The Block 2025: What We Know So Far

With cameras now rolling and drama practically guaranteed, here’s the scoop on what’s ahead.

Who are The Block 2025 contestants?

While the identy of the 2025 Block contestants still remain under wraps, we got a sneak peek of the new cast members at Daylesford’s annual LGBTQIA+ Chill Out Festival parade.

The new photos, which were posted on The Blockinator Instagram account, showed the five new teams dressed up in lots of colour and celebrating with the town. The images also captured some of the team’s names written on the floats, which means we now know the names of four out of the five couples. So far, we know that we’re going to be meeting Han and Cam, Robby and Mat, Britt and Taz, and Emma and Ben.

Julian Cress also dropped another cast hint in his Local interview: “The Block was the first TV show in the world to have a gay couple. And we’ve had a bunch of contestants from that community on the show over the years. This year will be no different.”

Given that Daylesford is Australia’s largest LGBTIQA+ regional town (as noted by The Local editor Donna Kelly), the casting choice makes perfect sense.

Regardless of their backgrounds, experience or representation, one thing is guaranteed – contestants are in for a gruelling ride. “Every season, every contestant says to me at some point, ‘Jules, I knew this would be hard. I just didn’t know it would be this hard,’” Julian shared.

Even the fit, trade-savvy Block 2024 contestants found the process brutally challenging, proving that no amount of preparation makes this competition a walk in the park.

The Block 2025 hosts

Scott Cam is expected to return to helm the series, fresh off selling his Gisborne home – his personal renovation project since 2022. Long-time co-host Shelley Craft is also anticipated to return, with no news suggesting otherwise. She’s been keeping busy, completing a stunning reno on her own Byron Bay family home.

The Block 2025 judges

After Neale Whitaker exited the show in 2023, real estate agent Marty Fox stepped in full-time, joining interior designers Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer. This expert trio dissected every design hit and miss in 2024, and they’re expected to be back for another season of fiery debates and divisive verdicts. In the meantime, find out Darren’s favourite The Block houses of all time.

The Block 2025 foreman

With original head foreman Keith Schleiger sitting out The Block 2024 to stay close to his daughters, Dan Reilly stepped up to lead the charge. Unfortunately, Keith’s return seems unlikely – he recently revealed on social media that he was hospitalised with a leg infection from a past hip replacement.

Dan has also faced personal tragedy, with him and wife Dani losing their newborn daughter Billie just 10 days after her birth in December 2024. The couple has received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow Block alumni.

The good news is, we will be seeing Dan resume his role on The Block 2025. Dani and their two dogs, Olive and Hazel, have relocated to Daylesford to be with him during filming.

The Block 2025 houses

This year’s contestants will tackle brand-new builds in a development at Daylesford’s entrance. Julian Cress revealed to The Local how the site came about: “We came across the location through a friend of ours, Natalie [Fagan] at Belle Property. She’s a great agent in the area, and she introduced me to the developers. I just love the fact that the property is so well positioned. It’s like the gateway to Daylesford.”

Julian knows the area well – he moved from Melbourne to the Macedon Ranges years ago, and his deep connection to regional Victoria has shaped The Block’s locations, including the 2022 season filmed in Gisborne.

The Block 2025 auction

With Daylesford’s charm setting the stage, all eyes will be on auction day. While the 2022 Gisborne season saw three homes passed in (despite Omar and Oz taking home a record-breaking $1.68 million profit), the 2024 series fared better. That season’s homes had more appealing reserves of $1.95 million, and super bidder Adrian Portelli ended up buying all five houses – netting sisters Maddy and Charlotte a $1.65 million windfall.

However, this year could be a whole different ball game. Adrian has vowed not to return, and reserve prices are yet to be set. Anything could happen when the hammer falls!

With the build about to begin, The Block 2025 promises high stakes, jaw-dropping transformations, and, of course, plenty of drama. Stay tuned!

• Mimi and Kristian’s house
• Courtney and Grant’s house
• Maddy and Charlotte’s house
• Kylie and Brad’s house
• Ricky and Haydn’s house

Tour every house on The Block 2024

The post We have our first look at The Block 2025 contestants appeared first on Home Beautiful.

In late 2024, Darren and Olivier’s stunning home was listed for sale with an auction price guide of $8,500,000. This was dropped by $1 million from the initial price guide of $9,500,000. After several months, the home was taken off the market. Now in 2025, the home is back on the market and going to auction on the 8th March. We’re thrilled to be along for the ride and watch as this stylish couple ponder their next move. Stay up to date with the sale status here.

News flash

Who lives here?

Interior designer Darren Palmer and his husband, Olivier Duvillard, share the home with their teenage son and two dogs, Frankie and Razzie.
What style is your home? Darren: “It’s intentionally minimalistic with a lot of sandy pink tones.”
Biggest benefit of renovating? “We’ve got a lot more space now and it’s a lot more usable.”
Your favourite design choice? “The double-sided fireplace is impressive. It’s in our winter living room, with the study on the other side.”
Did you reuse any elements? “We saved the perfectly stable granny flat on the property from going to landfill and transported it to Hyams Beach to turn it into a holiday home.”

The home was a two-storey building when they moved in – a 1930s California bungalow downstairs with a 2010 addition upstairs. The walls were a “dirty cream colour,” so that was the first thing that had to go. “I hired a spray rig, bought a ton of paint and painted everything white,” he says.

When Darren’s ambassador duties for an appliance brand required him for a photo shoot in his own house, he did a speedy renovation to get it ready. “I did the kitchen, laundry and dining room in two-and-a-half weeks. It was like a real-life [episode of] The Block,” he recalls. He hosted his 40th birthday party there shortly after, with fellow judges Neale Whitaker and Shaynna Blaze on the guest list, so the pressure was on to make the place presentable. “They came in an hour after I’d unpacked boxes!” he recalls.

The high-profile interior designer says his home might have been meeting others’ expectations, but it still didn’t feel right for him. “So in 2018, I started again!” A good 18 months was spent “ticking details over” in his mind, then on paper, before he worked with architect John Deuchrass for the final plans. In 2022, construction company Taste Living began the rebuild.

It’s been upsized from two storeys to three, with a more open-plan design. One of Darren’s favourite spaces is the new “very sexy” kitchen. “I ended up making it probably a metre wider, so we got a much bigger island bench,” he explains. Made from CDK Stone’s Monreale marble with soft pinks and sandy tones, it’s the hero of the space and complements the impressive joinery, which features grooved Kinsman ‘Avalon’ doors in Coastal Oak Woodmatt. “It’s got this lovely coastal feeling to it,” shares Darren.

The home epitomises a Bondi oasis, with four bedrooms plus a study, two lounge areas, a Plungie pool and multiple alfresco zones. Yet just as Darren has finished the transformation, the family has decided it’s time to move on. “This is actually the longest-term house I’ve had in my entire life, except for when I was a child,” says Darren of their home of nine years. “Our teenage son’s lived here most of his life. It’s definitely been a family home.”

While it’s in Darren’s nature to already have his sights set on the next renovation, he also has his hands full with the latest season of Channel Nine’s The Block television series and multiple business ventures, from art and rug ranges to home fragrances and tapware. “To be honest with you, the next project would happily be about a year away from now,” he says with a laugh.

Living area

The walls are painted in warm Dulux Whisper White. On the Monreale marble ledge from CDK Stone is Bush Medicine Leaves by Gloria Petyarre. Nearby is an oceanic work, Rhythm and Blues, by Neil Frazer. On the lounge are Few & Far ‘Noah’ cushions in Burro and Adairs ‘Rosedale’ cushions in Rust.

Dining area

Velux skylights over the staircase let in natural light. Three ‘Orb’ pendants from Lighting Collective in the dining space hang over an En Gold ‘Paradis’ dining table in Fossil Stone, with Design By Them ‘Bobby’ chairs in Ash Solid. The ensemble sits on a Darren Palmer ‘Earth Natural’ rug.

Kitchen

To design the luxurious joinery in the kitchen, Darren worked with Kinsman, selecting ‘Avalon’ doors in Coastal Oak Woodmatt and pairing them with Matt White Knurled Bar handles. These marry well with the Carpet Court ‘Hickory Elegance’ flooring in Beverly Hills. CDK Stone’s Monreale marble makes a show-stopping kitchen island, with Design By Them ‘Bobby’ stools in Ash Solid.

Beacon Lighting’s MFL By Masson ‘Gypsum’ downlights light the island, which houses a Meir ‘Round Paddle Piccola’ kitchen mixer. The benchtop and splashback are Caesarstone ‘Mineral’ in Adamina, with ‘Rome’ wall sconces from Temple & Webster.

Winter living room

This cosy ‘winter’ living room features a Few & Far ‘Bonnie’ chair in Green and MCM House ‘Tonk’ stool in Aged White. The En Gold ‘Paradis’ coffee table in Fossil Stone chimes with a Darren Palmer ‘Zen White’ rug.

Study

The desk in the home office is designed with Kinsman ‘Avalon’ profiles in Coastal Oak Woodmatt. It’s teamed with a Casa Blanco ‘Nobu’ dining chair in Natural Oak Tan Leather.

Main bedroom

For a grand effect in the bedroom, Darren positioned two Lounge Lovers ‘Serenity’ ribbed king bedheads in Cream side by side. They’re a magnificent match for the Wallpaper Direct ‘Fabric Effect’ in Beige on the wall, which has a tactile quality. Demonstrating a clever design hack, a Loughlin Furniture ‘Alura’ full-length mirror in American Oak Light has been mounted horizontally above the bed.

The bed is dressed with Carlotta + Gee’s linen duvet set in Chocolate, which is a delicious contrast to the sandy shades of the Carpet Court ‘Bali’ sheer curtains in Flax. Few & Far ‘Agnes’ table lamps in White stand on RJ Living ‘Peggy’ bedside tables in Oak. A Darren Palmer ‘Travertine Brown’ rug adds textural elegance. ‘Bird of Paradise’ by Joshua Yeldham hangs on the wall, echoing the rusty pink tones seen throughout the home.

“I’ve used sandy pink and beige tones throughout our home, with statement artworks”

Darren Palmer

Ensuite

The vanity in the couple’s ensuite is crafted from CDK Stone Monreale marble. On the wall are Earp Bros square unglazed tiles in Off White Matt, lit by Estilo Living ‘Bartel’ wall lights in White with White Base. A pair of Loughlin Furniture ‘Alura’ mirror cabinets fit neatly above the sinks with Meir x Darren Palmer Lustre Bronze tapware.

Bedroom

In the bedroom, Porter’s Paints Interno Lime Wash in Cinnamon Sugar creates a chic finish. The ‘Zach’ bed frame in Off-White (with In Bed linen), is joined by a ‘Sorrento’ bedside table, both from Lifely, with a Rachel Donath lamp.

“We retained the original ceiling and used a lime wash paint on the walls for a cocooning effect”

Darren Palmer

Alfresco area

The home’s previous poky doors that led out to the patio were replaced with Architectural Window Systems ComfortEDGE Sliding Doors. “They’re floor-to-ceiling with no sills, no frames, nothing visible. You can open them completely without any impediments,” says Darren. “They let all this gorgeous light in and you can look out into the bamboo and palm trees.” In a video on Darren’s Instagram, he shows just how seamless the door design is. They’re a great idea if you’re looking to double your living space.

A significant consideration in the home’s redesign was how to maximise the outside areas. “We have four outdoor spaces now,” explains Darren. “There’s one poolside, a terrace above that, our backyard with a lawn and then another outdoor space outside our son’s bedroom.” Adjacent to the home’s main living area is the terraced alfresco space, which encourages indoor-outdoor living.

An Early Settler ‘Ripple’ curved outdoor dining table in White creates a casual and comfortable place for sharing a meal or enjoying a morning coffee. For more relaxed lounging, the Temple & Webster ‘Venice’ outdoor lounge set and Few & Far ‘Clifton’ coffee table in Red Alicante is just right, grounded by a Darren Palmer ‘Sandridge Ripple’ rug.

