Tag: the block triple threat

Jess Hogan on winning Reno Rumble, her time on The Block and her family business

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date July 13, 2015
1 Comment on Jess Hogan on winning Reno Rumble, her time on The Block and her family business

When Jess and Ayden Hogan popped onto our screens earlier this year, the country well and truly fell in love. Favourites on both The Block Triple Threat and Reno Rumble, I always admired Jess for her loveable nature and her ability to be ever-patient with her funny man husband (she’s a better women than me!).

Spending many late nights doing back to back renos, their efforts paid off, with the duo scoring $665,000 on The Block, and a few month later, $50,000 and a car for winning Reno Rumble. But for Jess, it still doesn’t seem real. “We really can’t believe we’ve won. Every week we would say to each other that this would be our last week and we just kept on getting through. Reno Rumble was really tough but really great at the same time! Ayden and I learnt a lot about how to renovate and work to a client’s brief.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”5KF1UdjXoKjR4IUrjKXWKc4wQiSqf8Sc”]As reality TV veterans, the question that came straight to mind was which show was harder and which one was better? “Reno Rumble was more physically and mentally exhausting because we were doing a house every week and there never seemed like there was enough time! The Block was hard because we had no design experience at all and we found being judged on that every week pretty tough. They were both challenging but the best experiences of our lives! If I had to choose, I’d probably say Reno Rumble because of all the experience we gained.”

Now taking a well deserved break from the tools, Jess has begun working with her parents on their family business, Banksia Gifts Australia. Having been around for 30 years, in 2010 the company changed tack, moving away from the artistic and expensive works of art to cater more for the gift and tourist market. “We started exhibiting at Reed Gift Fairs and realised that the gift market was huge and largely untapped where our products were concerned,” explains Jess. “After trading for 20 plus years as Hansen Galleries we felt that the name bore no relevance to our current business, so Banksia Gifts Australia was formed.”

Selling Australian designed and made products — turned from the humble Banksia seed pod — they sell everything from tea lights and coasters to scent pods and eucalyptus oil. Jess’ father Tony is the designer, turner, production manager and everything in between and her mother Liz manages all of the finishing, packaging, packing and shipping. “Dad has been a professional turner for over thirty years now, and dare I say, is one of the best and last remaining in Australia. Mum is his right hand man and handles just about everything else. They are a dream team and I don’t know any other married couple that work as well as these two do! Then, I do all the sales, marketing, accounts, concepts, research and anything else I can do to help.”However, while Jess is enjoying working with her parents, she’s not said goodbye to renovating for good! “We are currently drawing up plans for our own home and can’t wait to get started on building that later in the year. Ayden also plans on starting a renovation business of his own and so I feel we will always be renovating now. We’ve got the bug!”

— Jess Hogan and Banksia Gifts Australia will be exhibiting at Reed Gift Fairs, Melbourne from 1 to 5 August.

Tags Ayden Hogan, Banksia Gifts, Banksia Gifts Australia, Hansen Galleries, jess hogan, reed gift fair, reno rumble, the block, the block triple threat

RENO ADDICT The Block

Stair and study week, otherwise known as The Block’s “worst room reveal ever!”

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 20, 2015
1 Comment on Stair and study week, otherwise known as The Block’s “worst room reveal ever!”

As Scott Cam said: “That was always going to be hell week!” And by the looks of the contestants’ broken faces, he was right on the money. With all couples having to finish every last inch of their townhouse’s interior, which included three levels of staircases and two remaining rooms, only one couple finished, Ayden and Jess. With a score of 28/30 they won for the second week in a row. But unfortunately, the good news stopped there; with the remaining contestants getting rather abysmal scores, especially Tim and Anastasia, who got the worst score in Block history. Eeek!

So, onto the judges’ comments…

Josh and Charlotte – second place (19/30)

“I feel like they’ve just moved onto The Block,” said Shaynna when she walked into the space. The others agreed, with Neale saying it felt like “week one,” what with how many unpainted walls were in sight. Having built their staircase and surrounding walls from scratch, all the judges were surprised that they had gone for a completely enclosed design, with Shaynna believing they could have had open treads and a light well to flood the space with light.

However, once they went up the stairs to the next floor, there was a sigh of relief! Their study was in Josh and Charlotte’s signature style of classic simplicity, or as Neale referred to it “industrial merged with colonial.” Darren loved the layout of the desk, the shutters, the bulkheads, everything! But unfortunately, the compliments stopped there. When the judges did a 180 and looked behind them, they saw how much was unfinished and how much painting still needed to be done. As Neale said, “Great hint of what it could be, but it’s not there yet.”

Our pick to buy: Desk top

Tim and Anastasia – last place (8/30)

Oh what a hot mess this was! The couple failed to deliver any spaces, and Shaynna’s face said it all: “What on earth happened?” Neale said he never remembered walking into a room like this on The Block ever!

As the stairs were completely unfinished, they made their way to the cinema room and Shaynna’s words upon entry? “Idiots! Worst room reveal ever!” With nothing except a huge TV, all the judges thought it had been a massive missed opportunity to have not made the room a fourth bedroom.

Walking up to the top and third level and there was another room with nothing except a TV! “They’re seriously having us on!” said one very annoyed Shaynna. Neale said the whole top floor should have been luxury but it was just TV overkill. He thought it was just heartbreaking and clearly this was the week that had broken them. All the judges agreed they were very worried about them come auction day.

Our pick to buy: Nothing revealed!

Ayden and Jess – first place (28/30)

Finally some good news! Achieving the near impossible, they were the only couple to deliver and finish all their spaces! Walking in, the judges were worried, they had seen one pretty average reveal, one pretty terrible reveal and they didn’t know what to expect. As Scott said: “Pretty would be nice, but they got a whole lot more!”

The judges loved the architectural detail of the staircase and the floating raw timber treads that let light through. Shaynna thought it was stunning and Darren thought it made such a strong statement that tied all the rooms together perfectly. Up the stairs and into the study and the “oohs” and “ahs” continued. Perfectly balanced, the study didn’t feel small. The judges also liked the linen cupboard and the pendant light. “This is glamour!” said Shaynna.

