5 points

Shaynna and Neale LOVED the new window and the city views. If only they knew the trouble it had caused them with Chris and Kim! The judges said it was well worth whatever they’d paid.

Darren and Shaynna were wowed by the “amazing” artwork and Neale said it looked like a magazine cover! “This is the modern take on Deco. Absolutely right. So now.”

They also loved their use of the paneling they’d last seen in challenge week.

My thoughts? IN LOVE with so much in this room! The art (buy a cheaper limited edition Megan Weston print here), the dining chairs (swoon), those blush velvet West Elm chairs! Great choices! The girls were robbed! Although I really think they need some rugs to zone the space and anchor the furniture more.

Chris and Kim: fourth with 21 points

Poor Chris and Kim came in for some criticism again this week. Neale said he didn’t know where to look because it felt like they’d thrown everything but the kitchen sink into this room.

Shaynna loved some of choices and the colour palette but said she felt like her head was going to explode.

Darren loved the fireplace but again the TV was way too high for comfortable viewing. Shaynna feared it felt like a country house; a country house interior in the penthouse, Darren added.

My thoughts? I thought the judges were perhaps a little harsh but agreed the look was too country for a Port Melbourne penthouse. It was so cosy though! The exposed brick didn’t work here like it has in Karlie and Will’s rooms. I always feel bad for these guys because they try so hard and they’re so nice!

Take tours of all the rooms at The Block Shop

Tags art deco, darren palmer, judges, judging, living room, lounge, melbourne, neale whitaker, port meblourne, room reveals, shaynna blaze, the block, winners

Bathrooms The Block

The Block week 3 room reveals: master bathrooms

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date September 12, 2016
2 Comments on The Block week 3 room reveals: master bathrooms

There was a lot to love about last night’s bathroom reveals, if you ask me. I wrongly assumed Julia and Sasha would win but they were knocked into second place by Dan and Carleen, who took out first place by just half a point. And, on reflection, while I really loved both their rooms, Dan and Carleen’s was certainly more true to the Art Deco period while cleverly feeling modern and on trend too. The top two bathrooms really were both beautiful.

Anyway, here’s a recap of the scoring and what the judges had to say…

Karlie and Will: 3rd place and 27 points

Last week’s winners continued to impress the judges this week with their sophisticated look, perhaps even more so because they’re only 25. Shaynna said the room was glamorous and she felt good in it.

Neale love the combination of the paneling (actually a money-saving measure) and the tiles and the simplicity of the colour palette. Darren also thought the panelling was a great idea.

Shaynna and Neale both loved the prints which referenced Melbourne in the era.

Darren was “completely, madly in love with” the basins and the light above the vanity was Shaynna’s favourite thing. She said: “It feels young and modern but also very sophisticated. These kids have style!”

Our pick: Wood Melbourne brass spout

Dan and Carleen: first place and 29 points

After some shocking feedback (and some would say a shocking room) last week, Dan and Carleen certainly managed to bounce back and show everyone what they were capable of. I personally loved it and agreed with everything the judges had to say. Neale was wowed and said the couple were definitely back in the game (don’t you love it when this happens on The Block?) and that it had such a great sense of period.

Shaynna said the vanity was stunning and the basin, gorgeous. Darren said it delivered exactly what they were probably hoping to deliver in week one; it had all the trend notes and cleverly, still delivered something of a bygone era.

Neale was particularly pleased to see the pared back and simple styling and Darren called their look new traditional, reminiscent of trends he’d seen from Milan. They did get knocked for having their light switches outside however.

Our pick: Geology marble wall hook

Andy and Ben: fourth place and 19.5 points

Andy and Ben seriously stepped up their game this week and I thought they produced a very good bathroom, if not my style. “These boys are growing before our eyes,” said Shaynna. Neale said the artwork was a touch of genius.

All the judges felt that visually, everything was spot on. But their decision (or mistake) in not including a toilet made no sense and it clearly lost them a lot of points.

Our pick: Velvet Soap advertisement print

Julia and Sasha: second place and 28.5 points

That vanity! The gold tapware! The tiles and the double shower! Sigh! Just gorgeous. I really loved this.

Shaynna said the vanity was stunning and Darren agreed it was beautiful due to each detail. “Everything about that is just perfect.” Neale said it was a bit of a wow moment.

Shaynna said the feature tile was beyond beautiful and “it’s everything you’d want out of double showers.”

Neale said the bathroom will have massive appeal on auction day and styling wise, they’d really nailed it. He felt the lights should be a bit lower though.

Our pick: Planet Luxe handwash

Kim and Chris: last place and 19 points

I feel so sorry for these two because they seem so damn nice, and positive, and hardworking! But, as Shaynna said, they really don’t “get” Art Deco, I don’t think. Shaynna said it was a mish-mash of chrome, black and gold. Darren said (sarcastically, and while struggling to hide his horror!) that more was obviously, more. And Neale said he felt like they’d now delivered three rooms from three totally different periods and their apartment was in danger of becoming a museum of rooms through the ages! Eep.