Pool

“The biggest surprise is probably the pool area,” shares Darren. “We put the pool in the front yard, which is kind of a strange thing to do really, but it made a lot of sense because we’ve ended up with this pretty massive poolside entertaining area that was unusable dead space before.” Prestige Fencing aluminium tubular fencing in Surfmist runs alongside the Plungie ‘Arena’ 3.5-metre pool in Kona Coast. An Original Parasol Co ‘The Fitzroy’ umbrella offers additional shade during dips, while a TH Brown lounge and foot stool provides a spot to unwind. The Few & Far ‘Odin’ coffee table in Elm Wood functions as a handy bench seat.

Architect: Deuchrass Architects, deuchrassarchitects.com.au.
Builder: Taste Living, tasteliving.com.au.
Interior designer: Darren Palmer, darrenpalmer.com.
Stonemason: Macarthur Marble & Granite using CDK Stone, macarthurmarbleandgranite.com
Landscaping: Ladybug Landscapes, @ladybuglandscapesaustralia.

SOURCE BOOK

The post Darren Palmer’s renovated Bondi home goes to auction again in March appeared first on Home Beautiful.

You might feel like you’ve heard word that the series is coming to Daylesford before, and that’s because you probably have. The Block has been eyeing Daylesford for years now, and local real estate agent Will Walton of Belle Property Daylesford has been in talks with Channel 9 since 2022. “It’s been a very long process,” Will shares.

Fast-forward to early 2024, when Channel 9 finally locked in five 2400sqm blocks of land. By that point, however, plans for the 20th season had already been shelved, following a series of setbacks and a last-minute location switch to Phillip Island.

So, what caused the delays? A major hurdle was local pushback against fast-tracking planning approvals through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). “There’s no people power in the fast-track scheme. It bypasses democratic checks and balances,” said local resident Debora Semple, who led the objection efforts.

But just when it seemed like Daylesford might never happen, in July 2024, executive producer Julian Cress confirmed that The Block would go ahead in Daylesford after all—for the 21st season in 2025. With all approvals finally in place, plans are officially back on track.

The site at 1 Raglan St, Daylesford is part of a larger development called Middleton Field, a project led by Hygge Property. The development aims to embrace design-led, sustainable living with room for 60 carbon-neutral homes. A bit of a departure from the typical Block setting, and certainly a challenge for resident architect Julian Brenchley. But he’s up for it. He’s already designed five homes that incorporate “modern architecture considerate to Daylesford’s landscape,” according to Hygge, while still fitting seamlessly into the community’s design ethos.

Work is already underway, with filming beginning early 2025. And for all the drama and delays, the community is warming to the idea of their town playing backdrop to the show. Will shared that a recent survey on the local Facebook page saw 84 per cent of more than 500 responses in favour of The Block coming to Daylesford. That’s a solid show of support, especially considering the earlier pushback.

If all goes according to plan, we’ll soon be watching The Block 2025 contestants get to work, turning these new Daylesford homes into something special when the series airs later this year on Channel 9 and 9Now. Let’s hope the drama on screen is as rich as the town’s gold rush history.

The post A first look at The Block 2025 Daylesford location appeared first on Home Beautiful.

The furniture designer and landscaping business manager shared snippets of their hunt for land or a house to imbue with their signature style. “House hunting day one,” they shared on December 7, 2024, with an image of a house’s arched outdoor area.

“The other option is to build from scratch, which excites me a little more,” they shared with a video of land and lush greenery. The couple is from Sydney and they haven’t indicated they’re planning on moving away from their usual stomping grounds but we do know they’re cashed-up and ready to buy.

The runners-up of the 20th season walked away with $1.35 million in winnings after their Moditerranean-style home sold for $3.3 million at the auction. Yet it seems they haven’t exactly been putting their feet up since Scott Cam called the final “tools down” and the cameras stopped rolling earlier in the year.

“It wasn’t really a break,” they shared. “Courtney launched a whole new collection on The Lazy Stylist.” The collection is bang on trend with the announcement of Pantone’s 2025 Colour of the Year as Mocha Mousse. We’ll have to stay tuned for more life updates but if their track record is anything to go by, this home will be a project to watch in 2025.

The post The Block team Courtney and Grant’s 2025 project is already in the works appeared first on Home Beautiful.

6 of Darren Palmer’s favourite The Block houses ever

Let’s take a trip down memory lane…

2017: Josh and Elyse (Winners of season 13)

These two turned out to be more than just pretty faces, working wonders on their five-bedroom weatherboard house in Elsternwick, Victoria. They took out the season and went on to run their own construction company, J and E Projects. They’re now parents of two with another one on the way.

“The living space and its fireplace were scene-stealers,” says Darren. “The main bedroom needed a bit more auditory buffering and privacy, but there’s a reason it’s a winning home.”

“The backyard was a masterstroke,” recalls Darren. “Digging, pouring and completing the surrounds of an in-ground pool hadn’t been done on The Block before this. It’s clear to see why when you comprehend how much work goes into it. These works usually take weeks if not months to complete.”

2020: Harry and Tash (3rd place in season 16)

Father-and-daughter duo Harry and Tash worked on a 1920s home on The Block 2020 and surprised the judges with their level of sophistication. The win of the season went to married couple Jimmy and Tam, but Harry and Tash still walked away with $650,000.

“Harry and Tash’s home had entrance appeal, side of house appeal, backyard appeal and kitchen, living and dining appeal,” says Darren.

“It wasn’t always easy going for them and they had to weather the storm of COVID slicing through their season, but they delivered a really great home in spite of the challenge,” Darren shares. 

2021: Kirsty and Jesse (4th place on season 17)

Married couple Kirsty and Jesse had been applying to be on The Block for many years before they made it onto the Fans vs Faves series in 2021. Although the win went to Block veterans Mitch and Mark, their home goes down in history as one of the best in Darren Palmer’s opinion.

Kirsty and Jesse’s house had a Hamptons-style aesthetic. “The house was just a big family home with lovely inclusions,” says Darren. “The kitchen was spectacular.”

“The backyard and rear deck was a cracker.”

Darren Palmer

It was the largest property of the season. “The sheer scale of this house hadn’t been seen on The Block before,” Darren explains.

2022: Tom and Sarah-Jane (4th place in season 18)

Plumber Tom and social worker Sarah-Jane are parents from Melbourne who competed on The Block 2022. Winners Omar and Oz walked away with $1.6 million, while Tom and Sarah-Jane made just $20,000 on the series. They completed an off-grid house in Gisborne.

Their house felt like an escape from it all. “Modern country at its most approachable and desirable,” said Darren. “That kitchen… That’s a show stopper.”

“The lounge room could have been even more furnished, but the bedrooms were all so sweet and chic,” says Darren. “I love the scale, the architecture and the materials palette that Tom and Sarah-Jane crafted.”

2023: Steph and Gian (Winners of season 19)

After almost 20 seasons, The Block was no longer amateur hour. Architect Steph and accountant Gian applied a professional approach to The Block 2023 with a Japandi-style home, and walked away with a record-breaking $1.65 million profit, plus $100,000 in prize money for taking out the win.

“Another proper, aspirational family home.”

Darren Palmer

“Steph and Gian’s main bedroom suite was the type of thing you hope for when checking into a hotel, so to have it as the reward for the person paying to live there was a good move and a winning one.”

“Not a perfect house, with a bit of conjecture about the kitchen, but a beautifully considered and coherent home from a considered and educated eye,” says Darren.

“Their back terrace and backyard were magnificent.”

Darren Palmer

2024: Courtney and Grant (2nd place in season 20)

Courtney and Grant from The Block 2024 had a taste for high-end finishes. Recognising their designer eye from day one, Darren Palmer defended the couple’s daring choices during the series. The couple’s Moditerranean house ended up selling for the second highest amount, with house-flipping sisters Maddy and Charlotte securing the win.

“This home was for a designer-savvy market. It’s not for everyone,” says Darren. “I personally love the consistency, coherence and interest in the design and inclusions.”

“The main bed was stellar, the dining and living was gorgeous and inviting and the second main bedroom suite was a game-changer,” Darren continues. “The work-from-home space didn’t exactly work for purpose, but could be adapted to something useful or used from time to time.”

For more from Darren Palmer, head to his website.

The post Darren Palmer’s favourite The Block houses of all time appeared first on Home Beautiful.

There was another bit of exciting news from the pair… Haydn has announced his family has a second baby on the way. The new dad and IT manager, whose wife Chelsea gave birth to Matilda on his first week on the series, is expecting again. “Within the first month of him returning home, it happened,” 36-year-old Chelsea shared with The Block. “Everyone’s a little bit shocked. I guess when it rains, it pours. We didn’t expect it to happen so quickly, given our previous struggles. But we had heard it can happen quite quickly after the first one.”

The baby boy will arrive less than a year after the couple’s first baby arrived in dramatic fashion at the start of the season. There are no signs of drama anywhere in Ricky and Haydn’s completed “fun house”, though. It’s as relaxed as you’d expect from two larrikin lads. The best mates from Victoria have brought bright outfits and attitudes to The Block 2024 contestants throughout season 20.

Once the duo was reunited after Haydn’s stint at the hospital, they got the good times rolling with bunk beds in a kids’ bedroom. There was no question they had the skills and work ethic to pull off a successful build, with Ricky being a plumber. It was just the design know-how they needed to work on to keep up with other teams, such as Courtney and Grant, who were harnessing current trends and styles to get ahead.

After a tumultuous start with unfinished rooms and harsh critiques from the judges, these two found their groove. The pair were even voted favourite house at the Domain Buyers Jury in week eight, which is a good indication that their house will perform well at auction. Case in point: The Block 2023 team Steph and Gian got the most jury votes in their season and ended up taking out the final win.

So, the boys have been the underdogs to watch. Whether they win big on auction day or not, one thing’s for sure – they’ve stayed on brand throughout the renovation. From the palm tree wallpaper in the bedrooms to the 21-metre palm tree out the front, it’s a house made for fun, games and a bright pink front door.

• Mimi and Kristian’s house
• Courtney and Grant’s house
• Maddy and Charlotte’s house
• Kylie and Brad’s house
• Ricky and Haydn’s house

Tour every house on The Block 2024

The Block 2024: Ricky and Haydn’s house

Take a tour of completed House 3 – an easy, breezy beach property on Phillip Island.

Week 1: Main bathroom

Ricky and Haydn’s house started off with one man down. With Haydn’s pregnant wife going into labour mid-week, he jetted off the island to meet his newborn baby and Ricky was left to finish the room alone. “Commendable execution to be one man down,” said Marty. “Good floorplan, vanity’s in the right spot.” Shaynna agreed that the layout was good and she liked the bath, but thought the colour choices didn’t quite work together. Darren’s advice was to start with a flatlay or moodboard for each room to make sure all the materials work together.

Score: 24/30

Week 2: Kids’ bedroom

The use of bunk beds in this bedroom was good in theory. “There’d be no holiday house without some bunk beds,” said Darren. But both Marty and Shaynna weren’t happy with the layout of the room and where the bunk beds were positioned – on the wall next to the door. “It’s an issue for me,” said Shaynna.

“It’s a good room, it’s not a great room,” added Marty, “and we’ve just seen great rooms.” However, Shaynna wouldn’t even give them that. “I don’t even think it’s a good room. I think the wardrobe is the hero. The rest of it needs to be fixed.” The lack of heating or cooling was a problem, too.

Score: 22/30

Week 3: Main ensuite

This best-friend duo had issues with waterproofing, as the wrong product was used and it all had to be removed. They also went separate ways with their builder after not seeing eye-to-eye, meaning Ricky and Haydn were left with little to show at the end of the week. Darren had wished they at least placed materials on the floor so they could have given feedback on those. “This is the most unfinished room in The Block history,” said Marty. Scott Cam clarified that it wasn’t, actually. There have been quite a few contestants who haven’t finished rooms over the years, so there’s still hope for this team yet.

