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The Block series 13 front facade and garden reveals

By Jen Bishop •

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I never used to take much interest in exteriors because I lived in apartments and well, that’s all out of your control. But now we own our first house (and she’s not the most beautiful red brick number, bless her) transforming her inside and out has become the goal. I hope to share plans for our house exterior with you in the not too distant future but for now, let’s concentrate on The Block’s exterior reveals. These houses had character and good bones in spades to start off with (unlike mine), but boy, did the contestants make them all even better with their overhauls!

Jason and Sarah: 2nd place with 28

The judging started well! “Isn’t it just the sweetest little dream house you’ve ever seen?” asked Darren! He thought it was a master stroke to make the effort to restore the original front doors and paint them in a contrasting black. Agreed!

Shaynna loved the combination of the bluestone, timber and beautiful original door and windows as well as the choice of plants.

Neale said it had an amazing sense of harmony. “Just beautiful. This is exactly what I was hoping it would be.”  He said they’d shown such respect for the age and heritage of the building with just enough of a contemporary twist. “It feels like it’s been here forever.”

Our pick: Black wall light

Hannah and Clint: last place with 23.5

Hannah’s longed for pink door was a winner with Shaynna: “The door! How beautiful! Oh, it’s so sweet!” She also loved the carriage light and thought it went very well with the door and the handle.

Darren liked that it was a different grey to next door and with the soft pink and dark timber, it made for a nice palette.

Neale said it was lovely but didn’t have the same level of finish as Jason and Sarah’s.

Darren said for a couple who had never renovated to deliver this whole house as their first project was quite remarkable. The judges said they should be commended for taking on a challenge and finishing a house that looks this good.

Our pick: Black wire chairs

Ronnie and Georgia: 4th place with 24.5

Well, they said they knew it would be polarising. I for one loved it. Although I’m not sure about the tiles. I love that they used tiles but they didn’t feel heritage enough to me.

Darren was a big fan: “Va va voom!”

Neale however, although accepting it was a statement and that he loved the exterior colour, was not keen on the tile. “It’s too much. It’s fighting with everything else.” Shaynna said they would soon look dirty and messy. Neale was surprised at the look they’d gone for considering their interior was largely very subtle. “I expected something more classic.”

Darren really liked the tiles and thought the pops of white relieved the darkness of the house.

Shaynna loved how the dark colour made the leadlight windows pop. Agreeing with Neale, she said while the interior was very feminine this was very masculine and didn’t necessarily suit. Neale added: “They’ve gone for wow factor and I understand it but I’m just not sure that it’s working.”

Darren said it would be polarising and if you didn’t love it, this house is not for you.

Our pick: Black occasional chairs

Sticks and Wombat: first place with 28.5

If there was one exterior that was true to its interior, it was Sticks and Wombat’s. I wasn’t sure about those timber posts at first but they grew on me.

Neale said if someone had asked me what their exterior was going to look like it, it would have been this. “They’ve used that beautiful Scandinavian brushstroke and this is perfect. This is all it needed to be.”

The blue-grey paint colour choice was one of Darren’s favourites, a “perfect heritage colour”.

Shaynna liked the maintenance-free front garden and Neale said while they’d not used a house name or a welcome mat, they didn’t need one: “It’s all like one big welcome mat!”

Our pick: Fence mount letterbox

Josh and Elyse: 3rd place with 26

Well, this one surprised me (and the judges!) this week. I must admit while I didn’t really like it, especially those concrete posts and the warm colour scheme, I admire them for trying to be authentic and different and I could see it would appeal to many.

Shaynna said it felt like nan’s home. “I absolutely adore the entry, the flowering and the hedging. But I don’t think it matches the house. They have a mix of old and new in there and out here is very old fashioned, but not in the boho way they’ve done. I’m honestly surprised because it doesn’t connect with the backyard or the entry.”

Neale agreed. “It’s definitely not the front garden I was expecting to find. I hate the pillars. So ugly. I know they’re authentic but sometimes history gives you permission to rewrite it.”

Darren on the other hand, loved the red brick and crazy pavers. “It’s really cosy, friendly and authentic.”

Our pick: Cement planters

Auction this week! Eek! Who do you think will win? Love to hear in the comments below!

All our Block coverage.

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October 23, 2017

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Did somebody say spring?! 🌼 🌱 ❤️ Here's Did somebody say spring?! 🌼 🌱 ❤️

Here's our @amycollinswalker's picks from the gorgeous new ranges at @linen_house 

All the details on the homepage now via link in bio.

This is giving me Christmas table inspo. How do you decorate your Christmas table? Growing up in the UK it was always traditional green and red but here I go all out fresh and summery!

#springdecor #springdecorating #springdecorations #springdecoration #springdining #springtablescape #springlinen #springbedroom #ginghamcushions #gingham #linenhouse #linenaddict #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #tablelinen #tablecloths
Colour hug, anyone?! A collaboration with design Colour hug, anyone?!

A collaboration with design studio Nexus Designs, this palette from the new @haymespaint colour forecast is perfect for those looking to create a tranquil environment and has a particular focus on darker shades.

“Inspired by the qualities of an intimate reading room, confident and expressive colours such as Florida Everglade have a muted depth that embody this. Balanced and subtle, it’s also invigorating and luscious. Through all over application, paired with contemporary furniture and styling, this colour and the broader palette plays with tactility, translucency, reflection, and form,” says Myra Murtagh of Nexus. 