“What is this panelling?” asked (again horrified) Darren, while Neale said he liked it. Darren clearly thought Neale had lost the plot but the overhyped TVCs promising a big fallout between the two male judges were, as I suspected, totally over the top.

Neale said despite the errors it was still an elegant bathroom with so much space (they changed their floor plan) and buyers would walk in and be impressed.

Our pick: Sunday Minx towels

Next week: another guest bedroom and robe.

Tags andy and ben, art deco, bathroom, dan and carleen, darren palmer, judges, julia and sasha, karlie and will, master bathroom, melbourne, neale whitaker, scoring, shaynna blaze, the block, winner

RENO ADDICT

Reno Rumble week 3 reveals where kitchens & bathrooms shone

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date April 12, 2016
No Comments on Reno Rumble week 3 reveals where kitchens & bathrooms shone

Week three and the amateur renovators produced some hits and misses once again! The standouts for me were Dane and Leanne’s kitchen and Lisa and John’s main bathroom and master bedroom. What did you think?

Here are all the pictures and judges’ comments and scores…

BLUE HOUSE

Lisa and John’s master bedroom

Justin said they’d come such a long way from last week and every part of the bedroom screamed well planned and comfortable. On the downside, the artwork above the bed wasn’t big enough.

Colin gave it an 8 and Justin, an 8

Get the look with this grey sheepskin

Sarah and Renee’s bedroom

]Justin loved the rug and the chevron gold headboards (until one fell off the bed during judging, revealing the shoddy workmanship behind! Oops!).

Colin gave it a 6 and Justin, a 7

Scott and Nadia’s bedroom

Justin was concerned about the position of the desk and Colin said the shelving was bare and the room was lacking a layer and personality. Justin also said it needed layering further and it lacked design and feel good factor.

Colin and Justin both gave it a 5

Lisa and John’s main bathroom

This one certainly made an impression! Colin said it looked like suddenly someone was serious about the competition. “Come on!” Colin said it was so of the moment, very contemporary and restful, beautiful design, well executed, perfection! Justin said it wouldn’t look out of place on the pages of a glossy magazine.

Colin gave it a 10 and Justin, a 9

Get the timber vanity cover

Sarah and Renee’s living room

Colin loved the extra ceiling height and skylights. Justin liked the overall feel and atmosphere but the laser cut paneling let it down with its rough, saw-cut edges!

Colin and Justin gave it 7 each

Scott and Nadia’s kitchen

Colin said the kitchen had it all. Justin said teal made him squeal. In a good way! He loved the way the colour scheme worked with the living room. But 13 chairs around the dining table and kitchen island were way too many! Otherwise, he thought it was very professional.

Colin and Justin both gave it an 8.

Buy the dining chairs

The blue house got 88 points in total, winning.

RED HOUSE

Dane and Leanne’s master bedroom

Justin said there was lots of nice elements in the room but they didn’t work together. He said it had been put together like a crazy dyslexic jigsaw puzzle?

Colin and Justin both gave it 6

Buy the butterfly art

Hayley and Jim’s bedroom

Justin really like the mural but Colin said it was very dominant and lonely. While the mural was great, the rest of the room was devoid of personality and it needed Tara’s guitars on the wall!

Colin and Justin both gave it 6

Hayley and Jim’s bathroom

Justin said it had a sense of theatre, purpose and joy. Colin didn’t love the colours and said it felt a bit dowdy. Justin said it was still well thought through and felt like a sumptuous spa.

Colin gave it a 7 and Justin, an 8

Get the look with this marble toothbrush holder

Dane and Leanne’s guest bedroom

Colin thought it was simple but elegant and Justin said it felt like a cosy, great little space.

Colin and Justin gave it 8 each

Get the look with this flamingo art

Dane and Leanne’s kitchen

Get the look with these black wire dining chairs

Colin said a lot of work had gone into it and it sang to him! Justin said they nailed it and loved the combination of the grey Caesarstone with the black cabinetry and three gorgeous pendant lights.

Colin gave it 9 and Justin, 10

Get the look with this dreamcatcher print

Hayley and Jim’s living room

Justin said while he loved brown leather sofas, having two of them paired with a hard edged coffee table and metal chair felt overpowering. And he pointed out the sofas were so low because they hadn’t realised they hadn’t put the legs on! And all that trouble cutting down the coffee table to size was unnecessary! Colin said it lacked continuity and had suffered because the kitchen was so brilliant. Ouch!

Colin and Justin both gave it 6

Buy the cowhide rug

The house got a total of 86 which saw lowest scorers Hayley and Jim sent home.

Next week: semi finals already!

Tune in tomorrow for a closer look at this week’s impressive kitchen in our video interviews.