Score: 4/30

Week 4: Guest bedroom

Bringing on former The Block contestant Duncan Miller as their builder paid off for the boys. “I’m so glad they’ve got a good builder. This is levels ahead of what was there before,” said Shaynna, who called their room stylish and sophisticated. “It’s the first time I’ve said ‘sophistication’ for the boys.” The level of detail was noticed, such as the shadow line between the ceiling and wall. “That takes effort, it takes time. You’ve got to have a good builder who knows that they’re doing,” said Darren.

The feature wall evoked a “holiday resort” feeling that Shaynna wanted them to run with. The only thing that needed improvement was the colour palette, with the warm yellow not working with the cool grey, but it was a minor criticism. “I think they’ve delivered a room that a buyer will walk through and really appreciate,” said Marty. “It will shoot well. It’s a really good effort.”

Score: 26.5/30

Week 5: Main bedroom and walk-in robe

The holiday resort style continued in the boys’ main bedroom with palm tree wallpaper. “Look at that ceiling,” said Shaynna of the glowing halo in the coffered ceiling. The room was left unfinished, without window coverings or decor elements like a doona cover. “I wonder if the time and effort that went into that feature is the reason we don’t have sheer curtains hanging,” Marty pondered.

The wardrobe also left the judges underwhelmed. “I’m trying to understand why they put carpet here, walking straight from the bathroom,” said Shaynna. “Timber should definitely still be in here,” agreed Marty. The judges finished with a plea to Ricky and Haydn to step up the planning and attention to detail.

Ricky and Haydn: 21.5/30

Week 6: Kitchen

• Best feature: Island suitable for large groups
• Biggest mistake: Fridge and oven positioned in a walkway
  
  There was relief to see a finished room in the boys’ house. The cabinetry from Kinsman was a hit with Darren, who has the same colour cabinets in his own Bondi reno. “Coastal Oak is probably one of my favourite finishes ever,” he said. “I think it’s absolutely appropriate for the beach. The lovely softness in grain, it works beautifully with these floors.” On the downside, the judges felt the white lower cabinets were too plain and the island base should be repainted in a different colour.

The brass strip in the centre of the benchtop and the shadow line in the stone were praised by Shaynna. “It’s so coastal, it’s so Phillip Island,” she said. All the judges applauded the expansive island, which a large group could gather around. “That’s what people are coming to Phillip Island to do with their friends and family,” said Marty. Yet he pointed out “one of the biggest no-nos when designing a kitchen”, which was positioning the fridge and oven in a major walkway.

Score: 23/30

Head to the real estate listing for more details on Ricky and Haydn’s The Block house.

Week 7: Guest ensuite

After working on bathrooms for 16 years, plumber Ricky was hoping for the win, but proved he knows bathroom design. “This is a good layout,” said Darren. “That’s a really nice expansive shower. We have the toilet in an appropriate position and a nice big vanity with lots of space on either side.”

The boys were applauded for their “fun” design decisions, going with a Nood Co basin that embraced the butter yellow trend and yellow finger tiles in the shower. “It’s a bit of a sway from the masculine rooms we’ve seen,” said Marty. “It’s got a bit more femininity, which I really like. Is it an amazing bathroom that gets the senses going? No. But is it marketable to a large range of buyers? Yes it is.”

“The yellows are clashing,” said Shaynna, who suggested repainting the yellow door a different shade. On a positive note, the recurring circles and curves created cohesion with the rooms in the rest of their house.

Score: 25/30

Week 8: Living and dining

“This is about five metres bigger than the previous houses,” said Darren of the boys’ living and dining area. There were some tweaks that needed to be made to the layout. “It feels quite heavy,” said Darren, as pieces were loaded towards the living area. Marty felt the dining table needed to run in the other direction to give more space to move around it. 

Shaynna would have liked the dining table to be a darker colour so everything wasn’t all the same tone. “You look at those beautiful stools, the leather stools [in the kitchen]. The table needs to be that colour,” she said. 

The biggest statement in the space was the artwork from the Cungelella Art collective’s Artist Lane. Worth $20k, the boys won it in a challenge. “That is absolutely stunning and perfect for this space,” said Shaynna. The James Hardie oblique panels on the wall amped up the holiday beach vibe while the Cosentino stone under the fireplace was a little luxe – but not quite enough. “They’ve done a beautiful job. It’s just a bit basic for me,” said Shaynna.

Score: 25/30

Week 9: Office and rumpus

“We thought it was a better use of space creating a bigger games area,” Ricky explained of their decision to design a games room instead of an office. They went with a timber balustrade, arcade games and a pool table. “This is so smart,” said Marty. “You’ve got Street Fighter, you’ve got Pac-Man, you’ve got Phillip Island on the walls,” added Shaynna, who gave them a 10. 

Marty predicted buyers would have an emotional connection to this room. “I believe people will come and visit, and their kids will say, ‘Mum, Dad, you need to get this.’”

The rumpus room also got a great reaction, with a curtain to create privacy. “Having the sofa bed in this room means they can sleep 10 guests as opposed to the others who can sleep eight,” said Marty. “It’s leaning towards that investment piece for the end user of the property.”

“I’m personally not aesthetically excited by this room,” said Darren. “But in a real estate sales competition, there is definitely going to be a buyer who wants this relaxed, less uptight style of holiday home.” 

Score: 28/30

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom

Putting in bunk beds meant Ricky and Haydn’s house would now sleep 12 people, which is the most on The Block this year. They went with a similar sophisticated tropical-feeling wallpaper used in their previous guest bedroom, complemented with sheer curtains. The room scored a 10 from Shaynna.

There was just one criticism. “It definitely needs a ceiling fan. In the summer months, it will be absolutely boiling,” said Marty. However, that didn’t detract from marketability for him. “It’s got such broad appeal. When this goes online, it will be that one property that feels relaxing, that’s knockabout,” he said.

The laundry impressed just as much as their bedroom. “It’s a functional space, but it’s still very beautiful,” said Darren. The white cabinetry was the same as those in the kitchen.

Of all the teams, the boys’ laundry had the most generous bathroom space and also included a mudroom for shoes and coats. “It’s ticking every single box,” said Marty.

Score: 29/30

Week 11: Backyard and pool

After losing a couple of landscapers throughout the season, mates Ricky and Haydn were left high and dry when it came to backyard week. That didn’t deter them, though, and they took on the job themselves with the help of builder and former The Block All Star Duncan Millar. Top of the agenda was a large wraparound lawn for playing games of cricket and footy.

While Shaynna was underwhelmed at first, she turned the corner to discover a whole lot more than lawn. “We’ve got a swing set, we’ve got sculpture, we now have all the curves,” she said. The swing set was a standout for the judges, with its custom timber frame. “There’s no way that will be shaking,” said landscaping expert and guest judge Dave.

“The biggest pool is a massive selling feature,” said judge Marty. “It separates them from the others that we’ve seen.” Adding the toys was a nice touch that will help buyers envision their lifestyle here. “It’s the fun house. We’ve got beach balls, we’ve got lilos,” observed Shaynna. Including an expansive deck and a bar and stools nearby means you never need to leave.

Their backyard may not have had the finesse a landscaper could have achieved, but it did bring the fun. “It’s consistent with the inside of the house in that it’s fun and it’s planned really beautifully for holiday living,” said Darren. “It’s not as chic, but it’s fun.” 

Score: 32/40

Week 12: Front yard and facade

A bright pink front door and garage were daring, but also perfectly on theme for this “fun house” by the boys. “Not only have they got the biggest palm tree, they’ve got the boat that they won and the brightest, pinkest garage door we have ever seen,” said Shaynna. The 21-metre tall palm tree took a full day to install and a fair chunk of the budget, but it made an impression. “What a statement piece,” said Marty.

With relaxed beach vibes and palm tree wallpaper inside, the front yard fit well with the interiors. “They ran with the palm tree theme,” said Darren. “We’ve said over and over again about this house, that it’s not chic but it’s fun. This is both. This is actually really inviting, it’s sophisticated, it’s elegant.”

The side of the house had been decked out with a dining space, lounges and self-sustained planter boxes full of produce. “This is an entertainer’s delight,” said Darren. “Without a landscaper, they’ve done exceptionally,” added Dave.

The boat the boys won earlier in the season sat outside a garage with fishing rods and a race car scene on one of the walls. “Does this scream a bloke’s garage or what?” said Shaynna.

Score: 36.5/40

Head to the real-estate listing for more details on Ricky and Haydn’s house.

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post The Block team Ricky and Haydn’s $2.7m barefoot beach house appeared first on Home Beautiful.

As 31-year-old Kristian is an electrician, he’s brought that experience to the build. Meanwhile, Mimi is a 28-year-old restaurant manager at her family’s business, Ba Khang, which has freshly-renovated interiors and a buzzing schedule to keep her on her toes, just like on The Block.

The couple have been frontrunners from week one, winning the main bathroom reveals. They got to meet the 2023 winners Steph and Gian, who shared their tips for winning The Block 2024. It helped them hone a strong style that embraces the natural Phillip Island setting, with oceanic emeralds and sapphire hues, tactile earthy elements and elevated nautical details.

While they floundered slightly at times, these two were still in a good position come auction week. Being the only team with a two-storey house set them apart, and their consistently chic style also had them in good stead. But the real indication they would do well is the fact that Block super-bidders Danny Wallis and Adrian Portelli both voted for House 5 at the Domain Buyers Jury in week eight. It was billionaire entrepreneur Adrian who snapped up their place in the end, along with the rest of The Block holiday houses.

• Mimi and Kristian’s house
• Courtney and Grant’s house
• Maddy and Charlotte’s house
• Kylie and Brad’s house
• Ricky and Haydn’s house

Tour every house on The Block 2024

The Block 2024: Mimi and Kristian’s house

Take a look through House 5, the only double-storey home of the series.

Week 1: Main bathroom

Kristian and Mimi walked away with the win and $140,000 in prizes for their bathroom with a beachy feeling in the first week. “The holiday home we’re trying to create is a contemporary, coastal kinda vibe,” said Mimi. “It’s welcoming and fresh and soothing.” The responses were overwhelmingly positive from the judges. “This room’s a huge success,” said Darren, who loved the blues.

Darren’s only qualm was that there might have been a better layout, “judging by how much open space there is that doesn’t have a purpose”. It impressed from a real-estate perspective, though. “This truly is a proper family bathroom,” said Marty.

Score: 28.5/30

Week 2: Guest bedroom

This couple was on a roll, with their modern coastal guest bedroom putting them in the top spot once again. “This is another level,” said Marty, who appreciated the “high end” feel. “This is saying boutique hotel,” agreed Shaynna. The asymmetry of the room wasn’t doing it for Darren, who called it “design for design’s sake”. A power point visible next to the bed was another small detail that could be improved on. Subtle nautical touches such as the rope on the pendant give this room a sophistication the judges approved of.

Score: 28/30

Week 3: Main ensuite

There were some major planning flaws for Kristian and Mimi this week after two wins, with the oversized shower being the biggest problem. “I’ve never seen such a big, useless shower. There’s no bath,” said Marty. “I think they believe [the shower] is the hero of the room and it’s not.”

As a palette, it was praised, from the blue tiles to the timber panelling. “I love the materiality, I love the colours,” said Darren. The contemporary arched mirrors were another win, yet the naff styling was a glaring misstep. “They’ve missed the mark. Maybe they got a bit too cocky,” said Marty. “It’s a real let-down for such an important room for the sale of the house.”

Score: 21.5/30

Week 4: Kids’ bedroom

“The colour palette is so sophisticated, I absolutely adore it,” said Shaynna, taking in the whimsical rainbow-themed room. The interior designer was impressed with their ability to reference rainbows, arches and circles throughout the space “without it feeling over the top”.