See the rest of the colour forecast, include collabs with @adairs and TikTok favourites @joshandmattdesign on the blog homepage now, via link in bio.

#haymespaint #colourforecast #painttrends #colourtrends #paintcolours #paintcolors #darkwalls #readingroom #moodywalls #moodyinteriors #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Featuring in a Block "disaster" room nevertheless Featuring in a Block "disaster" room nevertheless paid off for artist @adoni.art 

Slammed for being too small, @kyleandleslie's living room was otherwise praised by the judges for being beautifully styled.

"In terms of using it as a marketing platform it’s been amazing," he said. "Even for people who don’t follow the show it’s validation that they are following an artist that’s levelling up. The exposure has translated to sales, traffic and attention and it’s everything I wanted because I’m about to launch a new collection.”

Read our chat with Adoni and see more of his gorgeous work via link in bio now.

Have you ever bought something you saw on the Block?

#theblockroomreveals #theblock #theblock2023 #affordableart #affordableartaustralia #affordableartonline #australianartist #australianart #livingroomart #livingroomstyle #livingroomideas #smalllivingroom #adoniart #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #blockshopper
Pink and green should always be seen! From time t Pink and green should always be seen!

From time to time, we stray from our Australian-homes-only rule when we uncover something we really love! This project, by @2lgstudio (and also the interior design duo’s own home) is featured in Ornament Is Not a Crime, a new coffee table interiors book by Sydney-based design writer @rebeccalgross.

Head to the homepage via link in bio to read about this home and see more colourful pictures in an extract.

#2lgstudio #2lg #londoninteriordesigner #londoninteriors #londonhome #londonhomes #brighthome #brightinteriors #funinteriors #colourfulhome #interiordesignersathome #pinkandgreen #pinkandgreendecor #pinkandgreenshouldalwaysbeseen
Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?! Natas Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?!

Natasha from QLD recently finished a major reno of her Queenslander and this is her favourite room of all. We can see why!

She used @beaumont.tiles  Lux Calcutta slabs in gloss the wall and matt for the floor.

 "We have infused a Hamptons style whilst still remaining true to the traditions of old Queenslanders," she said. "Our bathroom is north west facing and captures such great morning light. We wrapped the cabinetry all the way along the vanity for ease of access for the bath, towels and accessories. We tiled all the way to the ceiling to create a more luxurious space. It's my favourite room in the house!"

#ichosebeaumonts #beaumonttiles #tiles #bathroomtile #bathroomtiling #hamptonsbathroom #queenslanderrenovation #queenslanderbathroom #luxurybathroom #australianbathroom #australianbathrooms #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 very different looks last night which was great!

One question that kept coming up was just how important is the butler's pantry? Love to hear your thoughts. Do you have one? And which was your favourite last night? Please share in the comments.

Head to the blog via link in bio to find out who won and what the judges said. 

#theblock #theblockshop #blockshopper #theblockroomreveals #kitchenweek #kitchenpalette #kitchencabinetry #kitchenstyles
Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylis Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylish home was renovated recently with @keenarchitecture and @studio_esar at the helm. Brimming with fun, functionality and colour, the home is shared by ex MasterChef contestant Peter Kritikides, his wife Erica and their two children. 

Occupied by the family since 2015, the renovation brief called for a sympathetic yet modern upgrade to the heritage listed original home as well as the demolition and rebuild of the back of the residence.

Want to see the kitchen? Head to the blog via link in bio.

#elsternwick #melbournehome #melbournehomes #masterchefaustralia #masterchefcontestant #masterchefcontestants #chefskitchen #heritagearchitecture #heritagehome #heritagerenovation #monochromehome #colourfulhome #bookshelfstyling #bookcasestyling #colourfulbooks #fireplacedecor #velvetcouch #livingroomstyle #livingroomart
GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Bl GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Block master bedroom walk ins on the blog now.

Which was your fave?

Via latest posts link in bio now.

#walkincloset #walkinwardrobe #walkinrobe #wardrobes #wardrobe #wardrobe #bedroomstorage #masterbedroomdesign #mastersuite #theblockroomreveals #theblock #theblock2023 #kinsman #kinsmankitchens #kinsmanwardrobes #dressingroom #dressingtable
A home that got all its extra special details AFTE A home that got all its extra special details AFTER handover with stunning results!

When Emma Fuller built her family home five years ago, she went with the ‘basic’ package with a view to elevating the spaces in a more budget-friendly manner down the line. Knowing that she couldn’t afford her entire wish list upfront, she made allowances within the plans so that she could add all the special details later.

“Although the builder could have incorporated every detail we asked for, we knew it would have blown our budget, but that didn’t mean I was going to let the dream go,” says @hamptonsinhighfields 

Patience and hard work have definitely paid off and today on the blog we are showing you how she did it from adding a fireplace, bench seat, wallpaper, french doors, a mudroom, built in bookcases, fretwork, kitchen island trim, IKEA wardrobes and more!

Via link in bio now.

#newbuild #hamptonsaustralia #hamptonsnewbuild #fretwork #benchseat #benchseating #fireplace🔥 #fireplacedecor #ikeahacks #diymudroom #mudroom #kidsroomwallpaper #frenchdoors #frenchdoor #hallwaydoors #frenchdoorpantry #butlerspantrydesign #newbuildupgrades
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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