Tags colin and justin, dane and leanne, hayley and jim, house reveals, judges, judging, reno, reno rumble, renovating, reveals, room reveals, sarah and renee, scott and nadia, the block

RENO ADDICT The Block

New Reno Rumble judges Colin and Justin spill the beans!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date March 21, 2016
No Comments on New Reno Rumble judges Colin and Justin spill the beans!

There’s a lot of twists coming in tonight’s Reno Rumble which we’re sure the producers are hoping will turn it into less of a Block spinoff and more of a show in its own right. There are two major changes this season. First, the homes are being made over for real families who, for a variety of reasons, really need and deserve a helping hand in the reno stakes (there’s nothing I love more than a proper human interest angle, pass the tissues already!), and second, Darren Palmer and Romy Alwill have been replaced by Scottish design duo (and one time Block guest judges), Colin and Justin. We chatted to them about what we can expect.

While Colin (McAllister) and Justin (Ryan) may be new faces to many Aussies, to a Pom like me they’re big names in interiors. The funny Scots are known for not mincing their words and have enjoyed huge success as hosts of a variety of home makeover shows in the UK, Canada and America. So where does Australia come into it? They appeared on the UK version of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2009, filmed in Australia, and got a local agent, who started opening doors for them here. After appearing as guest judges on a Block challenge last year, the producers asked them back to judge Reno Rumble.

“A really critical difference this year is that we deliver our judging face-to-face with the contestants for the first time,” says Colin. “Before, the teams didn’t get a chance to answer back. We are very much fans of saying it like it is!” There will always be an element of drama when one couple stands to walk away with a $100,000 prize, as the boys (who are a couple) rightly point out.

It’s not just about that though, as Justin adds. “As soon as you have the judges having a dialogue with the contestants, the viewers, many of whom want to learn from the show and get tips, are going to get a lot more from it. We have design backgrounds and can justify what we’re saying. But we very much want to critique rather than criticise.”

Despite the fact they’re fighting each other for the big prize, Colin and Justin say the contestants are a great bunch who have the best interests of the people whose homes they’re renovating at heart. “We feel like proud mums at sports day,” Colin says. “We are genuinely invested in this process as judges and we think that will show on screen. This show is going to genuinely change lives for people who have had a really rough time.”

Justin says the producers have chosen the homeowners very carefully. “These people have faced tragedy and loss and illness and it is so fantastic to see people working together to better their lives. It’s great to be involved in a show doing something like that. You forget it’s a competition in the best possible way.”

While the pair had already met host Scott Cam on The Block, they hadn’t met Shelley Craft before and said she went out of her way to make sure they were comfortable on set and was refreshingly down to earth compared to many of the people they meet in TV across the globe.

And having spent so much time in Australia, the experienced renovators, who live between Scotland and Canada, are tempted to buy here too. And their top tip for a drink in Sydney? The Baxter Inn in the CBD (you heard it here first).

Reno Rumble starts tonight on Channel 9 at 7.30pm. Tune in tomorrow for all the latest. As with our Block coverage, we’ll have all the reveals for you each week.

Tags channel nine, colin and justin, colin mcallister, judges, judging, justin ryan, nine, reno rumble, romy alwill, scott cam, scottish, shelley craft, the block

House Tours The Block

The week 11 challenge apartment final Block room reveals

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date November 24, 2015
1 Comment on The week 11 challenge apartment final Block room reveals

Can it have really been the last lot of room reveals of the series?! I feel like it’s gone really quickly! What about you? Have you enjoyed this season?

Last night, the judges scored the contestants’ challenge apartment efforts and once again, with a different room each, I think it made for more interesting viewing than when they’re all doing the same rooms, although it’s much harder to compare apples with pears, as they say!

It was a great night for favourites Shay and Dean, who got a full marks 30 for their living room, which was indeed beautiful. Whitney and Andy got just half a point less, 29.5, for their dining. It was a very close call all round with Suzi and Vonni taking third place and 29 points for their bedroom, Luke and Ebony 28 for their kitchen and Caro and Kingi 27 for their home office, powder room and laundry (surely the toughest gig?). I felt like all the scores were a bit on the generous side but maybe the judges wanted to go out on a positive note!

Suzi & Vonni’s bedroom

Neale loved the timber walls and Darren, still not knowing whose room it was, said they’d finally worked out how to do bedrooms. Although while Shaynna and Neale loved the cushions on the bed and the styling with a tray of breakfast at the end of it, Darren thought there were too many cushions and the tray arrangement was a little twee. I have to agree with Darren on that one! On spotting the pine cones, Darren was sure it was Suzi and Vonni’s room!

Neale said if it was indeed the girls’ work, he had to applaud them for their restraint and sophistication. The judges said the execution throughout was excellent and that they’d nailed it this week.