It was a turnaround from the previous reveal, when the newlyweds had failed to impress. “Kristian and Mimi probably got a bit complacent last week,” Darren exclaimed excitedly when he saw it. “You can see what happens when you get a bit complacent. I don’t see complacency here. I just see expertise. I see attention to detail. High levels of finish, a beautiful layout, great decisions in design. They’re back, baby.”

Score: 28/30

Week 5: Main bedroom and walk-in robe

“This is by far the most hotel-like room that we’ve walked into, in terms of finesse, calmness and sophistication,” said Marty, who pointed out the waved bedhead from Steph and Gian’s brand Japandi Estate. As part of the only double-storey house in The Block this year, the raked ceiling made an impressive sight. Even more impressive (in Darren’s opinion) were the sheer curtains designed on a rake in such a short timeframe.

This team won the Hafele wardrobe upgrade, which gave their soothing room an extra touch of opulence. “This is not just a holiday home, this isn’t just a place to retire to,” said Shaynna. “They’ve created a lifestyle in this house. It feels coastal. It feels warm, it feels inviting. It says Phillip Island. I can imagine people wanting to buy this to live in for the rest of their life.”

Score: 28/30

Week 6: Kitchen

• Best feature: Chevron flooring
• Biggest mistake: Controversial oven colour
  
  The “Shrek kitchen” may not be very marketable in Marty’s opinion, but it still exudes plenty of style. “I haven’t seen a triple stack before, with two shadow lines,” said Shaynna, referring to the Cosentino Dekton Marmorio benchtop. Yet Marty felt it was gimmicky. “This triple stack for me looks like a mistake,” Marty disagreed. “I would have preferred a thick stone – it’s a nicer, more refined look.”

The walnut cabinetry, hardware and glass splashback were hits, creating an outlook over the backyard. “I love the natural light,” said Marty. Yet he pointed out the poor placement of the fridge. “If that’s the fridge down there, five steps away from the central hub of the kitchen, it’s just not right.”

All the judges agreed the chevron flooring was a wonderful choice. “These would be my favourite floors of today,” said Marty. The “Shrek” oven colour was controversial, with Marty adamant that it would turn off buyers. Yet the space was striking from a design perspective, perhaps with a different choice of stools that didn’t clash so much. “It has a lot of drama to it,” said Darren. 

Score: 26.5/30

Week 7: Guest ensuite

After their “Shrek” kitchen mishap in the previous week, Mimi and Kristian’s chic ensuite was more up Marty’s alley. “Now this is what I like,” he said. “This is clean, marketable. It’s just so well put together.” He liked how the timber on the ceiling warmed up the room and was a detail used in previous rooms. “It tells a story of the house, because it’s consistent with the other bathrooms, and buyers do like consistency,” he said. 

“I really dislike it,” Darren declared about the timber strip. “It’s an inclusion for the sake of an inclusion that doesn’t relate to anything else. I have a problem with it. It makes the room imbalanced.” It was a sentiment shared by Shaynna who felt Mimi and Kristian’s penchant for asymmetry was failing them. “It feels a bit odd because it’s off-centre,” she said.

The blue and green tiles were a beautiful combination with the blue basin and green vanity, yet perhaps a tad formulaic in the context of a competition that needs to wow the judges week after week. “It’s not exciting me, because I’ve seen them do it,” said Shaynna. “It’s rinse, lather, repeat.” From a real estate perspective, Mimi and Kristian’s consistency was exactly what excited Marty, as he knew it would bode well for auction.

Score: 24.5/30

Week 8: Living and dining

The only team with a two-storey home, their floorplan left them with the smallest living and dining area. What they lacked in space, they didn’t make up for in the design. “When you have a smaller space, you need to balance that by upping the luxury in the materiality,” explained Marty. “There’s no sophistication. For me it’s the biggest let-down of the day.”

The couple went with a soft green laminate feature wall and walnut table that was in the wrong spot for Shaynna. “I find this table a barrier,” she said. “You’re walking in here and you’re going straight into the dining table. I would have preferred a round table.” 

Score: 23.5/30

Week 9: Office and rumpus

A floorplan change saw Mimi and Kristian change a downstairs bedroom into a rumpus with access to the pool and a bathroom beside it. The judges weren’t convinced. “If you’re going to change the floorplan to your advantage, you have to blow us away,” said Shaynna. “This has zero connection to the lifestyle outside.”

They also thought it should have been more suitable for post-swim hang outs. “Shouldn’t this be a place that’s pool-friendly? If you have a plunge pool there and you want to come in and watch TV and play games, don’t you want surfaces that kids can be in their bathers?” said Shaynna. 

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom

Ignoring advice from the judges, Mimi and Kristian stuck with their decision to change the floorplan and make what was supposed to be a rumpus into a guest bedroom. “We’re opposite a communal area and with all that glazing, it should have been a rumpus,” said Marty. “It’s definitely a mistake,” added Darren.

Despite that, the room was beautiful, with soft yellow and sage green. A Porta timber nib wall doubled as a room divider and bedhead. Behind this was built-in cabinetry and a desk nook.

They ended on a high with the laundry, which had plenty of storage and bench space. “This is a laundry,” said Darren. “I didn’t know I wanted green appliances before today, but yes I do.” The direct access from outside was a win and the layout was impeccable. “This is probably the laundry of the day,” said Marty. 

Score: 20.5/30

Week 11: Backyard and pool

“I love the mosaic tiling,” said Darren about the finish on the large pool at House 5. “As soon as you walk in, you’re drawn to it. It screams resort,” landscaping expert and guest judge Dave Franklin agreed. Although they only had a small deck with two chairs, there was plenty of grass nearby to sit on and “be part of the pool environment,” as Shaynna put it.

“It makes you feel coastal,” said Marty of the backyard. There were piers wrapped in rope, which were appropriate for Phillip Island, plus a rowing boat that had been repurposed as a drink station by the dining area. While a smoker for cooking was placed here, the barbecue Mimi and Kristian won in a previous week was noticeably missing. 

It had been placed on the upstairs balcony, but the judges felt this would be a better spot for it. “When you’re playing in the pool, just to have a sausage on bread is one of the easiest things,” said Shaynna. “You don’t want to go running upstairs.” Next to the basketball court was a fire pit surrounded by a dry stone wall. “It’s a cracker,” said Darren.

Seasoned The Block landscaper Tom Lovett (who has helped two previous teams win landscaping week) worked on Mimi and Kristian’s property. He guided them towards a basketball court with a three-point line, so they had the largest court on The Block. 

Score: 35/40

Week 12: Front yard and facade

Landscaper Tom Lovett leant out his own boat to demonstrate one of House 5’s biggest selling points to the judges. “I brought my boat to show them this is another storage spot to park a boat or a caravan,” Tom explained. The fact Mimi and Kristian already had a large palm tree was also a big win. “We’ve got the second biggest palm tree here which looks fantastic upstairs, looking underneath there. It’s a little bit of privacy,” Dave pointed out.

As part of the facade, Mimi and Kristian revealed their completed upstairs balcony. “I love the elevation here and the fact you can be king of the castle and see out over the block,” said Shaynna. “I’m loving the stone here, I love the fact they have these pots here and it gives you privacy, but I have to say they’ve got the layout wrong.”

It was noted that the fire pit was an unusual choice for the space and a built-in fireplace would have been better, yet budget constraints didn’t allow for this. Making this the main entertaining area with the $30,000 barbecue they won earlier in the season left little room for youngsters to play. “In every other house, there’s a connection to a space where kids can run around and be outdoors. That’s not it here,” said Darren.

The garage was beautifully styled, but they left one of the walls unpainted with the bricks exposed.

Score: 31.5/40

Head to the real-estate listing for more details on Mimi and Kristian’s The Block house.

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post The Block team Mimi and Kristian’s $2.93m contemporary coastal house appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Grant is a 30-year-old landscape development manager and Courtney is 32, with a career in event account management and furniture design. They pushed the boundaries along the way, embracing the latest trends and their own distinct tastes with rich greens, mustards and organic shades peppered throughout.

As a furniture designer with her own business, The Lazy Stylist, Courtney embraced curved lines and textural materials. These combined to create a Modern Mediterranean aesthetic in their Phillip Island holiday house that was dubbed “Moditerranean” style. A highlight that demonstrated this look was the main bedroom in week five, which featured a ruched upholstered bed frame.

Clearly on top of what’s happening in design, this team showed an ability to implement their ideas tastefully. Not only that, they kept cool heads under pressure… most of the time. Even with builder blow-ups and budget blowouts, they took everything in their stride. The result is a house that’s calm, collected and elevated – a recipe for a successful sale.

The reveal of the backyard and pool was Grant’s moment to shine as a landscaping business manager, with an expansive entertaining area, fire pit and olive trees. His experience helped them secure the win and gain them $30k towards the budget for their front yard and facade. After many weeks of their designer style not getting the recognition it deserved, the architectural arbours and custom front door helped them win that final week and walk away with a Ford Mustang Mach-e for their efforts.

The pair have proven their designer chops this season, and no doubt we’ll see more of them now The Block 2024 auctions have wrapped up. The new owner, billionaire entrepreneur Adrian Portelli, has snapped up a Moditerranean masterpiece, which brings a slice of sunny Spain, Greece and Italy to the Aussie island.

• Mimi and Kristian’s house
• Courtney and Grant’s house
• Maddy and Charlotte’s house
• Kylie and Brad’s house
• Ricky and Haydn’s house

Tour every house on The Block 2024

The Block 2024: Courtney and Grant house

Take a look through Courtney and Grant’s house from the 20th season of The Block on Phillip Island.

Week 1: Main bathroom

“We’re thinking sandstone, travertine, American oak, brushed gold, pops of marble,” Courtney explained of the aesthetic they were planning. “Now we’re talking,” said Darren when he saw their bathroom. “These tiles are stunning. The handles look like shells off the beach,” said Marty.

“Someone’s got the eye here. The mood lighting, the tile choices, the skylight.” Meanwhile, Shaynna wasn’t so blown away. She agreed the subtle lighting was “fantastic” and that it was a smart decision to not tile all the way to the ceiling to save time, but she wanted a little more drama in this holiday home. “You can take it further.”

Score: 28/30

Week 2: Kids’ bedroom

As it’s located near the main bedroom in the house floorplan, Courtney and Grant decided to go with a kids’ room this week. “I love these beds,” said Marty, who approved of the sorbet colours and personality in the styling. He thought this room would do well from a real-estate viewpoint. “When the buyer gets an emotional response, that’s when they do the best with the bidding.” With a drawing nook and space for toys, it was ticking a lot of their boxes. “It’s cute as heck,” said Darren. The only downside was the lack of heating or cooling, which Marty said buyers would penalise.

Score: 27.5/30

Week 3: Main ensuite

Marble, travertine, venetian plaster – it’s all about the luxe finishes in this bathroom. “Say you’ve got a wife with expensive taste without saying it,” said Grant. We’ll how their budget’s looking by the end of the season, but splashing the cash early on has paid off with a win in week three.

“Wow, I love this so much, I want to touch everything,” said Darren. He applauded their very “current” design which reflected Phillip Island’s natural environment. A feature Shaynna commended was the combination of two tiles on the floors to create a chequerboard pattern. “These guys understand aesthetics and practicality, and they’re combining both to deliver something that is extremely marketable,” said Marty.

Score: 28/30

Week 4: Guest bedroom

This couple delivered the luxe finishes and calming colours we’ve come to expect from their Mediterranean interior design style. “I can confidently say we’ve continued the aesthetic,” said Courtney. The curved skirting board got the attention of the judges, in particular. “That’s a curved profile on a curved wall,” said Darren, pointing out the degree of difficulty involved in executing that. “They would have had to cut [little slots] on the back and gently mould it, then fill it and sand it.” The pendant placements didn’t appeal to Shaynna so much, as she felt the height differences were odd. “They look like space ships. It almost looks like a mistake,” she said.

