The Block week 9 room reveals: Room reprises & terrace

In addition to re-doing a room this week on The Block, alfresco skills were put to the test as it was time to tackle the terraces. And while the room reprises were a mixed bag, the judges were mostly thrilled with the couples’ outdoor spaces. 

Karlie & Will – 27

The Block’s largest terrace, Karlie and Will didn’t disappoint with their gorgeous outdoor space that Shaynna called an “urban oasis” and “a big selling point.” Darren was impressed with the couple’s use of layering – particularly when it came to the plants. “I love how they’ve used so many plants and I’m impressed with the layers and finishes,” said Darren.

Neale was similarly impressed and called it “beautiful and lush and what everyone wants in a modern inner-city terrace.” Darren finished up by saying it was “the jewel in the crown.”

The couple’s room reprise didn’t light up the judges as much as their terrace did however, with Neale calling it only “marginally improved.”

Our pick: Lounge rug

Dan & Carleen – 25.5

After last week’s perfect score of 30 (a result they shared with Karlie and Will), the veteran renovators had high hopes this week and while Neale absolutely loved their terrace, Shaynna wasn’t so complimentary. In particular, she wasn’t a fan of the tiles that ran up onto the ceiling and the outdoor display shelves. She did, however, love the fireplace coffee table.

The judges did agree on Dan and Carleen’s room re-do though. After a lambasting for their efforts in the guest bedroom and WIR, the judges were delighted with the changes. “It is so much brighter,” said Darren noting the fresh new paint and bed linen.

Our Pick: Terrace pendant light

Andy & Ben – 17

Not only were the Geelong boys pretty exhausted this week but a miniscule budget meant they didn’t have much to work with. Darren said their terrace had a “prison-like feel” and Neale said it “had no soul.” Ouch!

The boys’ had to re-do their hallway too and the judges were very happy with the results. Darren found the artwork to be “much better than before” and I agree – I’m a big fan of Louise de Weger’s work and the print ticked all the right boxes for me.

Our pick: Hallway print

Julia & Sasha 29.5

Julia and Sasha came out on top this week (a position they shared with another couple but more on that later) with Shaynna calling their terrace “beautiful” and Darren calling it “wonderful.” The girls created a lovely outdoor space that wasn’t compromised by their lack of budget. In fact Shaynna noted that despite monetary constraints “the girls have nailed it in a great way that makes it feel expensive.”

Darren loved the connection to the view and said the skylights were “phenomenal” while Neale added that “there’s a lot to love about this apartment – it’s beautiful, everything about it.”

The girls’ had to restyle their guest bedrooms and the judges were very happy with the results. Shaynna concluded with high praise saying Julia and Sasha’s apartment was “the prettiest ever on The Block.”

Our pick: Outdoor cushions

Kim & Chris – 29.5

In equal first place with Julia and Sasha, Kim and Chris’ terrace was not only lovely to look at (those green walls are beautiful!), it delivered on the technology front too. From heating to a speaker system, TV, fans and great lighting, Neale called it “perfection” and “absolutely sensational.” All of the judges loved how the couple used a mirror splash back to give the space depth too.

Kim and Chris also had to re-do their bathroom which saw them remove the moulding and replace the gold tap ware with black alternatives – I thought it was quite amazing how much impact a few small changes could make. Neale said it was “still out of step with rest of the apartment but at least it’s in step with itself.”

Our pick: Green wall