Caro & Kingi’s study, powder room and laundry

I’m sure having to contend with this trio as well as Caro doing the budgeting for everyone was a case of drawing the seriously short straw and this pair ended up coming last. Coincidence?

Darren said the office was really fun and Neale said it was also really well thought through. Shaynna criticised the shallow desk when there was so much empty space, but at the end of the day, Neale, who wrongly guessed it might be Andy and Whitney’s, said it was a credit to whoever did it.

Once into the powder room, Neale was sure it was Caro and Kingi’s, Shaynna liked the colour palette and Neale said it was simple, functional and just right; at this final stage it was great they were still giving them new things and not recycling what they’d done before.

The laundry was less successful with Shaynna saying it didn’t connect with the powder room or study and Neale saying it felt the least interesting. Darren however complimented the sink, tap and styling.

Shay & Dean’s full marks living room

I really liked this room and it was definitely my favourite. Darren loved the black alcoves either side of the TV; a smart move indeed. Neale liked the gallery-styled grouping of artworks and Shaynna said it suggested confidence which made her correctly guess it was Shay and Dean.

Neale said it was the perfect rug, the perfect size, and had been put together by someone with a very very sophisticated eye and good sense of colour. Shaynna said the execution was pretty perfect and Neale added it was the best living room he’d seen this series.

Andy & Whitney’s dining room

It was a good night for compliments for Andy and Whitney, with Andy commenting afterwards it was a shame they’d hit their stride right as the competition was ending! All the judges said it was hard to believe another couple had created the space because it absolutely went with the living room and felt seamless.

Darren loved the table and chairs and Neale, the cabinet and artworks. Neale wanted to believe it was Andy and Whitney’s, stating he couldn’t believe the couple who delivered “the worst room I’ve ever seen” at the start of the series, could deliver this.

Ebony & Luke’s kitchen

This kitchen and its “pantry plus” as Neale called it, got plenty of positive comments. Darren thought the amount of storage was phenomenal. Shaynna loved the light and dark coloured Silestone surfaces and the long cupboard handles.

Neale said the butler’s pantry was really special while Shaynna called it fantastic.

What did you think?

Read all our Block coverage

The grand finale is Wednesday at 7.30pm and plenty of drama is promised! Be sure to check in for Olivia’s writeup on Thursday!

Tags blocktagon, challenge apartment, grand finale, judges, room reveals, the block

House Tours The Block

The Block week 10 challenge apartment room reveals

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date November 17, 2015
3 Comments on The Block week 10 challenge apartment room reveals

I really enjoyed last night’s room reveals. I’d almost go as far as to say it was worth the wait until after the cricket (wow, that upset a few people, didn’t it?!). It just made for refreshing viewing to see all the contestants working on the same apartment for a change, with varying degrees of success. And I also agreed with the order the judges scored the rooms in, with Shay and Dean’s en suite an out and out winner for me too. That brass hardware and the feature herringbone tile alcove! Loved it! So much wow in a tiny space!

Shay and Dean, Caro and Kingi and Luke Ebony were the winners, getting 15, 10 and 5k respectively to either spend on their apartments or take off their reserves (to be revealed next week). Poor Suzi and Vonni and Andy and Whitney got nothing.

So, onto the judging…

Kingi and Caro: second place

These two had the massive bonus of winning a professional painter for this week in the karaoke challenge. It gave them more time to concentrate on their render feature wall and styling! Shaynna said it felt peaceful and serene. Darren liked the stepladder in the wardrobe and said there wasn’t much to pick on, save for a few exposed screws. He even described the styling of the bed as stunning. Shaynna would have preferred storage in the bedside table but let it go on account of it being a guest room. All the judges, not knowing about the challenge win, commented on the excellent paintwork!

Our pick to buy: Round leather cushion | Blue bedhead | Timber wall lights

***

Dean and Shay: first place

Gosh I loved this room, the en suite of Kingi and Caro’s bedroom. The shower with its herringbone recess, the timber vanity, brass tapware and pennyround tiles on the floor. Sigh…

Shaynna said it was beautiful, Darren loved the hardware and said the room was ‘so cool’. Neale guessed it was Shay and Dean’s work due to its luxury touches. Darren thought the tiles were expertly put together. Save for the lack of a proper towel rail, rather a double hook on the wall, the judges praised the underfloor heating, storage and lighting plan. Neale said he’d be a very happy guest staying there.

Our pick to buy: Timber and brass taps | Marble soap dish | Brass spout with timber

***

Suzi and Vonni: last place

[contextly_sidebar id=”zi5w6hYOFyhFiIF0tElKyi9lsZT8A2vU”]Gosh, it was one disaster and setback after another for these two, so the main bathroom ended up pretty good considering! At one point it didn’t look like it would even be half finished! First the lighting was hung wrong, then the blinds didn’t fit, then they ran out of tiles. Need I go on?!