The drawers were located in an inconvenient spot in the wardrobe, but otherwise this team’s attention to detail was praised. “These guys are next level. Look at the mood lighting in the study nook,” said Marty. He called their house “an auctioneer’s dream” and appreciated how Courtney and Grant have been consistent with the materials included throughout their house. “They’re tying everything back in so beautifully. It’s not in your face, it’s just enough.”

Score: 27/30

Week 5: Main bedroom and walk-in robe

Looking around their room mid-week, foreman and former contestant Dan Reilly, who appeared on the show with his partner Dani, was concerned. “Have you guys bitten off more than you can chew this week?” he asked. Yet Courtney and Grant were confident they could deliver – and they did, tying for first place with Mimi and Kristian. “This is 2024 style, next level,” Marty swooned seeing the finished result. 

“It’s nothing we’ve ever seen before,” said Shaynna. “It has a very Italian feel to it.” The recessed curtains, plush green bed frame, Porta panelled feature wall and expansive skylight combined for elevated results.

Although Marty didn’t like the “fake flames” in the fireplace, he felt buyers would become emotionally attached to the space. “This is the most marketable room we’ve seen so far on The Block,” he said. “These guys are operating in a league of their own.” 

Score: 28/30

Week 6: Kitchen

• Best feature: Wine fridge in butler’s pantry
• Biggest mistake: Not enough seating for a large holiday home
  
  Once again, Courtney and Grant “hit it out of the ball park” with their Modern Mediterranean style kitchen, which included an extravagant $8,000 tap that does chilled, sparkling and boiling water. “The talent here is off the charts,” said Shaynna, pointing out the way the porcelain on their four-metre island wrapped into the sink. However, Marty didn’t feel the quality was quite up to what he’d seen from the team in previous weeks. “I don’t see how this is Moditerranean,” he said.
  

“The walnut colour could not be more on trend,” said Darren. “I’m besotted by the colour scheme.” He did point out that a more functional layout would have been to place stools on both sides of the island, so it could double as a casual dining space. “That’s where you sit when you’re having breakfast.”

The wide sink, induction stove top and wine fridge in the butler’s pantry were all winning details. “There are so many high-end qualities,” Shaynna enthused. 

Score: 27/30

Week 7: Guest ensuite

The striped shower was a lot for the judges to digest. “I’m still trying to take it all in,” said Shaynna. “Which is a problem,” said Marty, who likened it to a play maze on Phillip Island. “Imagine how a buyer feels.” Springing to Courtney and Grant’s defence, Darren applauded their courage to push boundaries. “This is absolutely one of the most beautifully finished, luxurious, design-centric homes that I’ve seen on The Block ever and it’s definitely my favourite on this season,” he said. 

“It’s definitely my favourite [house] of this season.”

Darren Palmer

“It definitely has impact,” said Shaynna of the guest ensuite. Materials from their previous bathrooms were included for a sense of cohesion. “This marble and the vanity is probably the only thing I’m loving about this bathroom,” said Marty. The travertine floor tiles and sand coloured basin hit the holiday home brief.

Score: 24/30

Week 8: Living and dining

Courtney and Grant’s room was delivering rum’n’raisin flavours, with deep browns and caramel. If only they had planned the fireplace better. “That is possibly the worst position within a room of this size,” said Marty. “No one benefits from it,” agreed Darren. Luckily it was all upwards from there, with elegant curves and open shelving, lit beautifully. “I love that we have the naturals and the neutrals with a little bit of punch,” said Shaynna. 

After the striped ensuite debacle, a more pared-back approach was well received. “All the lovely archways, the way they’ve done the niching around the curtains. It gives it a softness and tactility that I really love,” said Darren. “They’ve softened things that need to be softened and sharpened things that need to be sharp. It’s a lovely contrast.”

The dining chairs, designed by Courtney’s furniture business, The Lazy Stylist, were a hit. “They’re cute as hell,” said Darren. “The colour is beautiful, the form is beautiful.”

Score: 26.5/30

Week 9: Office and rumpus

The couple took space from their office weeks ago to create a larger ensuite, making their space the smallest of all the houses. Regardless, they pushed ahead with a full office fit-out. The desk with two chairs felt a bit “business centre” for Darren. “I feel like I’ve walked into a possible therapy session,” he said. 

“If you’re going to run an office in here, your conversation will be heard at the lounge room,” said Shaynna. The rumpus had more appeal. “Lovely furniture, beautiful colour scheme,” said Darren. “Decision after decision, we have style in spades.” 

Regardless, Shaynna pointed out that the floorplan change to create such a large ensuite weeks ago hadn’t panned out. “If we have a bathroom of that size, I want a king bed,” she said. “This comes down to ensuite week up here. We knew the planning was either going to work for them or bite them in the behind. And it’s definitely bitten them in the behind.”

Score: 23.5/30

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom

Taking the previous week’s judging advice, Courtney and Grant moved their cabinetry into the mezzanine rumpus room to fit a king-size bed in the guest bedroom. This turned their upstairs area into a second main retreat. “They’ve listened. How good is this?” said Marty. “So you’ve now got a day spa and a beautiful lounge, away from the other accommodation. This is the main wing that I would personally like to sleep in within this house.”

They hit the mark with the olive green feature wall, terracotta accents and abstract artworks. “That piece of art is very abstract, but the colours go without feeling matchy matchy,” said Shaynna. She praised the attention to detail and unique style. “No one does Moditerranean. Courtney and Grant have created their own look that is so high-level and sets them apart. It will set trends around the country, just like [2023 winners] Steph and Gian’s Japandi style.”

Their laundry didn’t include a toilet like in some of the other houses. Another downside that Darren pointed out was that the sloped ceiling might be a head-bumping hazard. Yet Marty felt these wouldn’t deter a buyer and that the laundry was beautifully executed. “Everything is so consistent, it’s beautiful. It’s finished to a high standard,” agreed Shaynna.

Score: 29.5/30 (After playing their ‘penguin’, worth one point)

Week 11: Backyard and pool

Given Grant is a landscape business manager outside The Block, these two were always top contenders to win landscaping week. The experience showed, with Courtney and Grant having a considerably cruisy week compared to the other contestants. They completed five different zones, including a large deck off the living area with an undercover dining space and barbecue. 

“This indoor-outdoor flow is what people pay for,” said Marty. “This is what gets them emotionally connected to a property – envisaging themselves with their family and friends, feeling at home.” 

There were a few fire pits this year, but the one at House 3 was the standout. Not only did they pour a curved concrete bench but they also included comfortable outdoor armchairs for those who want to lounge for longer. The key was paving the base, which meant those with bare feet could happily transition from one zone to another comfortably. It’s a clever inclusion to make the most of the outdoors during the cooler months.

“This is 35 to 40 metres of perfection.”

Marty Fox

The timber posts positioned either side of the walkway looked “unfinished” to Marty, but landscaping expert Dave Franklin disagreed. “This is garden art,” he said. He also liked the edible plants in the garden. “What’s better than having olive trees, lemon trees and even your bay leaf trees? Everything you need to cook for your barbecue is here right in front of you,” he said.

“I love how they’ve used the posts as part of the pool fence,” said Shaynna. “It’s just gorgeous.” All of the usable zones, including a pizza oven, impressed the judges. “This is just value, value, value,” said Darren. “There are so many different functions, from entertaining to sitting around enjoying a fire pit, to all the different cooking options.” Both Darren and Shaynna scored the couple a 10 and they walked away with $30k to add to their front yard budget.

Score: 39/40 ($30k)

Week 12: Front yard and facade

From the dream entry with custom door to lush planting, it’s easy to see why this front garden and facade won. “It’s warm, it’s cosy, it’s rich,” said Marty. “Audibly, it’s insane. You can hear those amazing water features.” The exterior was clad in James Hardie Linea Weatherboard in Lexicon, with black trim. “We have black and white in stark contrast here,” noted Darren. “The thing that makes it soft is we have sandstone and limestone and this beautiful soft aggregate.”   

With a bigger budget to work with, Courtney and Grant could afford plenty of plants, which were chosen carefully. “This is definitely a plan that they’ve thought about,” said landscaping expert Dave. “They haven’t just gone, ‘Rightio we’re going to put plants here.’” The other judges agreed that this couple have seen the bigger pictured from the very beginning. “They’ve absolutely had a vision from day one that they have delivered on every single week,” said Darren.

“It’s still my favourite house on The Block, and they’ve finished it with style.”

Darren Palmer

The Moditerranean aesthetic came through in everything from the foliage to furniture and materials used throughout. “They’ve delivered something that will inspire Australians for the next few years in a style that we haven’t seen before, so it’s a massive congratulations to them,” said Shaynna.

Score: 38/40 (Winners of the Ford Mustang Mach-e)

Head to the real-estate listing for more details on Courtney and Grant’s The Block house.

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post The Block team Courtney and Grant’s $3.3m Moditerranean house appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Price guides were set at $1.7-$1.85 million for each house at the start of the season, before final reserves were set at $1.95 million (with Mimi and Kristian getting $50k off for winning the communal area challenge). While that sounds ambitious, the majority of The Block houses 2023 sold in the multimillions, with the winning home by Steph and Gian selling for $5 million. To put the power of The Block houses in perspective, the median house price in Cowes is $765,000, so they were expected to sell for at least a million dollars more.

The auction aired on Sunday, November 10, at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now and billionaire entrepreneur Adrian Portelli bought the complete set of holiday houses. Prices ranged from $2.6 million for Kylie and Brad’s house (with the couple taking home $650k) to $3.5 million for Maddy and Charlotte’s house (who won a whopping $1.65m).

The auction was a heart-racing event for all involved, with the contestants having put their lives (and relationships) on the line to be part of the series. “If you have a crack in yourself, in your relationship, The Block will bring that out,” confirmed plumber Ricky, who competed alongside best mate Haydn, who works in IT. Others from The Block’s 20th season agreed, with Mimi calling it “the hardest thing we’ve ever done”. 

Even married couple Courtney and Grant, who were confident in their design skills, found it difficult. “You don’t realise how hard it is until you’re actually on The Block,” said Courtney. “It’s so mentally and physically taxing.” As we know, couple Jesse and Paige only made it to week four before bowing out, being replaced by sisters Maddy and Charlotte, who do house flipping for a living. “It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure,” said Maddy.  

It’s certainly been a season of firsts, with the teams renovating a resort on an island. “There’s never been anything like this on The Block and never will be again,” said judge Shaynna Blaze. Take a look through all of The Block 2024 houses and find out how much they sold for below.

• Mimi and Kristian’s house
• Courtney and Grant’s house
• Maddy and Charlotte’s house
• Kylie and Brad’s house
• Ricky and Haydn’s house

Tour every house on The Block 2024

The Block houses 2024

Take a tour of the holiday homes, completed by the five teams.

1st: Maddy and Charlotte’s house

Classic meets contemporary in this soothing coastal home. It began with original The Block team Jesse and Paige who left after four weeks, before being taken over by Sydney sisters Maddy and Charlotte. “I do feel proud. We did that and it’s a huge achievement,” said Maddy. Coming in late didn’t dampen their determination to add their own design stamp. “They came in with a bang and did some really good stuff and got 10s,” said Shaynna. “We’ve got to acknowledge how great they’ve done with the house.”

Reserve: $1.95m

Sale price: $3.5m

Profit: $1.55m + $100k = $1.65m prize money

take a tour

2nd: Courtney and Grant’s house

With a background in furniture design and landscaping, this couple is a force to be reckoned with. “We put 110 per cent effort, tears, sweat, you name it, it all went into the house,” said Courtney. “We couldn’t have done any more, it’s been incredible,” agreed Grant. Their Modern Mediterranean escape is a medley of majestic marble, Venetian plaster, travertine tiles and American oak. “They’ve delivered something that will inspire Australians for the next few years in a style that we haven’t seen before,” said judge Shaynna Blaze.