Onto the third floor and they also loved the TV room, with coffee machine and mini fridge. They were all very proud. “Out of all the four couples they’ve been on the biggest journey,” said Neale. “They’ve built on their confidence every week and this has taken it to a whole new level.”

Our pick to buy: Meyer floor lamp

Dea & Darren – third place (15/30)

After not finishing their staircase on the Glasshouse series, they were keen to not let history repeat itself! But unfortunately, they weren’t successful, and like Tim and Anastasia, failed to deliver any finished spaces. “Here we go again,” said Neale. But looking at what was there, the hint of tiles and the styling, and Neale thought had it been finished, he would have really loved it.

On the staircase, everything was completely mismeasured, but it was the low hanging pendant that really got the judges going, especially as Darren is 6 foot 7 (he did admit he hit his head on it!). They liked the artwork, but could all agree the space was more style over substance. In the study, the disappointments continued, with a huge hole in the wall and missing cabinetry. Shaynna thought the space was great but didn’t like the orientation of the desk, Neale liked how it was styled but thought on a practical level it wouldn’t work as a study nook so close to the TV. “I seriously think Dea and Darren are in trouble,” were Shaynna’s last words.

Our pick to buy: Paris Madness #09

See all our Block coverage.

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

Tags home reno, interiors, reno, reno for profit, renovating, room reveal, staircase, stairs, study, the block, the block triple threat

Appliances Kitchens RENO ADDICT The Block

Olivia visits The Block’s kitchens and shares her opinion and all the product details

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 17, 2015
No Comments on Olivia visits The Block’s kitchens and shares her opinion and all the product details

So I’ll let you in on a little secret. A couple of hours before The Block reveals air, we get the photos of all the rooms. The problem is, we don’t get the judges’ comments, so I spend a good 30 minutes trying to decipher who wins. I must say I’m normally pretty accurate — though I will admit I did not see Josh and Charlotte’s 30/30 score for their master bedroom coming!

But my guessing game went into overdrive last week, when I got to see The Block’s kitchens in the flesh (days prior to the reveal). Judge Shaynna Blaze led the tour, and though I attempted on countless occasions to get her opinion out of her, she kept mum (you should be proud, Channel 9)!

Screen Shot 2015-04-16 at 1.33.08 pm — Shaynna and I

So below are all my views and all the product details, should you wish to try and replicate the kitchens in your own home.

Ayden and Jess: Modern traditional

Looking at the kitchen alone and ignoring how it fitted into the surrounding space, it was my favourite. I liked pretty much all of it bar the glass-fronted cabinets. I just don’t see them as realistic. People have mismatched dinnerware; it just seems so messy!

On-trend and functional, the profiled cabinetry in a Stone Grey brought an element of sophistication and the benchtop choice of Silestone Lyra added a natural feel to the classically styled kitchen. Designed and built to entertain, Jess and Ayden opted for Electrolux appliances throughout the kitchen, as well as Breville small appliances and Oliveri taps and sinks.

Dea and Darren: Urban glam

While I later found out how different my opinion was to the judges, the Double Ds produced my second favourite kitchen. And if you looked at the space as a whole (so the kitchen, living and dining as one), well then it shot straight to my favourite. Yes, the ‘goalposts’ were weird, but it was the only townhouse that actually had open plan living.

The kitchen is really the social hub of the home, executed through smart and functional design without compromising on style (though that mosaic tile splashback was a bit OTT). With Silestone benchtops in Cemento Spa and Pulsar, the appliances included an integrated Vintec Wine Fridge, a Bosch 762 litre French Door Fridge, a Bosch warming drawer, Oliveri sinks and taps and Breville small appliances.

Tim and Anastasia: Modern monochrome

I found Tim and Anastasia’s kitchen layout quite bizarre, what with it being almost like two galley kitchens attached in an L-shape. Standing in it was very cramped, though that said we were 50 or so people there! However, what I did really like was how they connected their kitchen to the terrace with bi-fold windows; perfect for indoor-outdoor living.

Using contrasting colours and textures of black and white and gloss and matt, the kitchen focused on modern elements like handle-less cabinetry and used soft greys — of the Silestone benchtops in Lagoon — to help balance the monochromatic scheme. Appliances included the Delonghi oven and built-in combination microwave, with a Samsung 636 litre fridge, Breville small appliances and Oliveri taps and sinks.

Josh and Charlotte: Minimalist

I totally agreed with the judges on this one. In person, I couldn’t get over the huge blank space behind the timber bench. It looked so unfinished and cold. Josh and Charlotte’s style is minimalism — which can be great — but I think this time it was taken too far.

Using crisp white cabinetry, offset by a raised cafe style timber bench and Titanium drawer fronts, the kitchen also included subtle marbling in the Silestone benchtop in Helix. To complement this, Josh and Charlotte used Fisher & Paykel appliances, with an integrated fridge and a gas and ceramic cook top, Breville small appliances and Oliveri sinks and taps.

Finally, a special thanks to The Good Guys for flying me to Melbourne and giving me a behind the scenes look at The Block. I loved it!

Tags appliances, bosch, breville, delonghi, design, fisher & oaykel, interiors, kitchen, kitchen appliances, minimalism, oliveri, samsung, shaynna blaze, silestone, the block, the block triple threat, the good guys, vintec

RENO ADDICT The Block

Real estate agents share behind the scenes goss about Block auctions

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 16, 2015
No Comments on Real estate agents share behind the scenes goss about Block auctions

Even for the most experienced real estate agent, selling a Block property is no walk in the park. First, you’re dealing with thousands of potential buyers traipsing through the property, rather than the usual tens or hundreds. Secondly, there’s the fact you have to market the home while the show’s still airing (sounds like a marketing nightmare to me!). And lastly, there’s the almighty challenge of having to sell a townhouse with the whole country watching! No pressure!

So we spoke to Josh and Charlotte’s real estate agents — listing agent Mark Konishi of hockingstuart South Yarra and auctioneer David Wood of hockingstuart Albert Park — to find out what goes on behind the scenes and how they’re going to avoid an auction disaster like last year’s.

“We weren’t involved with the Glasshouse series but feel that many buyers were perhaps thinking the apartments could have sold for more and as a result weren’t present on the day,” explains David. “It’s important that we do all we can to ensure all potential buyers are attending the auction of the apartment.”

