The first rooms of season 20 were revealed last (Sunday) night. It didn’t take long for the contestants to realise things were going to be a bit different on Block Island. For a start there was no House Decider Challenge, just a dive straight in! And what a dive it was with Scotty giving them one of the toughest rooms to tackle, a bathroom, and announcing an incredible $140,000 in cash and prizes for the winner.
It was enough to send the Blockheads into overdrive with a range of styles that stunned the judges (some in a good way and others not so much) and proved they’re all going to bring something very different to their homes.
But who had what it takes to win?
Kristian and Mimi (first place)
Build spend: $21,732
Spacious and with a flexible floorplan, Marty was instantly won over by Kristian and Mimi’s bathroom, saying this was a room with: “Wow!”. The Porta Timber feature, he said, warmed up the room and would definitely appeal to buyers. Shaynna agreed, loving the drama of “balance, tone and texture”, plus the usability of a wide double basin and tiler choices that were the best of the week in her opinion.
For Darren, it was a “tranquil, beachy” room with features that all added up to a “huge success” and showed a style he hoped the couple could continue through the rest of their house.
Shop the look: Hakon side table
Courtney and Grant (second place)
Build spend: $29,706
From the moment they walked in, the judges were impressed by House 2’s “amazing floorplan”, the “stunning tiles” and use of space. “You’ve nailed it!” Darren said, pointing out a holiday home needed Instagram-ability, and this room certainly had it. Marty agreed, saying the room would look at home in Albert Park as easily as Phillip Island.
It feels as much like a day spa as it does a beach house, Shaynna said, despite the use of wall sconces that highlighted some paintwork problems, missing caulking plus light and heat controls that should have been inside the room. That aside, they agreed, it’s a great start to their home.
Shop the look: Travertine wall sconce lights
Ricky and Haydn (third place)
Build spend: $31,848
Flying solo for most of the week after Haydn’s emergency dash home for the arrival of his baby daughter, Ricky did an incredible job with this bathroom, the judges said. Hardie Groove on the walls with tiles below made for a great combination, Darren felt, with Shaynna taken by the bathtub and layout.
But the colour choices? “A bit kindergarten!” she said, with Marty urging Rick to ditch the pale blue paint for white. “And the black shower screen frame was “too industrial”. They’re all problems that might have been solved if both halves of the team were on deck, the judges agree, so here’s to a better week ahead!
Shop the look: Textured freestanding bath
Kylie and Brad (fourth place)
Build spend: $31,848
Kylie’s “Black! Black! Black!’ colour palette was always going to polarise and even with just three judges, it certainly did that. “I wanted drama and I got drama!” Shannya said, admitting that from the Dekton panelling to the black fixtures and neon artwork accents, this was a room that really grabbed her.
Darren wasn’t so sure, wishing for a bath, a softer use of the dark tones and maybe something less busy than the herringbone pattern tiles. And Marty? He liked the skylight: “Because when I’m looking up I can’t see the room!” If Kylie and Brad continue down this path, he warned, their house could just be “the biggest Block disaster in 20 seasons.” And there’s that drama Shaynna wanted again!
Shop the look: wooden stool
Jesse and Paige (last place)
Build spend: $26,109
Already stunned that the room hadn’t been finished, the judges made it clear that even what had been done didn’t add up to the kind of bathroom they were expecting. “It’s claustrophobic,” Marty complained. “The door is wrong,” Shaynna continued. “Too many lights,” Darren added, before summing up: “There’s lots going on… and I’m not really loving it.”
But as harsh as they were, some elements did win points, such as the “perfectly sized” vanity, ample storage, brushed chrome fittings and underfloor heating; absolutely vital for this area, they all agreed. And the Beaumont fishscale tiles – where they were completed – were very appropriate. Time to move things up a gear, the judges agreed!
Shop the look: Vanity
What did you think of their week one efforts?
Images via The Block Shop, where you can shop what you see each week, and nine now.