The judges were reasonably impressed though and Darren quickly realised it was the girls’ work. Neale loved the herringbone tiles, while Darren noted there was lots of storage and the general layout was very good. Shaynna thought the pendants weren’t special enough and Darren thought you could bash your head on them getting out of the bath! Shaynna was really impressed though by the shower space and its built in seat. But the fact the doors didn’t shut and other finishes, like cracked tiles, let it down. Neale was kind and said it had a good feel and broad appeal but Darren said all the little things chipped away at the feeling of glamour.

Our pick to buy: Endota Spa handwash

***

Ebony and Luke: third place

The siblings’ bedroom scoring certainly won the prize for most awkward! First Neale guessed the room was Whitney and Andy’s (and Whitney and Andy at their best, at that). Then Darren said they’d obviously copied Caro and Kingi’s wardrobe styling but done so with far less sophistication!

Neale liked the pendant lights but thought they were hung too high. Otherwise though, the execution was good. They would have been happy with their third place after the mixed reviews!

Our pick to buy: Copper and mint pendants

***

Andy and Whitney: fourth place

These two squared off an internal wall in their en suite but the judges didn’t really seem to notice! Shaynna thought the colour palette worked really well and loved the black and rose gold taps. It ticked a lot of boxes with good lighting, storage and under floor heating.

But it all went wrong when they noticed the walls and the floor didn’t meet the glass properly. Neale said it didn’t feel as high end or expensive as Shay and Dean’s en suite and had a lack of sophistication with styling that felt a bit last minute.

On the up side, Neale said the hex tile with its nod to the shape of the building, was a thoughtful choice. And Darren thought the wall and floor tiles were a great format and texture.

What did you think of last night’s rooms?

Tags andy whitney, blocktagon, challenge apartment, judges, judging, luke ebony, room reveals, shay dean, suzi vonni, the block

House Tours Outdoor & Exteriors The Block

The Block week 9 reveals: terraces and re-do rooms

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date November 9, 2015
1 Comment on The Block week 9 reveals: terraces and re-do rooms

Last night should have been, as one of the judges put it, the crescendo to the finished apartments but in reality it was a little underwhelming. Shay and Dean outdid themselves with their penthouse as usual though and took home the win on terrace and re-do room week.

Kingi & Caro: 2nd place, 27 points

The judging started well at Caro and Kingi’s terrace, which ended up coming second. Darren loved the benchtop, which Neale described as raw luxury. In fact Neale and Shaynna wanted to move in! Shaynna liked that they hadn’t gone over the top with fancy things and kept it simple, thinking about how people will live there.

The re-done living room, with its new couches, didn’t get such a good reaction though. Darren said they’d only half fixed the problem because the orientation of the room was still away from windows. All the judges agreed the couches were the wrong way around.

Our pick to buy: outdoor navy scatter cushion

Andy & Whitney: joint 3rd place, 24 points

This one didn’t go quite as well! Shaynna said it wasn’t very inspiring and Darren added: “I think this is what happens when you’ve got a lot of bills to pay even if you won the week before.” Hmm…

Shaynna said a lot of it, including the fish ‘pond’ was unneccessary and it felt disconnected from the sophistication of the dining room and apartment beyond. While the built-in wine fridge and dining seating got ticks, Darren spotted the cracked floor tiles.

The master bedroom re-do was much more successful. Darren said he knew it was going to be good when finished and Shaynna said it felt like a boutique hotel.

Our pick to buy: Jamie Durie vertical garden

Neale said it was their strongest, most confident and resolved room and showed how far they’d come.

Suzi & Vonni: last place, 21 points

The last minutes issues leading to a too-high barbecue did the girls no favours this week, however much they tried to distract with their stiletto styling! Shaynna noticed the clever choice of tiles though, which blended so well with their indoor flooring and thought the couch and stools worked well.

Neale found it a difficult, cluttered space which was difficult to move around, and said having thoughts like that was disappointing at this late stage in the competition.

Our pick to buy: large black rectangle pot

Ignoring much of the judges’ advice on how to improve their dining and living rooms meant they were never going to win last night! After positive comments from the buyers advocates, they decided to keep the wine fridge and fire. So while they had worked on their finishes, Neale said he couldn’t see any changes at all and Shaynna said they hadn’t done a thing. Darren however admired them taking a gamble, which might pay off.

The changed around lights in the dining room made everyone happy though, with no more blocked view!

Ebony & Luke: joint 3rd place, 24 points

While the much talked about daybed/bar was dismissed as a novelty for the sake of it, the thermo strip heating was a huge success with the judges. What a great idea in Melbourne!

Shaynna said the siblings had hit their stride at the right moment and it didn’t feel like they’d run out of money. The judges thought it was a successful, very liveable apartment. Who would have thought it a few weeks ago?!

Our pick to buy: timber bar stools

Their re-do room, the master bedroom, was probably the most transformed of the night. Shaynna said it felt glamorous and Darren said the colour scheme now worked much better with the robe rather than jarring with it.