Alongside high buyer demand, both David and Mark think the property’s location, style and high quality fixtures, will see Josh and Charlotte come out on top this auction day. “From our experience in the South Yarra market, we know that there’s a strong appetite for townhouses in prestige locations,” says Mark. “Darling Street, in particular, is within proximity to the shops, public transport, the Yarra, the Botanic Gardens and many schools, as well as being an arm’s reach to the CBD. The quality of Charlotte and Josh’s apartment with its luxury fittings and furnishings will also put us in good stead to come out with a good result on the day.”

As well as having many high-end fixtures, Josh and Charlotte’s townhouse also includes many other stand out features. “Being at the front of the building, the townhouse boasts fantastic street appeal and enjoys plenty of natural light,” explains Mark. “The electronic louvres on the facade allow the perfect amount of light streaming through. Plus, the spacious master bedroom has those exposed roof beams which buyers love, as well as a view of the courtyard. All in all, it’s a perfect low maintenance townhouse in a cracking location.”

With this Block listing being David’s fourth (he won Fans vs Faves with Steve and Chantelle) and Mark’s second, they both agree that while there is a lot of fanfare, the whole selling process is quite similar to any other property. “Admittedly, it’s not every day that we sell a block of four townhouses very similar in structure in the one day,” says Mark. “We have thousands of buyers through the property, most of whom want to check out their favourite contestants’ townhouse and be a part of the movement. But with that said, 27 Darling Street follows a very similar marketing campaign to other properties on the market, from sourcing buyers and running an advertising campaign to an auction.”

The Block goes to auction on 28 April, with the on air date yet to be released. Read up on everything Block here.

Tags auction day, David Wood, design, hockingstuart, interiors, Mark Konishi, melbourne, real estate, real estate agent, reno, renovating, selling, south yarra, steve and chantelle, the block, the block triple threat, townhouse, tv

Designers Expert Tips Kitchens RENO ADDICT The Block

Reno inspiration from The Block’s kitchen reveals

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 15, 2015
No Comments on Reno inspiration from The Block’s kitchen reveals

While The Block’s kitchen reveals may have left the judges a little disappointed, the organic colours and textured surfaces of the benchtops did manage to invite some enthusiasm!

With the Blockheads picking their surfaces with the help of quartz surface specialists, Cosentino Australia, their colour specialist and showroom manager Ruba Jaajaa now shares her advice with us. Read on to find out how to bring the latest kitchen trends into your home.

Marvellous marble

All four couples on The Block selected marble patterns for their kitchens – a sign that this popular European trend is not going away any time soon. Marble adds depth to any design, with lighter patterns complementing other elements while bold marbling can create a focal point within the room.

Nice and natural

With natural materials continuing to grow in popularity, it’s no surprise that all four couples featured natural elements in their kitchen renovations. From wood and greenery in Dea and Darren’s modern-glam space, to the beautiful contrast of marble tones and timber in both Josh and Charlotte’s and Ayden and Jess’s renovations, natural materials help create a space that strikes a balance between polished and warm.

Tempting textures

The Block renovations show that you don’t have to be bold to create a striking space. Adding texture to any room helps add interest to your kitchen. From the rough grain of timber to their showstopping, jewel-toned splashback, Dea and Darren created a kitchen that offers plenty of excitement while still keeping their kitchen design classic.

Durable designs

Kitchens are one of the busiest rooms and one of the biggest investments in a home. With constant traffic, people, plates and food, it makes sense to invest in high-quality products that will not only last, but will look great for many years.

Seamless spaces

Like the contestants on The Block, it’s important to consider not just the kitchen but how the space will flow into other rooms within the home. Selecting natural tones and common colours will help create a space that flows seamlessly into adjoining rooms. You can extend this further by using complementary or even matching materials throughout spaces like the kitchen and outdoor areas to create spaces that encourage interaction.

What the Blockheads used

Kitchen winners Ayden and Jess, selected Silestone Lyra for their traditional, classy kitchen with neutral, veined tones for their benchtop.

Josh and Charlotte and Tim and Anastasia opted for the subtle marbling of Silestone Lagoon.

Darren and Dea chose the charcoal tones of Silestone Cemento Spa with Suede finish for their benches, along with a floating island in Silestone Pulsar to complete their modern, glamorous design.

For more information.

Tags Cosentino, Cosentino Australia, design, home reno, interiors, kitchen, kitchen reno, marble, quartz surface, Ruba Jaajaa, surfaces, the block, the block kitchen reveal, the block triple threat

Competitions Expert Tips Interviews RENO ADDICT The Block

Greville Pabst says the next Block auctions will have much happier endings

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date March 6, 2015
1 Comment on Greville Pabst says the next Block auctions will have much happier endings

With the intense time pressure, the late nights and the limited funds, I can’t be the only one who wonders how The Block’s contestants can actually create high-end properties. Especially when you add to the mix that this series they’re renovating in the wealthy suburb of South Yarra… well it truly makes me beg the question: are these townhouses even going to sell?!

But rather than speculate I decided to go straight to the source and chatted to one of The Block Triple Threat’s newest faces, buyer’s advocate Greville Pabst. “It was my perception at first that buyers may be apprehensive about the quality, but the contestants do go back and fix all the abnormalities. There are really two aspects to The Block, there’s the television reality aspect and then there’s the presentation for marketing and sale. The contestants have a certain amount of time to prepare for reveal but after the feedback is given, they fix any issues.”

frank, greville, nicole interiors addict — Greville, with buyer’s advocates Nicole and Frank

Greville also believes this series’ auctions will have happier endings than years past, thanks to the properties being so unique (four-level townhouses with double garages and cellars) and the involvement of himself and fellow buyer’s advocates Frank Valentic and Nicole Jacobs. “The contestants are really valuing our feedback and taking it on board. A classic example is in Josh and Charlotte’s bathroom, I walked in and said ‘Where’s the ventilation?’ and Josh immediately took it on board and said ‘Yes, I’m going to put it in!’.”