Reserve: $1.95m

Sale price: $3.3m

Profit/prize money: $1.35m

take a tour

3rd: Mimi and Kristian’s house

This recently-married couple set the bar high, with an elevated coastal style that had this team on a winning streak early on. Oceanic emeralds and tactile materials echo the island’s natural elements. “It has consistently good bathrooms, great kitchen, the bedrooms are all beautifully designed, it’s detailed well,” said judge Darren Palmer. “They have put a lot of care and attention and time and effort into this house and it shows.” This holiday house has shaped up to be a nautical delight.

Reserve: $1.95m minus $50k for winning challenge = $1.9m

Sale price: $2.93m

Profit/prize money: $1.03m

take a tour

4th: Ricky and Haydn’s house

These best mates have embraced the coastal setting with an easy, breezy design style. After going their separate ways with their builder earlier in the season, they recruited former The Block contestant Duncan Miller and a new team to help them finish their “fun house”. “We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without the team we’ve got. They’re the unsung heroes,” said Ricky. Crisp whites, greens, blues and timber evoke the feeling of barefoot beach days. “They’re the most impressive team in terms of listening and adapting, and they’ve built a really appealing house,” said judge Marty Fox.

Reserve: $1.95m

Sale price: $2.7m

Profit/prize money: $750k

take a tour

5th: Kylie and Brad’s house

The headstrong parents-of-four from Cairns brought their taste for black and white to the island. “We literally live day-to-day,” said Kylie of their lives back home. “You’re sort of just hopeful that you do enough on your house here that someone’s going to want to buy it.” Despite struggling with critiques from the judges and relationship issues, they’ve executed a holiday house that’s anything but vanilla. “They should be really proud of themselves,” said Darren. “We all want them to do well.”

Reserve: $1.95m

Sale price: $2.6m

Profit/prize money: $650k

take a tour

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post Tour all of the completed The Block 2024 holiday houses appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Selling for $3.5 million and taking out the win is an impressive result for the team who came in late. In case you missed it, original The Block 2024 contestants Jesse and Paige left one month into the season, handing their baton over to a new team, making it Maddy and Charlotte’s house. The original engaged pair were put to the test on the show and it didn’t end well. Not only did it put Jesse and Paige’s relationship under pressure, but their skills as well. As a 24-year-old carpenter, Jesse had experience on a building site, but as we all know, renovating in real life is nothing like it is on The Block. Meanwhile, 27-year-old claims specialist Paige had no design or styling experience. This didn’t stop the pair getting House 1 off to a beautiful start, though.

Early on, the married couple dipped their toes into a Coastal Grandma aesthetic. This evolved into a style the judges identified as “modern colonial” when Jesse and Paige’s guest bedroom was revealed in week two. It was full of soft neutrals with blues and greens, charming patterns and an emphasis on symmetry. Despite having a natural knack for design, the pressure cooker that is The Block got to them and they decided to leave due to mental health struggles.

At that point, professional house flippers Maddy and Charlotte took over Jesse and Paige’s house following the week four bedroom reveals. Although the youngest team on the series, the business-savvy pair brought a lot of experience to The Block, with seven home renovations under their belts. As each week went by, they put their own stamp on their inherited house. Eventually accepted as Maddy and Charlotte’s The Block house, they gave it a fresh, coastal feel with plenty of mass-market appeal that paid off on auction day.

• Mimi and Kristian’s house
• Courtney and Grant’s house
• Maddy and Charlotte’s house
• Kylie and Brad’s house
• Ricky and Haydn’s house

Tour every house on The Block 2024

The Block 2024: Maddy and Charlotte’s house

Take a look through House 1 at the Phillip Island location, completed by the Sydney sisters.

Week 1: Main bathroom

“I love my blues, I love my greens. I think that leans more towards a timeless approach rather than being trendy,” Paige explained of the style they were looking to achieve. Sadly, they didn’t quite manage to complete their main bathroom by reveal day. “It’s not finished, the poor things,” said Shaynna, who knows what makes a winning bathroom. The designer wondered if the vast amount of tiling was too ambitious.

“There’s a lot of labour and money in putting up these sheets of tiles,” she said. “You don’t have to tile every bathroom, every wall.” Marty was more harsh about them failing to finish, given Jesse is a carpenter by trade, while Darren found the room “a little hectic”. Positives were the brushed chrome details, storage and under-floor heating.

Score: 18.5/30

Week 2: Main bedroom

Despite another tumultuous week, Paige and Jesse executed a beautiful guest bedroom. “I have no background in design,” Paige shared. “[But] I am so proud of this room.” While we thought this team was leaning towards a ‘Coastal Grandma’ aesthetic, they abandoned that idea. “This is more a traditional American Hamptons,” said Shaynna, who identified the style as modern colonial. The judges approved of the striped wallpaper and blend of contemporary with traditional. Although Shaynna would have liked to see consistent use of metals throughout this room and the rest of the house, overall it got good reviews. “I just feel at home,” said Marty. “It feels coastal and beachy.”

Score: 27/30

Week 3: Main ensuite

This team has come a long way since their unfinished bathroom in week one. Darren highlighted that Jesse and Paige had echoed the style of their previous bathroom but in a more refined way, pointing out the thinner rail and less complicated tiles. “Simplifying those details let the traditional details sing,” he said.

The layout was praised and Shaynna liked the sliding shower door, though she would have appreciated better lighting at the mirror. Generally, it was considered a chic and sophisticated main ensuite. “If they continue this throughout, it will be a success,” said Darren.

Score: 27.5/30

Week 4: Kids’ bedroom

Animosity between Jesse and Paige didn’t stop the engaged couple from delivering a charming kids’ bedroom. They went with a “Parisian dollhouse” feel which Paige said “really plays into the modern colonial” style they’ve been creating in their blue-and-green dream holiday house. “I think we’re the only house with a walk-in robe,” Jesse said. The judges were impressed with the “smart idea” to put in the wardrobe without doors, so it doesn’t feel closed in. “I think this works brilliantly,” said Marty.

It was only on closer inspection that they noticed there were sections inside the wardrobe that hadn’t been wallpapered, leaving the raw plaster exposed. “We’ve got a bit of an incompletion issue there,” said Darren. The sweet styling and sorbet colour palette went down a treat, though. “It doesn’t feel juvenile,” said Shaynna, who felt it was a sophisticated take on a kids’ room.

The desk was a DIY project that came up beautifully, but the functionality was questionable. “I love that desk. I just want to check if you can sit at it,” said Shaynna. It was a tight squeeze for Darren, but it would possibly be less of an issue for a child. “They could have done the scallop higher,” Shaynna suggested. Regardless, it was generally a successful room that Marty felt buyers would respond well to. “It feels very upmarket,” he said.

Score: 26.5/30

Week 5: Main bedroom and walk-in robe

New team Maddy and Charlotte replaced Jesse and Paige who decided to leave the show. Visiting former contestants Ronnie and Georgia got them started with a room design that continued the aesthetic Jesse and Paige began in their house, but after coming on midweek, the sisters made some tweaks. “This is definitely an evolution of that modern colonial style,” said Darren.

With fresh whites and a coastal feeling, Marty liked the new direction. “I love that they’ve elevated the space,” he said. “It feels a little bit more expensive.” There were some sloppy elements, but it was successful overall. “These guys know what they’re doing,” Marty said of the house-flippers moonlighting as accountants. “The fact they can pull this together in less than a week blows my mind.”

Score: 24.5/30

Week 6: Kitchen

• Best feature: An elevated stone and cabinetry palette
• Biggest mistake: Sink placement opposite oven
  
  From the oak cabinetry to the quartzite stone bench and herringbone floors, a lot of the design decisions for the kitchen had already been made by Jesse and Paige before they left. So new team Maddy and Charlotte had to go with their predecessors’ plan – but it worked in their favour, as they came in second and would have won if Kylie and Brad hadn’t played the penguin for one point. “This is the most beautiful natural stone; it almost looks like crystal,” said Shaynna. “It feels so expensive,” agreed Marty. It was the perfect choice, given engineered stone is now banned.

There was plenty of storage, with an appliance pantry concealed by pocket sliding doors and no butler’s pantry. “You don’t have a butler’s pantry in this kitchen and I couldn’t be more happy about that,” said Darren, who loved the inclusion of a luxuriously large island instead. The only problem was the position of the sink, which the judges said should have been further down the bench rather than opposite the oven.

What was in Maddy and Charlotte’s power was the ability to choose a tap and handles to suit their style. These went down well, as did the styling by the sisters. “The styling is spot on. I’m loving everything that they’ve put out,” said Shaynna.

Score: 29/30 (including a 10 from Darren, winning them $10k)

Week 7: Guest ensuite

After inheriting Jesse and Paige’s house, this was the first room the sisters got to design on their own. They rose to the occasion, embracing a neutral palette and olive green basin and styling. “We’ve got a little bit of greenery, but that’s the only colour in here,” Shaynna noted. “Everything’s completely neutral and textured… and works.” She thought the arched mirror and marble-topped vanity were gorgeous choices.

The change in style direction was a positive for Marty. “I find this is a more sophisticated palette than what Jesse and Paige were doing, and so marketable to a very broad range of buyer,” he explained. He had just one suggestion: “Having that toilet the moment you walk in as opposed to being hidden by the vanity – I think they’re actually the wrong way around.”

“To be the youngest couple we’ve ever had on The Block and to produce this standard, it’s absolutely remarkable.”

Shaynna Blaze

“There’s really not a lot to fault,” said Darren, who liked the “subtle and simple” colour palette, with champagne hardware. “To be the youngest couple we’ve ever had on The Block – they’re 22 and 24 – and to produce this standard, I think it’s absolutely remarkable,” said Shaynna, who described their style as “classic simplicity”.

Score: 27.5/30

Week 8: living and dining

Being vanilla isn’t all bad – Maddy and Charlotte’s living and dining space was cohesive and had plenty of marketing pull. “Vanilla is a universally-loved flavour,” said Marty. The natural log fire was also a “phenomenal” choice in his opinion. The palette appealed to Darren, but he would have liked a bit more drama. For Shaynna, it was the styling that let them down, needing to be more elevated.

“It feels friendly and natural, encompassing and inviting,” said Darren. “Texturally, they’ve got it right,” added Shaynna. “I love the big texture in the rug, the smaller texture in the couch and texture in the timber.”

Score: 25.5/30

Week 9: Office and rumpus

With business degrees under their belts, Maddy and Charlotte flipped the floorplan to make a more marketable house. The grand plan is to create a self-contained guest retreat with its own external access. To do this, they changed the office into a rumpus room and made the other space into a sitting area. These will connect to a bedroom and ensuite. 

“This is a massive selling feature,” said Marty. “It’s so multi-generational, multifaceted, multi-income generating, they have opened up a massive amount of possibilities by changing that window to a door.”

“It’s genius,” said Darren. “It’s a game changer.”

In the other space, a large skylight filled their rumpus with plenty of light, and the judges liked the lived-in feeling. 

“The girls have listened to some of the styling tips and kept it a lot simpler,” said Shaynna. “How do you make it look so cosy when it’s never been lived in? I think the girls nailed it,” said Marty, who scored them a perfect 10. 

Score: 28/30

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom

It was a week full of setbacks for Maddy and Charlotte, who were determined to execute a queen-sized bunk over a queen bed, but unfortunately their endeavour fell flat. While Marty liked the idea of adding sleeping spaces, it didn’t translate in reality. “It’s got function, but it doesn’t have that magic,” he said.

As Shaynna pointed out, the external spiral staircase doesn’t make it child-friendly, yet it also doesn’t feel suitable for adults. “It just doesn’t feel like a second wing. It feels like we can fit four kids in here and we’ve got an extra play area,” said Shaynna. “They’re trying to cover too many parts of the market, and I don’t feel this does it well enough.”