Shay & Dean: first place, 28.5 points

Last but not least once again for the penthouse pair! The herringbone floor tiles went down a treat (pardon the pun). Darren was excited, saying it felt like a penthouse and was “heaven”. Neale said they could do a masterclass on how to style The Block. Shay certainly works wonders with those cakes, doesn’t she?! Neale said it gave him the emotions he’d wanted to feel all day. “It’s a new definition of luxury.” Shaynna loved the fact it was an outdoor garden as well as an outdoor room.

When it came to the re-done living room, the judges were happy to eat humble pie! Neale admitted they may have been too harsh in their original judging of the previously unfinished room and that maybe they had known what they were doing after all!

Our pick to buy: leather strap shelves and gold and coloured plant pots

Tags blocktagon, judges, redo room, room reveal, terrace, the block

Interiors Addict

Why there’ll be no 7 Vignettes for July

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date June 25, 2015
39 Comments on Why there’ll be no 7 Vignettes for July

The last few weeks, in my haze of new mum-ness, I became aware of a lot of discussion and debate happening on Instagram about what constitutes a vignette, whether standards had slipped in 7 Vignettes entries and whether every previous winner had stuck to the “rules”. I must admit I found it all a bit negative and took it personally (this Instagram challenge is another of my babies after all). Sleep deprivation will do that to you too. But do you know what? I’m kind of happy people care enough to have that debate!

Next week, when 7 Vignettes should start on 1 July, it’s my birthday, my bestie is here visiting from the UK and, after 2.5 years, I want a breather. I’m using this time out to invite you all to send in your suggestions for creating a set of guidelines for the competition going forward. And to tell me what you do/don’t like directly.

You can’t please all of the people all of the time. Not everyone will always agree with who is picked as the winner. And the judge’s choice will always be subjective. But if a set of guidelines makes people happy then let’s do this! And who better to contribute than the people who take part? So if you’re one of those who have voiced your opinion on Instagram, please voice it directly to me here or by email and let’s have some constructive feedback.

Above all though, let’s not lose sight of this being something fun, a place to ‘meet’ like-minded people and build each other up with encouragement, support and praise of each others efforts. The ‘real life’ events and meet-ups will also continue when baby Sebastian is a bit older.

7 Vignettes will be back on 1 August with the themes announced towards the end of July. I hope we can all come back refreshed, enthused and positive!

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Jen

Tags 7 vignettes, instagram, judges, judging, july, photo a day, photo challenge, social media, styling, themes, vignettes

Kitchens RENO ADDICT The Block

FINALLY, The Block kitchen week reveals: Shaynna lets rip!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date April 13, 2015
No Comments on FINALLY, The Block kitchen week reveals: Shaynna lets rip!

“Strap yourselves in because it ain’t all pretty,” was how Scott Cam announced night’s judging to the contestants. Now, I’m not going to sit here being all “know it all” because I certainly wouldn’t have a clue how to put a winning kitchen together, so I’ll stick to saying I found all the kitchens a little underwhelming and it seems the judges agreed. So if last night’s room reveal episode was anything it was a little disappointing. That said, as far as drama went, it was pretty entertaining! And you can say it’s a show about design all you like but come on, we all know it’s reality TV. Those shows with no drama don’t keep coming back series after series… I’m not ashamed to say I enjoy it!

Back to the design, our staff writer Olivia Shead got to look around The Block last week (thanks to the Good Guys) and she told me the kitchens were pretty uninspiring too. Her favourite in the flesh was Ayden and Jess’s and I have to say, I liked theirs the best on screen (and not just because I love those two!). Like Neale said, it was the only one with some personality.

So, onto the judges’ comments…

Charlotte & Josh

This pair said they deliberately kept the kitchen simple so it wouldn’t polarise potential buyers. Neale’s first comment was that he’d expected the big guns to come out, all bells and whistles, and while they hadn’t, he liked the simplicity.

Shaynna loved the cabinetry handles, the double integrated fridge and the dish drawer. Neale said it was beautifully pared back, however low on wow factor and a little bit drab. He also said one corner of the room was like a cell!

Darren was confused by how obvious one of the beams was. Shaynna said it bugged her but not as much as the lack of task lighting about the food preparation area. Neale said nothing about it celebrated cooking or the preparation of food.

Shaynna said it was really sad that they kept coming back to the elimination rounds and that that had been the couple’s peak. She added unless they fixed the lighting, once someone lived in it they’d hate it.

Our pick to buy: Remilled Marri breakfast bar

Tim & Anastasia

Ironically, these two hated their kitchen, while the judges had many good things to say about it. The bench area in front of the window impressed all three of them. They also loved the matte black pantry and the choice of appliances.

Darren pointed out it was the only kitchen that was still in the spot the architect had designated for it and consequently it worked well.