And Greville should be listened to! With 30 years in the property business, he is the CEO of WBP Property, one of Australia’s largest property valuation companies. He also frequents ABC Radio as a property expert on their Saturday Morning program and for the last eight years, has written a property column in Melbourne’s Herald Sun. Television, however, is a new realm for Greville, and he’s finding out all the tricks of the trade!

“What’s been really interesting is how much footage they take. It normally takes about five hours to shoot just one reveal! They film so much that at the end of the day, none of us know which part they’re going to use. So the fun thing is you get to see how they slice and dice that particular day. It’s been interesting watching it and so far, I’m really happy.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”NSuhGRySgSADHbF8ugjyOufuTd6k5rRO”]Greville is also enjoying the experience for the fact he gets to share his learnings with the public, believing he can help give buyers the right advice when it comes to making such a big investment. As after all, though many of The Block’s rooms are beautiful, one shouldn’t go buying a property based off cushions and pendants!

“I really liked being on the show as we’re giving a different perspective to the interior designer judges. They’re looking at the furnishings and all those other things, but as a buyer’s advocate — in most cases — when you buy a property, all those dressings aren’t included. So while we look at them and see they look nice, they really don’t come into play when we are making a buyer’s decision. Rather, it’s the floor plan, orientation, light, aspect, size and quality of renovation.”

Find all The Block latest here.

Tags buyer's advocate, buyers, design, frank valentic, Greville Pabst, home reno, interiors, Nicole Jacobs, real estate, reno, renovating, selling, the block, the block triple threat, WBP Property

Architecture Design RENO ADDICT

Amity and Phil take on their own Block: a new family home

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date February 23, 2015
No Comments on Amity and Phil take on their own Block: a new family home

After staring on two series of The Block and winning one of them, Amity Dry and Phil Rankine are well versed in the world of renovation. So when they bought their own Adelaide home last year, it seemed like the natural decision to pick up the sledgehammer and start knocking down walls. That was until their builder had quite the radical idea.

“We bought the house with a reno in mind,” explains Amity. “It wasn’t our dream house but we knew we could make it work because we loved the block, street and location. Yet when our builders, Scott Salisbury Homes, brought back the designs – which were all great – they said to us, ‘We have one more idea, why don’t we knock it all down and start from scratch?’”

While the idea did prick her interest, Amity was immediately worried, being a fan of character homes rather than their modern counterparts. “I’m not a modern, new house kind of girl. But then I started to think what if we could do my dream house; a Hamptons Queenslander Edwardian weatherboard, and the builders said, ‘We can do whatever you want!’ So I got really excited by that idea and also, as we’ve never built from scratch before, we thought it’d be something fun and new for us.”

reno addict amity — A rendering of the back of the house

With the original house due to be knocked down in two weeks’ time, they are aiming to have the slab laid by April and to be in the home by Christmas. However, since the purchase back in October, they haven’t been sitting on their laurels, with Amity taking a lead role in the designing of the floorplan. Doing copious amounts of research (such as looking at floorplans online, visiting homes she liked and taking and collecting lots of photos), in collaboration with Scott Salisbury Homes, she’s now arrived at the dream family home for them and their two children.

“We wanted to create a home that suits our family now, but also one that will work when our children are teenagers; because that’ll happen in a flash! We’ve focused a lot on the flow from indoors to outdoors, which was something we loved in The Block All-Stars house. We had these bi-fold doors that went all the way across the back of the house and brought the outside in, and even though it was quite small it made it feel so much bigger. So we definitely want to do that here too. We also have a beautiful wraparound veranda at the front, which both my and Phil’s work spaces open up onto. And then there’s a big kitchen with butler’s pantry, which is super exciting!”

With three bedrooms, two bathrooms and four living spaces — Phil’s study, Amity’s music/formal living room, a playroom and a casual living room — the floorplan can easily shift to five bedrooms plus study, should they decide to sell. “That’s something we learnt on The Block; that you have to make sure your home suits your needs but that it still appeals to a large market. We definitely want to be here for some time, but it’s something you have to consider early on.”

reno addict amity 1 — A rendering of the living room

You can follow Amity and Phil’s progress on their new blog Doing Our Block and catch them on this Thursday’s The Block Open House. Watch this space for further updates on the build too!

Disclosure: Amity and Phil are ambassadors for Scott Salisbury Homes.

Tags adelaide, amity and phil, building, phil and amity, reno, renovating, Scott Salisbury Homes, the block, the block all stars, the block open house, the block triple threat

Bedrooms Interviews RENO ADDICT The Block

Undeterred by last night’s Block elimination, Matt wants to be one of Australia’s top interior designers

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date February 16, 2015
2 Comments on Undeterred by last night’s Block elimination, Matt wants to be one of Australia’s top interior designers

While Matt and Kim Di Costa may not have made it through last night’s The Block Triple Threat elimination (read all about it here), it’s certainly not dampened Matt’s spirits for the future. With several projects on the horizon and a dream to be one of Australia’s best interior designers, last night’s episode signaled a change in direction, as the newlyweds moved to a more luxe and classy look.

“In our room we weren’t repeating a look we had done before, we were creating something we were aspiring to,” explains Matt. “I feel in the last couple seasons of The Block, we’ve been seeing a lot of the same stuff. It’s not because the contestants aren’t pushing the boundaries, I think it’s sponsor driven, time issues and a lot of them having fallen into the groove of following what’s really close to on trend. There haven’t been many couples trying to step past that and I think what we did is coming; that kind of luxe injection into contemporary rooms. We hadn’t really seen luxe on The Block before, and we really wanted to show people what is possible on $10,000.”

M&K8797 — Matt and Kim’s The Block Triple Threat bedroom

While they didn’t get the result they were hoping for, they both had a great time, feeling a lot more confident and brave than their first time on 2013’s The Block Sky High. “It was really fun,” says Matt. “We had such a good time. I suppose the first one you’re not as emotionally prepared, but this time we were just excited to come back and try and make history with another room. It was very emotional but we had a ton of fun, which is what The Block should be.”

While Matt says they had big plans for The Block — had they got through — they have many upcoming projects that will show off their new and more mature side. “We just bought a house in Perth that we’re going to put an extension on and completely redo the interiors. You’ll see a lot of the ideas we would have done on this season of The Block in this house, so we’re really excited about that.”