Aside from the fact it was unfinished, there was a lot to love in the laundry. “I like the cabinetry, I love the marble,” said Marty. Yet it could have done with some more storage for a house that sleeps 10. The toilet was lacking privacy, with a glass door meaning people outside could see in. “You need a frosted glass door,” advised Shaynna.

Score: 20/30

Week 11: Backyard and pool

A midweek disaster saw a budget benchtop the sisters sourced for their barbecue area being removed from site as it contained 70 per cent silica, which is now deemed illegal. “It’s got to go,” said Foreman Dan. Their back-up plan was to cover the bench in grooved panelling, which the judges loved for its durability and simplicity. “It looks incredible,” said Shaynna.

Landscaping expert and guest judge Dave Franklin was pleased that they retained the existing paperbark trees while introducing plants that fit the relaxed feeling. “We’ve got tea tree here, we’ve got lilly pilly, we’ve got the blechnums there, we’ve got a very coastal palette of trees here and a lot of lawn as well,” he said. 

“They’ve created privacy through how these plants will grow over time,” said Marty. The real-estate agent also pointed out the benefits of having a dining area that’s undercover, but not too shady. “This is all afternoon sun, so when you’re having those barbecues with family, you’ve got that beautiful light coming through. This is a real entertainer’s dream.”

Professional house flippers Maddy and Charlotte nailed their design by including a built-in pizza oven. With stepping stones leading to it from the deck and a curved timber-topped seat nearby, it makes for a novelty extra on their real-estate listing.

Although not as big as Mimi and Kristian’s basketball court, Maddy and Charlotte’s court was still an incredible inclusion, positioned next to the spiral staircase that enters the self-contained studio. The business-savvy sisters have created a highly-marketable package.

Score: 37/40

“This is a really heavy-hitting, big swing of a backyard.”

Darren Palmer

Week 12: Front yard and facade

A smaller budget meant Maddy and Charlotte went with a pared-back front garden design. They hoped the judges would see it as a positive and low-maintenance for holiday makers. The simplicity was noticed, and landscaping expert Dave would have liked to see more. “They’ve got one of the existing palm trees, but it feels like it’s on its own,” he said. “Front yard, it’s nice. Does it need a bit of something else? I think it does.”

“What an entry, look at that height,” said Marty. Given the expanse of space, Darren thought it could have become more of a feature with the use of lighting. “They’re luxurious spaces where you have empty voids and you do something with them. Evidently there are budget constraints,” he mused. The expanse of lawn would be perfect for cricket and they did have a small deck with armchairs.

With grooved panelling on the walls and plenty of well-organised storage, the garage made a good impression. “This is one of the best styled garages I’ve ever seen on The Block,” said Darren.

Score: 31/40

Head to the real estate listing for more details on Maddy and Charlotte’s The Block house.

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post The Block team Maddy and Charlotte’s winning $3.5m holiday house appeared first on Home Beautiful.

It was a nail-biting auction, with historically strong bidders showing up with deep pockets. Among them was tech start-up billionaire Adrian Portelli, aka The Lambo Guy, thanks to his flashy car collection. Having spent big at previous Block auctions, there were rumblings he might buy the complete set of holiday homes – and that’s exactly what happened. With a combined total of $5.43 million in winnings, this year’s contestants secured the highest amount in the history of The Block. Over its 20 seasons, the show has now awarded a staggering almost $40 million to contestants.

Also in attendance was Melbourne rich lister and IT entrepreneur Danny Wallis, who bought 11 previous properties on The Block. Another expected bidder at the Block auctions was buyers advocate Frank Valentic from Advantage Property Consulting. He’s bid on at least 40 properties and secured eight for his clients over the years of the series. A mysterious man in purple, seemingly not on the phone to anyone, was a wild card in the race. There were others who put their paddles up but they were no match for Adrian, who was intent on sweeping the lot.

All house reserves were set at $1.95 million, except for Mimi and Kristian’s. Their communal area won in week 13, so they got $50k off their reserve. How do you win on The Block? As is always the case, contestants take home whatever profit their house makes above the reserve – the team with the biggest profit wins and is awarded an extra $100k. After the five teams failed to decide unanimously on the order of the auction, it was determined by the contestants selecting numbers at random out of the sand.

The Block 2024 results at a glance

• 1st: Maddy and Charlotte’s house (Sold for $3.5m / Won $1.65m)
• 2nd: Courtney and Grant’s house (Sold for $3.3m / Won $1.35m)
• 3rd: Mimi and Kristian’s house (Sold for $2.93m / Won $1.03m)
• 4th: Ricky and Haydn’s house (Sold for $2.7m / Won $750k)
• 5th: Kylie and Brad’s house (Sold for $2.6m / Won $650k)

Who won The Block 2024?

Here’s how the auction played out and what each team walks away with.

1st place: Maddy and Charlotte (House 1)

They were last in the bidding line-up but patience paid off for the sisters. After inheriting the house from original contestants Jesse and Paige who left after a month due to mental health struggles, the professional house flippers put on their business caps to make their place as profitable as possible. Their style was called “vanilla” at times during the season, but real estate expert and judge Marty Fox maintained its marketability all along. Turns out he was correct, as Adrian Portelli snapped up their serene dream holiday house almost immediately for a whopping $3.5 million, securing the girls the win. 

Reserve: $1.95m

Sale price: $3.5m

Profit: $1.55m + $100k = $1.65m prize money

2nd place: Courtney and Grant (House 2)

Up first in the bidding for the day was Courtney and Grant’s Moditerranean house, which won over the judges with its one-of-a-kind style. The furniture designer and landscape business manager included high-end finishes and a designer feel, so it’s no surprise this home was hot property at the auction. Danny Wallis was quick to kick things off, yet after offering $2 million minus four cents, he didn’t bid again. The married couple’s home sold to Adrian Portelli for $3.3 million, with a profit of $1.35 million.

Reserve: $1.95m

Sale price: $3.3m

Profit/prize money: $1.35m

3rd place: Mimi and Kristian (House 5)

The third home auctioned of the five, Mimi and Kristian’s double-storey contemporary coastal home went for an impressive $2.93 million. Super bidders Danny Wallis and Adrian Portelli both voted for it at the Domain Buyers Jury earlier in the season, so it was predicted to have interest at auction. It ended up going to the mysterious man in purple, who was ultimately revealed to be Adrian Portelli’s buyer’s agent. The sale secured the married electrician and restaurant manager a touch more than $1 million.

Reserve: $1.95m minus $50k for winning challenge = $1.9m

Sale price: $2.93m

Profit/prize money: $1.03m

4th place: Ricky and Haydn (House 3)

Fourth in the auction line-up, Frank Valentic and the mysterious man in purple were in the race for Ricky and Haydn’s barefoot beach house. In the end, it sold once again to Adrian Portelli for $2.7 million. This left the best mates with $750k in prize money, scoring $375k each after splitting it. Although not as much as the previous teams, it’s still a significant pay day after three months of work for the plumber and IT manager. 

Reserve: $1.95m

Sale price: $2.7m

Profit/prize money: $750k

5th place: Kylie and Brad (House 4)

With relationship issues and harsh judging taking their toll, Kylie and Brad walked out in dramatic fashion after the week 12 score reveals by Scott Cam. The parents-of-four failed to return and complete their final communal area along with the rest of the contestants, so it was anyone’s guess if they’d appear. Luckily, they were there to witness the sale of their home during the second auction of the day. Their dark and moody holiday house went to Adrian Portelli for $2.6 million, securing the couple a tidy $650k in prize money.

Reserve: $1.95m

Sale price: $2.6m

Profit/prize money: $650k

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post Maddy and Charlotte win The Block 2024 and $1.65m appeared first on Home Beautiful.

“That looks lush and expensive.”

Darren Palmer

They scored 38 out of 40 from The Block judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Marty Fox, with landscaping expert Dave Franklin joining as a guest judge. They had best mates Ricky and Haydn hot on their heels, scoring 36.5 out of 40 for a fun front yard complete with fuchsia doors and kitsch flamingo statue. Yet it was Courtney and Grant who won the Ford Mustang Mach-e top prize. Here are five of their smartest decisions.

• Focus on street appeal: The appearance of the facade from the street was front-of-mind throughout the planning stages for Courtney and Grant. They considered the experience of the home from the moment it’s first seen from the road.
• Splurge tastefully: The pair’s budget was allocated to custom pieces that make for a million-dollar first impression. Three architectural arbours were placed along an extra-wide travertine entry path, which leads to a custom timber front door.
• Invest in softscaping: While any landscaping budget is quickly sucked up by hardscaping such as paths, walls, patios and fire pits, it’s important to save enough for softscaping to balance the harsh lines and sharp edges. A selection of around 150 plants made for a lush display at Courtney and Grant’s, including lilly pillies lining the entrance, which will grow into a magnificent hallway of green.
• Seating zone included: A place to sit and relax increases the usability of this space. A patio off the main suite of Courtney and Grant’s place was framed with arbours and planting for privacy. 
• Consistent inside and out: The pair have not deviated from their design ethos from day one, sprinkling their Moditerranean aesthetic through every room. Their facade is no different, with a feature olive tree and travertine tiles that are in sync with the interiors. 

All of The Block 2024 front yards and facades

This is how the teams scored in the Week 12 reveals.

1st place: Courtney and Grant

From the dream entry with custom door to lush planting, it’s easy to see why this front garden and facade won. “It’s warm, it’s cosy, it’s rich,” said Marty. “Audibly, it’s insane. You can hear those amazing water features.” The exterior was clad in James Hardie Linea Weatherboard in Lexicon, with black trim. “We have black and white in stark contrast here,” noted Darren. “The thing that makes it soft is we have sandstone and limestone and this beautiful soft aggregate.”   

With a bigger budget to work with, Courtney and Grant could afford plenty of plants, which were chosen carefully. “This is definitely a plan that they’ve thought about,” said landscaping expert Dave. “They haven’t just gone, ‘Rightio we’re going to put plants here.'” The other judges agreed that this couple have seen the bigger pictured from the very beginning. “They’ve absolutely had a vision from day one that they have delivered on every single week,” said Darren.

“It’s still my favourite house on The Block, and they’ve finished it with style.”

Darren Palmer

The Moditerranean aesthetic came through in everything from the foliage to furniture and materials used throughout. “They’ve delivered something that will inspire Australians for the next few years in a style that we haven’t seen before, so it’s a massive congratulations to them,” said Shaynna.

Score: 38/40 (Winners of the Ford Mustang Mach-e)

2nd place: Ricky and Haydn

A bright pink front door and garage were daring, but also perfectly on theme for this “fun house” by the boys. “Not only have they got the biggest palm tree, they’ve got the boat that they won and the brightest, pinkest garage door we have ever seen,” said Shaynna. The 21-metre tall palm tree took a full day to install and a fair chunk of the budget, but it made an impression. “What a statement piece,” said Marty.

With relaxed beach vibes and palm tree wallpaper inside, the front yard fit well with the interiors. “They ran with the palm tree theme,” said Darren. “We’ve said over and over again about this house, that it’s not chic but it’s fun. This is both. This is actually really inviting, its sophisticated, it’s elegant.”

The side of the house had been decked out with a dining space, lounges and self-sustained planter boxes full of produce. “This is an entertainer’s delight,” said Darren. “Without a landscaper, they’ve done exceptionally,” added Dave.

The boat the boys won earlier in the season sat outside a garage with fishing rods and a race car scene on one of the walls. “Does this scream a bloke’s garage or what?” said Shaynna.

Score: 36.5/40

3rd place: Kristian and Mimi

Landscaper Tom Lovett loaned out his own boat to demonstrate one of House 5’s biggest selling points to the judges. “I brought my boat to show them this is another storage spot to park a boat or a caravan,” Tom explained. The fact that Mimi and Kristian already had a large palm tree was also a big win. “We’ve got the second biggest palm tree here, which looks fantastic upstairs, looking underneath there. It’s a little bit of privacy,” Dave pointed out.