The judges said the sink was the perfect size and in the perfect spot but needed a drain board. Darren said he dug it! Shaynna loved the nook which was like a butler’s pantry without being one. Neale said the storage was good and the rangehood got a big tick.

Neale said their kitchen definitely had a luxury of space and any potential buyer would think wow. “But I’m still not feeling the magic. It’s still borderline kitchen showroom.” He added they’d not yet developed a confident signature style and asked where was the personality? Something that says this is home?

Darren said it desperately needed some personality in the form of tiles, artwork, or a hanging plant.

Our pick to buy: White oak round cheese paddle.

Ayden & Jess: FIRST PLACE

Finally, some wow! Neale said it felt full of personality and had style. Shaynna said it felt great and she loved the colour and stone choices. She said they hadn’t added value by moving the kitchen but what they’d done was great.

Darren said the kitchen was terrific but it wasn’t logical to have it where it was. He’d prefer a lounge room full of light and opening up to the outside. Neale called it the serious foodie’s kitchen he’d expected Josh and Charlotte to deliver. Shaynna loved the butler’s pantry, which had been styled how you’d use it. Neale said made it feel real and believable.

Our pick to buy: Banksia nut candle.

And the one we’d all been waiting for… Dea & Darren: LAST PLACE!

After all the drama the kitchen caused they expected very big things.

These 'goal posts' got a LOT of mentions and not in a good way! — These ‘goal posts’ got a LOT of mentions and not in a good way!

Shaynna started with positives but I think we all knew it was only a matter of time! She loved the benchtop though! Neale wasted no time saying he was a big fan of Dea and Darren but this was not their best week. Shaynna said it was not their best couple of weeks! She described the drama over changing the layout as a debacle, with the whole thing hinging on making the kitchen amazing. Which it was not.

Neale said even the styling made it feel as if they’d thrown in the towel. Neale said the black mosaic tiles (to match the bathroom) were a bad choice, killing the room and making it feel like a disco. He said it felt cheap and wrong. Ouch! Shaynna didn’t like the empty space by the bifold doors, which could have housed a pantry.

Then she really let rip, slamming it as a disaster and she was gobsmacked at how badly planned it was. She said she was really really angry at how they’d treated her, dismissed the architect, Keith, Dan and everybody on building site. “And I’m actually livid at their arrogance at producing this average kitchen and what they put people through.”

Deep breaths!

Neale was on the same page, saying it did not feel good and had no flair, confidence, wow or pizzazz. It was not a whizz bang kitchen by any means. A little more diplomatic, Darren said while a kitchen flowing into dining room made logical sense from design point of view, the area that was designed to be a kitchen and would have worked much more nicely. Needless to say, the comments did not go down well with Dea, who had an answer for all of them, much to her fellow contestants’ amusement!

Our pick to buy: Mud Australia Dome light.

Overall though, nobody got great praise. Shaynna said nobody has pushed the boundary in materials or design and there was no wow. Neale said they’d all under-delivered and Shaynna said it felt as though they’d been asleep at the wheel.

See all our Block coverage.

If you love renovating, check out the real reno section on our sister site RENO ADDICT!

Tags design, interiors, judges, kitchen, room reveal, shaynna blaze, the block, triple threat, winners

House Tours The Block

The Block master reveals, ‘winegate’ and a disqualification!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date March 31, 2015
1 Comment on The Block master reveals, ‘winegate’ and a disqualification!

Well well well, what a night of room reveals it was! Some great rooms and all very different, which impressed the judges. As Neale said: “All four have a very distinct personality and stand out for different reasons. It’s the most memorable master bedroom week I’ve experienced on The Block.”

That wasn’t all though; the results of the wine audit were in and a very smug Dee and Daz (fair enough) were shown to be NOT guilty! Then, at the end of the show, we saw Charlotte and Josh, after receiving the series’ first 30/30 from the judges, being disqualified from the scoring because they’d broken the rules by not using their Jimmy Possum bed from the recent challenge. Those bloody beds! As I keep saying on Twitter, never have I seen more of a PR fail for a brand on the show. I feel really bad for them! Couples either did their best to disguise their beds or didn’t want to use them at all. Eep!

Onto the judging…

Charlotte and Josh (30 out of 30, first place, had they not been disqualified)

I really liked this room and its lounge area but didn’t feel it quite warranted the perfect score it got from the judges, much preferring Dee and Daz’s overall. It was all a little too white for my liking and felt like it needed another layer or too. But not wanting to take away from the young couple’s glory, it has some great points.

“Yes, yes, yes yes!” was Shaynna’s initial reaction. Neale said the exposed beams gave a raw, contemporary quality that he loved and called it terrific.

They all loved the automated blinds and lights, especially tech-savvy Darren. Neale said it felt like Josh and Charlotte at their absolute best and they had created something like a self contained apartment or suite.