They also have their own business, Sky High Renders, they’re filming six episodes of Matt & Kim To The Rescue (where they will transform houses in just three days!) and they have a couple of interiors projects on the go, including a cafe. “I want to be one of the best interior designers in Australia,” explains Matt. “It’s a long road, but I think it’s just about picking the right projects. It comes down to study and having the guts to do it. So this year I just hope I have the right projects come to me.”

Tags design, interiors, matt and kim, reno, renovating, sky high renders, the block, the block matt and kim, the block sky high, the block triple threat

Bedrooms House Tours The Block

The results of the first REAL Block Triple Threat room reveals

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date February 16, 2015
14 Comments on The results of the first REAL Block Triple Threat room reveals

What excellent viewing last night was! A return to my favourite Sunday night Block room reveals and not three but SIX with three by the newbies and three by the returning all-star couples. Plenty of emotion (mainly from a tearful Bec, bless her) and some honest judging that spanned from downright harsh through to glowing. This is what reality TV’s all about!

Darren and Dee won the all stars' contest — Controversial Darren and Dee won the all stars’ contest

Judges Darren Palmer (we love his new specs!) and Neale Whitaker were joined by real estate guru John McGrath for the big task this week. The winners of the newbie round were my current faves Ayden & Jess and Bec & George and Matt & Kim went home, despite producing great rooms, while Darren & Dee got to stay and become the fourth couple.

Ayden and Jess were judged best out of the newcomers

JUDGES’ COMMENTS

First, to the newbies. The judges didn’t think any of their rooms were really good enough. The judging was pretty harsh but, in my opinion, warranted. It’s early days though!

Charlotte & Josh (second place)

Charlotte spent up big at Coco Republic but expensive furniture was not enough. Darren said there was a lot of stuff in the room and loved the wall finish, the simple linen and smart choice of flooring. The bedside is one of his favourite pieces out there at the moment but he felt it too big for the room. Neale had an issue with the art, even though it referenced the neighbourhood (too young and poppy to go with the furniture). The art jarred with the neutral look and feel. John agreed the decor didn’t quite work. Darren and John hated the built-in doors and handles (a bit dated). No more Mr Nice Guy with Darren tonight who said the window dressing was a bit asylum-y. Eek! Neale said their elimination challenge rooms were better and he was disappointed. John said it seemed they hadn’t realised the competition had started. Ouch all round!

Our pick to buy: The go-with-everything Azure bedhead from Forty Winks.

Tim & Anastasia (third place)

The automatic blind impressed Darren and John who said it was what buyers in this market were looking for. Not surprisingly, the judges spotted the hideous toy cat on the windowsill (why?!) and they were NOT impressed. Neale said he felt he’d seen everything in the room many times over and called it generic. John said it felt decorated out of a seaside gift store. Cringe! Neale was again disappointed. John found the crosses theme “annoying” and said the room was not all things to all people and rather nothing to no one. At this point, Darren declared himself definitely cranky Daz! Distinctly awkward!

Our pick to buy: Karpenter bedside table by Curious Grace.

Ayden & Jess (first place — by half a point)

Ayden and Jess’ dynamic continued to make me giggle this week. They’re definitely my favourites to watch. Darren said the room was off to a good start. Neale said it had soul to it and personality. They all liked the wing-backed bedhead and even Darren said there were too many cushions on the bed (nine!) and he didn’t love the pendants. Darren said the flooring was a little plasticky. Neale concluded it wasn’t perfect but had a sense of creativity and flair. Darren said they had shown a fighting spirit and tried to up the ante.

Our pick to buy: Shibori hand dyed throw.

THE FORMER CONTESTANTS

Then onto the all-stars… The judges were not told who did each room or even which all-stars they were judging. It seemed so mean that two of the three had to go home when they all did so so well and in a class above the newbies (and let’s face it, they’ve had a lot more experience). I picked the winners straight off though: Dee and Darren. But wow, they were all good! Painful!

Bec & George

Darren immediately said “we’ve stepped into a whole different level of the game. There is no comparison to the rooms we’ve just been in”. John said it proved a great idea was all about execution not budget. Neale said the room said experience and it was in a different league. The flooring was amazing. Neale said the artwork was stunning. Darren loved the warmth of the timber and the lights. Neale said it said modern luxury. John said it spoke to the market. All the judges like the custom gold leaf plant holder. Bec was so wowed by the positive comments that she cried, saying even if they didn’t stay they’d achieved everything they wanted to. Which was just as well as sadly, they did end up going home.

Our pick to buy: Chunky knitt cushion from The Home Journal and Creativity is Limitless cushion from Created By Boys.

Matt & Kim

This pair really seemed to take the opportunity seriously too, making brave choices. I loved their paneling and elegant choices. The judges were wowed by the different aesthetic and approach. Neale thought it felt very romantic and elegant. He said the detailing was very special. Darren liked the timber floor on a diagonal. They said it was a room that would appeal to anyone with design savvy. Darren said it felt like a jewellery box to him and that when the newbies walked through these all-star apartments they would freak out! Darren said whoever went home, it was a big shame.

Our pick to buy: Limited edition photographs by Sarah Stockman.

Dee & Darren (winners by one point!)

Darren said the apartment was beautiful and he loved the grasscloth wallpaper. Neale said it was seamless, calm and relaxing and this was the room he felt like unpacking his bag in. Darren said it was the first bedhead he’d seen that he really wanted to sleep in. John said it was neither harsh contemporary nor classical and steered a nice road down the middle. Darren loved the dropped ceiling and the shadow line (Daz’s choice, which wasn’t popular with Dee!) and said they looked expensive. Less is more definitely won!

Our pick to buy: Boyd Blue grass weave wallpaper, Dome pendant lights by Mud Australia and photographic print by Chris Warnes from Otomys.

MY THOUGHTS

I have to say I agreed with pretty much all of the judges’ comments this week. All three all-star couples did brilliantly. I was most surprised and impressed by Matt and Kim in a way, taking into account their attention to detail, effort and the huge difference to anything of theirs we have seen before. The paneling was fab and the lighting was perfect. Winners Dee and Darren had my favourite room but Bec and George’s was also great (that floor worked much better then I predicted).

