With $10,000 dollars in cash from Ford, a $10,000 Hafele wardrobe upgrade and a bonus $10,000 Gucci dress and earrings for styling on the line it was no surprise the Blockheads turned up the dial for this next bedroom challenge. And from playful kids’ retreats to a “sexy” guest room, the birth of a new “holiday resort” style and more, the judges were impressed.
But with such a high standard and a bonus-point penguin in play, who did enough to win?
Kristian and Mimi (first place, 28/30)
With soft clouds as a bedhead – complete with LED lighting behind and a Grafico rainbow overhead – Kristian and Mimi’s kids room was playful but sophisticated and very, very camera friendly, Marty said.
“The idea of the day!” Darren said, with Marty adding the Lunar Bed Head by Create Estate would “break the internet”. “That’s going to be a best seller on The Block Shop because it’s just amazing,” he said. For Shaynna, they were just the start, saying she loved the soft palette and a play on Art Deco and fifties style that somehow felt coastal. Not even trundle beds that struggled in the space and artworks hung too high for kids could take away from the fun, the judges agreed.
Shop the look: Lunar bedhead | rainbow rug | rainbow decal
Kylie and Brad (second place, 27.5/30)
Have Kylie and Brad been listening to the judges’ advice? It seemed that way when Shaynna led the house four cheer squad this week, pointing to “exactly the right” blend of black and white, perfect Kinsman wardrobes (complete with soft leather handles), the awesome Briar Ivory Jute and Wool Rug and practical floorboards.
“They only needed a little shift of thinking,” Darren said, “And here it is! There’s still black but it’s soft, light and bright.” Even Marty agreed, loving the Myer Triple Bunk bed, Grafico wallpaper and the Bohteak Hapuna Hanging chair that “really says Phillip Island”. Add in the perfect artworks, a chic Porta Timber feature and it was a room they all loved. If only they’d played their penguin, this would have taken the win!
Shop the look: Triple bunk | hanging chair | jute and wool rug
Courtney and Grant (third place, 27/30)
For Marty, the instant attraction for House 2 came from the curves. “It’s incredible!” he said as he walked in the room, with Darren adding “my heart just jumped out of my chest!”. For Shaynna, it was the inclusions such as the Kinsman wardrobes, the Bailey Dining Chair and Solstice Cairo bedsides that caught her eye… but unlike her colleagues, she wasn’t completely sold. The pendants, she said, were too big and looked strange, and the desk area had a power point underneath with no way to access it from the top.
Details, details, Marty replied as he took in the curved skirting boards and expert finish. This room, he declared, showed why he thought Courtney and Grant were front runners to win the Block. “This house is an auctioneer’s dream!”
Shop the look: fantail wallpaper | Love of Lavender canvas print | bedside table
Ricky and Haydn (joint fourth place, 26.5/30)
After a disaster the week before, Ricky and Haydn needed a confidence boost this week and they certainly got it from judges who loved everything from Arlo bed and matching bedside, the stylish off-centre feature wall, contemporary P50 shadow line around the door and skirts, stylish Amanda Hinkelmann artwork textures galore with the boucle, linen, carpet and sheers all working in harmony and a high-standard finish winning praise.
“I love it. I love it. I love it a lot!” Darren said. “You crushed it!” Scotty added. Only the wardrobe laminate gave them pause – but with a new energy, new builder and new style (“holiday resort,” Scotty decided), the boys are back!
Shop the look: Tropical Hamptons wallpaper | bedside table | mini cloud vase
Jessie and Paige (joint fourth place, 26.5/30)
A versatile room – aimed at kids but easily converted to adults, a King bed could fit in easily, Marty said – Jessie and Paige’s room impressed the judges at first glance. With its Kave Home Boucle chair and, twin Velux skylights, Rattan pendant and Iconiko artwork, it was: “So on trend,” Darren said, “and fits in well with the rest of the house!”
But looking closer, the judges soon found faults. From unfinished paintwork and raw plaster in the step-in wardrobe, to the pink scalloped-edge desk that was too low to sit at and incomplete caulking, it was a room where time had simply run out, they felt. A few catch-up days would fix things, but as it was presented, this was far from a winning space.
Shop the look: Gingham wallpaper | boucle dining chair | rattan pendant light
Images via The Block Shop, where you can shop what you see each week, and nine now.