Shaynna closely inspected Charlotte’s paint job on the windows and was super impressed, saying they’d really worked hard. “This is their shining star, the pinnacle, what will have buyers in a bidding war.”

The massive walk-in wardrobe almost made Shaynna hyperventilate and generally went down really well, aside from the pendant light, which Darren said was a bit too Silence of the Lambs for his liking! Charlotte, born in the 90s, had never heard of the film. Bless!

Our pick to buy: Ingrain floating entertainment unit (by the same people who supplied their bathroom vanity last week).

Tim and Anastasia (24.5 out of 30, tying second place with Ayden and Jess)

I agreed with pretty much everything the judges said about this one. It was, on the face of it, a gorgeous, luxurious, cosy room.

Shaynna said it was beautiful and she loved the colours. Neale said he’s never been convinced they had confidence in their own style but this room maybe proved him wrong. He called it a gentle room with nothing in it that anyone would dislike, with a colour palette just enough to keep it modern.

Darren, perhaps diplomatically, said it was appropriate and saleable but didn’t seem overly excited and was intrigued that they hadn’t carried on the grasscloth wallpaper theme. He was concerned it was too similar to their first bedroom.

Shaynna kept it real though, pointing out that the curtains, while beautiful, needed channelling into ceiling and that the artwork above the bed too heavy (I totally agree, especially with those black frames).

The two-way doors to the walk-in were praised by all three as being clever. But while it was a good use of space and cabinetry, Neale said it felt a bit too much like a shop and he wasn’t sure about laminate, finding it grey and depressing. “It doesn’t feel luxurious. I’m underwhelmed.”

Darren also spotted a gaping hole near the window. Oops.

Ayden and Jess (24.5 out of 30, joint second with Tim & Anastasia)

This room drew mixed comments from the judges, with Neale being a bigger fan than the others. He said they were getting bolder with each passing week. Shaynna said it was like a younger version of Tim and Anastasia’s apartment.

Darren wasn’t exactly doing cartwheels and said he didn’t love it and it felt like a great second bedroom, not a master. He went one further to say it seemed “kind of juvenile” and unsophisticated. I totally agreed that the drum bedsides with no storage weren’t right. And I also agreed with him wanting to throw the artwork above the bed out the window. It looked too cheap and generic. top marks for personality, texture and layering though, I’d say!

Darren loved the wardrobe however, saying it dragged (interesting choice of word!) the bedroom up a level! I’m starting to see what he meant in our recent interview when he said he was going to be less Mr Nice Guy this series and more “cranky Daz”!

Neale finished off on some nice positives though, saying they’d got over their initial fears and misgivings and he wouldn’t change a thing.

Dee and Darren (27 out of 30 and first place after Charlotte and Josh’s disqualification)

Pow! This really was on another level to the others and I’m not sure why they scored less than Charlotte and Josh. So, at the end of the day, in my opinion, the most deserving couple won the 10 grand. The dark , moody grasscloth, the grand but contemporary four-poster, the perfect styling. Dodgy finishes aside, it was a cracker!

Darren was pretty much dancing around and trying to hang off the bed, he was so excited! “Woah, I love it! This is my all time favourite colour of grasscloth.” He loved the scale of the bed too.

Neale simply said: “Nailed it.” He added that it walked the line between really contemporary and classic, which is what Dee and Darren do again and again, and that it was finessed to a different level. Shaynna agreed it was gorgeous and felt like it enveloped you.

First impressions of the robe were great, with Darren loving the LED lighting and Neale, the choice of pendant light. They all noted a few finishing issues though, with Neale saying it was a little rough around the edges. Shaynna said the lack of blockout blinds and privacy were letting down a near perfect room.

Our pick to buy: Hale Mercantile Co doona cover and pillowcases.

With kitchen week now upon us, I’m excited! Which was your favourite this week? Did Charlotte and Josh deserve a perfect 30? Was their disqualification too harsh?

Tags bedroom, darren palmer, disqualification, jimmy possum, judges, master bedroom, master suite, neale whitaker, room reveals, shaynna blaze, the block, wine, winner, winners

Bathrooms House Tours The Block

Image galleries: last night’s Block en suite reveals & scores

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date March 23, 2015
No Comments on Image galleries: last night’s Block en suite reveals & scores

They were pretty impressive all round last night, don’t you think? I’d be happy with any of those en suites in my house, apart from Ayden and Jess’s effort (sorry guys, you know I love you, but it was too much!). So while I agree with the judges’ first (Josh and Charlotte) and second (Dee and Daz) places, I think perhaps Tim and Anastasia should have come third rather than last. Their bathroom, dodgy finishes aside, was pretty gorgeous, if not up to scratch. So it’s a tough one.

Nice work by Charlotte and Josh with their second win in a row and no more money worries! I absolutely loved the black and white contrast, the plantation shutters and the timber vanity.

Here are all the images if you missed the episode. Which was your favourite?

1st: Josh & Charlotte