[contextly_sidebar id=”LLyvoP3LOeooSBEuodjPlUTbe7JzgC62″]It seems pretty unfair that the newbies’ work had to be compared to the more experienced former contestants’ this week as they were never ever going to match up! I really didn’t vibe Tim and Anastasia’s room at all and the soft toy dog they left on the windowsill killed me (I don’t care if it was your neighbours’ kid’s! What were you thinking?!). A tacky toy on the windowsill of what is supposed to be a high-end apartment is never going to go unnoticed or go down well. I found the colour scheme a bit jarring and the styling uninspired. As the judges said, Josh and Charlotte’s room was a bit too much about the art, which I didn’t love, and I hated the opaque glass built-in doors. I still have high hopes for this pair though. And Ayden and Jess, my favourites at this point, did the best in my view. Their room looked less embarrassing compared to the all-star couples’ slick efforts. The floor was a bit wrong though.

And before I go, can I just say, once again, how disappointing and ridiculous I find the huge amounts of bitching on The Block Facebook page and elsewhere (Darren and Dee’s page too) about the result and the show supposedly being rigged. And people being massively over the top about winners being announced on social media before all states have had a chance to see the outcome? Calm down, people, it’s just a TV show! I personally couldn’t watch the show last night because I was having dinner with my in laws. So I recorded it and then deliberately stayed off Twitter and Facebook until after I’d watched it a few hours later (in order to write this post and for my own enjoyment). Had I accidentally found out before I watched, well do you know what? It’s really not that big of a deal. Sigh. I just wish people would put as much effort and passion into fighting some of life’s real injustices rather than spouting venom about a reality TV show and its contestants.

So, what did you think? I’m sure the all stars’ winner decision will be controversial being that Dee and Daz are a bit love ’em or hate ’em! And simply because all three couples made top efforts. Poor judges, that was hard! But that’s reality TV for you! Roll on this week!

Bathrooms The Block

Last night’s Block bathroom reveals

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date February 6, 2015
1 Comment on Last night’s Block bathroom reveals

With myself busy moving house and Jen out for dinner with The Block judge Darren Palmer (surely that’s a good excuse for not watching!) neither of us got to enjoy the full episode. Lucky for you, I got up early and watched the reveal and my my, were there some gorgeous bathrooms! How the contestants manage to create these rooms in 72 hours I’ll never understand! Well, onto the judging…

Tim and Anastasia. Came 1st.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw Darren and Neale Whitaker squished together in the bathroom. It is tiny! But both judges agreed that while it was small it was perfectly formed and ticked all the boxes for functionality, practicality and still looking good! With some beautiful textures and luxury tapware, it was a huge improvement from the couple, who’ve come second last in both previous eliminations.

GET THE LOOK: Ninnho BUDGIE bath towel set (similar).

Ayden and Jess. Came 3rd.

I love anything and everything Moroccan, so I thought the tiles were absolutely gorgeous; but I had to agree with Neale that it was just a bit too much for a small space. Their mirror was also pretty special, but they lost points for not including any face level storage. As Neale put it, the space was more style over substance.

GET THE LOOK: Vintage Timber Fruit Crate (similar).

Ebony and Luke came last and were sent home.

Oh, I really felt for these two! To come so far and then get knocked out at the final hurdle would have to be devastating, especially when their room was unfinished. Darren liked the colour of the feature tile, but the compliments pretty much stopped there. There was no door, no shower screen and the vanity was incy. Darren even commented that the vanity was comical, what with the large-scale tapware and tiny sink.

OUR PICK TO BUY: Ragnar Pendant (above).

Charlotte and Josh. Came 2nd.

Wow was the first word out of Neale’s mouth. Calm, serene and with a sense of zen, the space managed to feel soothing even though it was small. Large format tiles, timber, and beautiful tapware all complemented each other nicely, with the real standout being the custom-built, face level storage which was set into the wall. Very clever. They are definitely the couple to watch! As Darren said: “I had high expectations and they haven’t let me down.”

GET THE LOOK: Galapagos: Kaffir Lime & Cocoa Butter Candle (similar).

The remaining three couples are now officially onto The Block! Are they your favourite contestants? Or do you think Luke and Ebony should have stayed?

Tags bath, bathroom, bathroom ideas, shoer, tapware, the block, the block bathroom reveals, the block triple threat, vanity

Interviews The Block

Introducing Frank Valentic, one third of The Block’s new judging panel

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date January 23, 2015
3 Comments on Introducing Frank Valentic, one third of The Block’s new judging panel

For anyone who loves The Block as much as I do, you would remember Frank Valentic, the entertaining buyers’ advocate whose bidder’s paddle has popped up countless times in the last five series.

Almost a cast member himself, it may come as no surprise that this year, Frank has been asked back to The Block in an official capacity, forming one-third of the new judging panel – the buyers’ jury.

“The new judging panel is myself (from Advantage Property), Greville Pabst from WBP Property Group and Nicole Jacobs of Jacobs Buying Group. Together, each week after the room reveals, we rate the rooms on what we think the buyers would want. Based less on styling and interior design but more on practicality, functionality and all the other things buyers are looking for.”

Now don’t be alarmed, the regular judges will still be there! With Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker scoring on their usual Sunday and giving the winning team a massive $10,000. However, it’s the following day that will see the buyers’ jury score the contestants, with the winning team snagging $5,000. This will give one couple potential weekly winnings of $15,000, though who knows if that’ll be likely. “I think there’ll be differences between both judging panels. I don’t think there’ll be any major incidents where we’re the total opposite, but there will be some. After all, we’re looking at the rooms from different points of view. Styling’s not our strong point, we don’t care about the colour of the cushions or what the curtains look like, we are looking at the room from the buyers’ point of view.”

Frank with host of The Block Scott Cam — Frank and host of The Block Scott Cam

No one can forget the auction disaster of The Block Glasshouse, where one couple went home with $40,000 and another two couples, a meagre $10,000 apiece. Aiming to deter that from happening again, the buyers’ jury hope to be the answer. “If they listen to our feedback it will make a difference come auction day. It’s really the buyers that make the decisions. Yes, the judges will give feedback, but ultimately, on auction day, it’s the buyers who are putting their hands in their pockets.”

frank darren dea interiors addict — Frank and contestants Darren and Dea

With The Block Triple Threat being Frank’s first real foray into television, he’s found the experience a whole lot of fun, a new challenge and a perfect chance to have some banter with his fellow judges! “This has definitely been out of my comfort zone, but I just try to have fun with it and most importantly give good feedback. Greville, Nicole and myself all get on well. Greville and I have some good banter and Nicole is probably more professional than us, you could describe it that way! We all have different opinions and never agree for the sake of agreeing.”

The Block Triple Threat starts on Tuesday! Find all The Block latest here.

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Tags Advantage Property, darren palmer, frank valentic, Greville Pabst, Jacobs Buying Group, Neale Whittaker, Nicole Jacobs, shaynna blaze, the block, the block triple threat, WBP Property Group

Interviews The Block

Dan of Dan & Dani is back as ‘foreboy’ on The Block next week

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date January 19, 2015
No Comments on Dan of Dan & Dani is back as ‘foreboy’ on The Block next week

Admittedly, I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for former Blockhead Dan Reilly (one half of the rather feisty Dan and Dani), but having already competed in two series, I thought it was safe to say that Dan wouldn’t be coming back to The Block anytime soon. But… I was wrong! The Block Triple Threat sees Dan come back not as a contestant, but rather as a foreboy. Fore-what?! I hear you ask. I’ll let Dan explain this one…

“I’m Keith the foreman’s (fore-man, fore-boy, get it?!) righthand man and we pretty much make sure the build is up to standard. As you can imagine, I’ve copped a lot of flak for my name on site. There’s been a lot of laughing. But I guess I have to own it. I’m happy to be the foreboy, I look at it as if they’re saying I’m still young!”

The Block in Melbourne in Melbourne — Keith and Dan, foreman and foreboy!

Having worked as a site manager for a construction company for the last two years, Dan has had considerable experience running a building site, but little did he realise how hard managing The Block would actually be. “I never knew how hard Keith’s job was because there’s just so much going on. You’ve got the site tradies doing the base build, you’ve got the tradies of the contestants, you’ve got the contestants themselves and then you’ve got all the politics between the contestants, and you get dragged into all of that! It’s a pretty full-on gig, so at the end of the day, you’re as exhausted as everyone else.”

Working 13 hours a day, six days a week (he gets to enjoy a sleep-in on Sundays) Dan has had no issues working under Keith, which comes as a surprise, seeing as they’ve not been shy of an argument in the past. “When I was a contestant, we did have a few arguments. But we are mates, we’ve had a beer and made up! Working under him has been really easy. Obviously, you’d never do anything like The Block normally, so I have been able to learn a lot from both Keith and Scotty.”

What Dan has found the hardest is navigating his relationships with the contestants, realising he can’t give them too many hints and tips, but rather they’ve got to figure it out themselves. “I sort of still see myself as a contestant, but I’ve kind of jumped ship to the other side and I have to remember that. I have to try not to help and guide the contestants too much. I mean we’re all still friends, we still have a laugh, but when it’s time to be serious, I’m serious with them.”

So has Dan ever had to put his foot down, in the infamous way Keith does oh so well? Yes! “There have been a few tiffs with some contestants. I think it was inevitable. It does happen, that’s just part of the role.”

With the upcoming The Block Triple Threat set to start next week on 27 January, Dan promises we are in for show that has lots of tears, lots of laughter and is even a little bit brutal! “There’s never been a dynamic like this before. We’ve got six new couples and the way they have to get onto the show is quite brutal I reckon! And then we’ve got three all-star couples competing as well. It does get very full-on at the beginning but it sorts itself out!”

We can’t wait!

Find all The Block latest here.

Tags building, construction, dan and dani, dan reilly, Dan Reilly foreboy, dani wales, danielle wales, foreboy, Foreman, foreman Keith, reno, renovation, the block, the block triple threat

Designers Interviews The Block

Shaynna Blaze on her favourite contestants, copping flak and the upcoming The Block Triple Threat

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date January 15, 2015
3 Comments on Shaynna Blaze on her favourite contestants, copping flak and the upcoming The Block Triple Threat

Speaking to Shaynna Blaze it’s hard to believe she’s not superwoman. Not only is she a judge on The Block (the upcoming Triple Threat will be her sixth series), she’s the resident designer on Selling Houses Australia, has written two books (the second to be released in March), has designed a furniture line and only last month wowed us singing at Carols by Candlelight! So how does she do it all?

“It’s all about being healthy,” says Shaynna. “You’ve got to eat well, you’ve got to exercise and most importantly you’ve got to keep a healthy mind. I’ve got a beautiful family and amazing friends that keep me grounded and treat me the same way as they did 20 years ago. I think having healthy relationships around you is really important.”

shaynna the block judges interiors addict — Shaynna alongside fellow The Block judges Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer. Credit: Tink PR

[contextly_sidebar id=”App6LptB48HXptlnyV0OwLskzFkV1B2j”]With a myriad of commitments on her plate, being part of The Block is certainly a career highlight. “It’s so different to everything else that I do in the physical space. Plus there’s always a couple from each series that really grow and change, rise to the challenge and listen to things that need to be changed. Seeing that happen is probably the most rewarding part.”

It’s for that reason Shaynna names past winners Chantelle and Steve (of Fans v Faves) and Phil and Amity (of All Stars) as her favourite past contestants. “Chantelle and Steve were great in the fact of how much they grew. They got slammed every week and we never knew how they reacted until we saw it on TV, but seeing how they just dusted themselves off and picked themselves up, that was amazing. Amity and Phil were brilliant because they just stayed true to their style from day one, they improved and changed but they really had their plan and stuck to it.”

What may be surprising to some, is unlike us viewers, Shaynna and her co-judges Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer (who she lovingly refers to as her brothers) aren’t getting to know the contestants in the same way we are at home. Rather, they may briefly see them as they’re entering the apartments for judging, or have a few words with them when judging a challenge, but apart from that, there’s nothing more until the show’s over. “When I first started working on The Block I used to think I’d really like to meet them and get to know them,” explains Shaynna. “But now I love that anonymity because it actually makes it completely un-biased, as a lot of people don’t think it is! We don’t have favourites, or rather we end up having favourites because we like what they’re doing not because of their personality.”

shaynna the block judges interiors addict 1 — Credit: Channel 9

But with all that said, Shaynna still cops a lot of flak for her judging comments, from contestants (cough, Dee!) and viewers alike. “I always knew from day one as a judge that was going to be the case, not everyone’s going to like what you have to say, that’s just reality. But I see it as a knee jerk reaction, viewers just want their voice to be heard and contestants are tired and exhausted, they’ve put their heart and soul into it and everyone thinks their room is the best! With Dee, I was giving her nines all the time and she wasn’t quite happy with that. I think the perspective of it being a competition gets lost on the contestants when they’re so immersed and I can take a backseat on that, but I think when it’s constant you go, hang on guys, you should really look at what your saying!”

With The Block’s next series Triple Threat due to start on 27 January, Shaynna, alongside Neale and Darren, have already judged some of the rooms, so what can we expect? “One of this series’ differences is that the characters are really strong, there’s a lot of strong opinions and people sticking to their guns. This series is also very much about the area of South Yarra. All four apartments are completely different, but South Yarra has a certain market that you’re renovating towards; very high-end, polished and classic, which I think will make for some very interesting and amazing apartments!”

Find all The Block latest here.

Tags darren palmer, neale whitaker, selling houses, selling houses australia, shaynna blaze, the block, the block contestants, the block judges, the block triple threat

Designers House Rules Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT The Block

The Block Triple Threat starts 27 January & Selling Houses Australia series 8 on 4 February!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 12, 2015
No Comments on The Block Triple Threat starts 27 January & Selling Houses Australia series 8 on 4 February!

Hooray! We have a date to count down to, Blockheads! I was worried The Block Triple Threat might not start until next month, seeing as the TV channels seem to start previewing new things so ridiculously early these days. Sometimes by the time they actually start you’ve seen so many TVCs you’re already over it!

And my other favourite, Selling Houses Australia, has a new series 8 starting on 4 February. Can’t wait to tell you all about a new project I’m working on with one of its stars, Charlie Albone, very soon.

Selling Houses Australia series 8, starts 4 February, only on the LifeStyle Channel

We only recently got Foxtel (I know!) and Selling Houses has become a serious addiction. Some formats are just so simple and brilliant. And as far as chemistry goes between hosts, you cannot beat Andrew Winter, Shaynna Blaze and Charlie as a trio! Love the banter! I especially love how they keep it real. The end results are often not perfect but they spend a sensible amount of money to do what needs to be done to get the place sold for the best price. There’s always a nice human interest story from the owners to get sucked into too. Just my cup of tea! And no bitching like on The Block (but that’s a different kind of show and however much people say they don’t like that element, it still seems to get the ratings!).

Shaynna Blaze Blank Canvas — We can’t wait to have Shaynna back on our screens in new Selling Houses and The Block

Which show are you a fan of? I’ll be watching both! Roll on Sunday night room reveals and a serious dose of Shaynna in our lives! House Rules must be starting soon too?

Tags andrew winter, charlie albone, reality tv, renovating, selling houses, selling houses australia, shaynna blaze, the block, the block triple threat, tv

Designers Interviews RENO ADDICT The Block

Shannon Vos on life since winning The Block with Simon

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date January 9, 2015
3 Comments on Shannon Vos on life since winning The Block with Simon

To say 2014 was a whirlwind year for brothers Shannon and Simon Vos would be a massive understatement. Not only did they win The Block Glasshouse, and pocket over $400,000 as a result, they got themselves a manager, started their own design and construction business and even did some modeling on the side!

shannon and simon interiors addict — Shannon (right) and Simon

“We’ve been absolutely flatstick since The Block,” explains Shannon. “I think I had three days off after the show and then got straight back into working as a painter. Then there was also the juggling of our Mitre 10 and Beaumont Tiles commitments and our appearances for Channel 9, whilst also being inundated with job requests for renovations.” First world problems, eh?

One of their most exciting renovation projects is a training facility for boutique coffee company Pablo & Rusty’s. A multipurpose space near Sydney’s Castle Hill, the centre will double as a barista school and a retail space. Alongside this, the duo are also in the initial stages of conducting a full-scale renovation on a well-established pub in Coffs Harbour which, with three or four bars and a huge verandah, could be a 12-month project. “These are some really quirky, exciting and fun jobs,” says Shannon. “Simon and I worked really well together on The Block and we definitely want to keep that ball rolling as we form our own business.”

With Shannon having studied interior design for the last two years and Simon soon to have his builder’s license, the duo are keen to play to their strengths. “I’ll be more focused on design, and Simon on construction,” explains Shannon. “Of course we will throw ideas off each other and help each other where needed. But the dynamic we had on The Block worked, so we want to continue that.”

With 2015 having only just begun, this year doesn’t look like it’ll be any quieter than the last, with talks of a TV show in the pipeline. “We’ve just shot a sizzle, which is like a 10-minute teaser, and are now at the stage of selling it to the networks. It would follow Simon and I working together and all the quirky stuff we get up to. We’ve been approached by a few companies to represent them, we’re flying all over Australia and we’ve done a few modeling shoots (which isn’t really work!), so the camera crew would follow us around doing all of that.”

And on the topic of TV, what do the boys think of the upcoming series, The Block Triple Threat? “It’s massive, there’s a lot going on, and I think it’ll be quite interesting having the old Blockheads versus the news ones,” says Shannon. “It’s a big leg up having done it before but I’ll tell you what, I’m very glad we’ve done ours and we’re finished! I wouldn’t want to do it again straight away.”

But would they ever do The Block again? “Definitely, but just not straight away. After the Glasshouse I needed some time off, I needed to go for a surf, I needed to lie on the beach! Simon and I both literally lost 10 kilos so it’s nice to eat a normal breakfast again, relax and just do nothing for a bit.”

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Tags beaumont tiles, channel 9, construction, design, mitre 10, pablo & rusty's, reno, renovating, renovation, shannon and simon, shannon vos, simon and shannon, simon vos, the block, the block glasshouse, the block triple threat