As part of the facade, Mimi and Kristian revealed their completed upstairs balcony. “I love the elevation here and the fact you can be King of the Castle and see out over the block,” said Shaynna. “I’m loving the stone here. I love the fact they have these pots here and it gives you privacy, but I have to say they’ve got the layout wrong.”

It was noted that the fire pit was an unusual choice for the space and a built-in fireplace would have been better, yet budget constraints didn’t allow for that. Making this the main entertaining area with the $30,000 barbecue they won earlier in the season left little room for youngsters to play. “In every other house, there’s a connection to a space where kids can run around and be outdoors. That’s not it here,” said Darren.

The garage was beautifully styled, but they left one of the walls unpainted with the bricks exposed.

Score: 31.5/40

4th place: Maddy and Charlotte

A smaller budget meant Maddy and Charlotte went with a pared-back front garden design. They hoped the judges would see it as a positive and low-maintenance for holiday makers. The simplicity was noticed, and landscaping expert Dave would have liked to see more. “They’ve got one of the existing palm trees, but it feels like it’s on its own,” he said. “Front yard, it’s nice. Does it need a bit of something else? I think it does.”

“What an entry, look at that height,” said Marty. Given the expanse of space, Darren thought it could have become more of a feature with the use of lighting. “They’re luxurious spaces where you have empty voids and you do something with them. Evidently there are budget constraints,” he mused. The expanse of lawn would be perfect for cricket and they did have a small deck with armchairs.

With grooved panelling on the walls and plenty of well-organised storage, the garage made a good impression. “This is one of the best styled garages I’ve ever seen on The Block,” said Darren.

Score: 31/40

5th place: Kylie and Brad

With personal dramas unfolding, Kylie and Brad still managed to complete their front garden and facade with some highlights. “We’ve got the coastal planting. All of this will grow in,” said Dave. “We’ve got the banksias and the lilly pillies. All of this put together will give you a nice entrance, and you’ve got to love the round steppers. That’s very architectural.”

“The circles are a really lovely balance against all the angles of these butterfly houses, because there are lots of sharp points and sharp angles,” Darren noted. “Then you’ve got the softness of the curve here, played out again with the mirror here, played out again with the door handles. It’s nice, I like that repetition.”

“That’s probably the only thing I’m liking,” said Shaynna. The choice of pendant lights at the entrance had her worried they would be banging against the wall with the Phillip Island winds. The artwork by Kylie next to two chairs at the front entrance didn’t go down well, either. “If you have to put a piece of art on the outside of your building, you’re in trouble,” she said.

“It’s almost like they’ve checked out.”

Marty Fox

The garage had everything it needed to. “There’s no pizzazz, but I frankly don’t care,” said Darren. They judges were happy to see the house had direct access to the tennis court. “This is actually a massive feature for the buyer,” said Marty. Yet it was clear something had gone amiss this week. “It feels like it was rushed. It feels like there was no money,” said Dave.

Score: 26/40

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post 5 reasons Courtney and Grant won front yard week on The Block appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Seeing Steph and Gian’s winning house and getting their tips and tricks on how to design and style a house for sale is a priceless reward. Mimi and Kristian were already off to a cracking start, but this was an extra advantage that helped keep them on track throughout the season.

Steph and Gian’s tips for winning The Block

These are the tried-and-tested techniques The Block 2023 winners used on the renovating series.

1. Consistency is key

The whole house should have a cohesive look. “What we tried to do is have recurring motifs throughout the house,” Steph told Mimi and Kristian over dinner. “So the Taj Mahal stone, like you saw in the kitchen, and earthy tones. I think that’s what set us apart.” The judges definitely noticed the consistency. “That was the most recurring feedback, that the house was so consistent,” said Gian. “Like Steph said, the stone was the same everywhere, the same colour palette.”

2. Stick to a strong style

A defining style, such as Steph and Gian’s Japandi interiors on The Block, will set your house apart. The renovating couple have since completed another house in Sydney in their same signature Japandi style, which they sold. “Really embody your style,” said Steph. “We were known as the beige people, and the more people said that, they thought maybe they were saying that to be nasty or something, but I was like, ‘Amazing, we’re building a house that we really embody.'”

3. Plan ahead and flatlay

Thinking ahead will set you up for success. “You can see how much work and planning they put into it,” said Mimi as she and Kristian walked through Steph and Gian’s The Block house. “Forward planning is so important.” One way Steph suggested they do this is to physically bring a tray to appointments, then create a flatlay of materials to see if everything looks good together. “Get small samples of everything, put them on the board. Take it to every single room that you do, layer your concepts – it’s called a flatlay,” said Steph. “Make sure there’s continuity between every single room.”

How do contestants win The Block?

The winner of The Block is the team who sells their house for the highest price. Reserves are set before each auction and the contestants take home whatever amount the houses make above that. The winners also usually get an extra cash prize. If a house doesn’t make reserve, that team walks away empty-handed.

The post Steph and Gian’s tips for winning The Block appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Before we get to who won (and who underwhelmed), here are five of the best ideas to steal for your own backyard.

1. Pizza oven by Maddy and Charlotte

Pizza is a popular meal choice, with 1 in 3 Australians eating it at least once a week and 15 per cent of households now having a pizza oven at their home. Will it ever replace the barbecue completely? Possibly not, but more people are seeking them as an additional feature these days. So professional house flippers Maddy and Charlotte nailed their design by including a built-in pizza oven. With stepping stones leading to it from the deck and a curved timber-topped seat nearby, it makes for a novelty extra on their real-estate listing.

2. Outdoor shower by Courtney and Grant

Given the homes are on Phillip Island with sandy beaches nearby, having an outdoor shower is a smart inclusion. It adds a luxurious touch that will give potential buyers the extra nudge they need to sign on the dotted line. “They’ve always known how to sell the dream,” said judge Shaynna Blaze. A backyard shower is definitely an idea to emulate in any coastal home.

3. Basketball court by Mimi and Kristian

Nothing says ‘high-end property’ these days like a basketball court. They’re truly the new tennis court. A hoop in the driveway was the norm in years gone by, but the latest luxury iteration is a professional-standard court with built-in hoop. Seasoned The Block landscaper Troy Lovett (who has helped two previous teams win landscaping week) says the expectation is to create a court large enough to include a three-point line. That’s exactly what he’s done in Kristian and Mimi’s House 5 backyard. 

4. Entertainer’s pool by Ricky and Haydn

Bigger is usually better when it comes to pools, and Ricky and Haydn have delivered. “The biggest pool is a massive selling feature,” said judge Marty. “It separates them from the others that we’ve seen.” Adding the toys is a nice touch that will help buyers envision their lifestyle here. “It’s the fun house. We’ve got beach balls, we’ve got lilos,” observed Shaynna. Including an expansive deck and a bar and stools nearby means you never need to leave.

5. Fire pit by Courtney and Grant

There were a few fire pits this year, but the one at House 3 was the standout. Not only did they pour a curved concrete bench, they also included comfortable outdoor armchairs for those who want to lounge for longer. The key was paving the base, which meant those with bare feet could happily transition from one zone to another comfortably. It’s a clever inclusion to make the most of the outdoors during the cooler months.

All of The Block 2024 backyards and pools

Here’s how all the teams went in the week 11 reveals.

1st place: Courtney and Grant

Given Grant is a landscape business manager outside The Block, these two were always top contenders to win landscaping week. The experience showed, with Courtney and Grant having a considerably cruisier week than the other contestants. They completed five different zones, including a large deck off the living area with an undercover dining space and barbecue. 

“This indoor-outdoor flow is what people pay for,” said Marty. “This is what gets them emotionally connected to a property – envisaging themselves with their family and friends, feeling at home.” 

The timber posts positioned either side of the walkway looked “unfinished” to Marty, but landscaping expert Dave Franklin disagreed. “This is garden art,” he said. He also liked the edible plants in the garden. “What’s better than having olive trees, lemon trees and even your bay leaf trees? Everything you need to cook for your barbecue is here right in front of you,” he said.

“I love how they’ve used the posts as part of the pool fence,” said Shaynna. “It’s just gorgeous.” All of the usable zones, including a pizza oven, impressed the judges. “This is just value, value, value,” said Darren. “There are so many different functions, from entertaining to sitting around enjoying a fire pit, to all the different cooking options.” Both Darren and Shaynna scored the couple a 10 and they walked away with $30k to add to their front yard budget.

Score: 39/40 ($30k)

“This is 35 to 40 metres of perfection.”

Marty Fox

2nd place: Maddy and Charlotte

A mid-week disaster saw a budget benchtop the sisters sourced for their barbecue area being removed from site as it contained 70 per cent silica, which is now deemed illegal. “It’s got to go,” said Foreman Dan. Their back-up plan was to cover the bench in grooved panelling, which the judges loved for its durability and simplicity. “It looks incredible,” said Shaynna.

Landscaper Dave was pleased that they retained the existing paperbark trees, while introducing plants that fit the relaxed feeling. “We’ve got tea tree here, we’ve got lilly pilly, we’ve got the blechnums there, we’ve got a very coastal palette of trees here and a lot of lawn as well,” he said. 

“They’ve created privacy through how these plants will grow over time,” said Marty. The real-estate agent also pointed out the benefits of having a dining area that’s undercover but not too shady. “This is all afternoon sun, so when you’re having those barbecues with family, you’ve got that beautiful light coming through. This is a real entertainer’s dream.”

Although not as big as Mimi and Kristian’s basketball court, Maddy and Charlotte’s court was still an incredible inclusion. Positioned next to the spiral staircase that enters the self-contained studio, it means the business-savvy sisters have created a highly-marketable package. 

Score: 37/40

“This is a really heavy-hitting, big swing of a backyard.”

Darren Palmer

3rd place: Kristian and Mimi 

“I love the mosaic tiling,” said Darren about the finish on the large pool at House 5. “As soon as you walk in, you’re drawn to it. It screams resort,” Dave agreed. Although they only had a small deck with two chairs, there was plenty of grass nearby to sit on and “be part of the pool environment”, as Shaynna put it.

“It makes you feel coastal,” said Marty of the backyard. There were piers wrapped in rope, which was appropriate for Phillip Island, plus a rowing boat that had been repurposed as a drink station by the dining area. While a smoker for cooking was placed here, the barbecue Mimi and Kristian won in a previous week was noticeably missing. 

It had been placed on the upstairs balcony, but the judges felt this would be a better spot for it. “When you’re playing in the pool, just to have a sausage on bread is one of the easiest things,” said Shaynna. “You don’t want to go running upstairs.” Next to the basketball court was a fire pit surrounded by a dry stone wall. “It’s a cracker,” said Darren.

Score: 35/40

4th place: Ricky and Haydn

After losing a couple of landscapers throughout the season, mates Ricky and Haydn were left high and dry when it came to backyard week. That didn’t deter them, though, and they took on the job themselves with the help of builder and former The Block All Star Duncan Millar. Top of the agenda was a large wraparound lawn for playing games of cricket and footy.

While Shaynna was underwhelmed at first, she turned the corner to discover a whole lot more than lawn. “We’ve got a swing set, we’ve got sculpture, we now have all the curves,” she said. The swing set was a standout for the judges, with its custom timber frame. “There’s no way that will be shaking,” said Dave.

Their backyard may not have had the finesse a landscaper could have achieved, but it did bring the fun. “It’s consistent with the inside of the house in that it’s fun and it’s planned really beautifully for holiday living,” said Darren. “It’s not as chic, but it’s fun.” 

Score: 32/40

5th place: Kylie and Brad

The married parents of four had a tumultuous week, with delivery delays setting them so far back that landscaper Troy Lovett from House 5 had his team help them out so they could finish. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and the judges were unimpressed. “It’s giving me absolutely nothing,” said Dave. The faux stone stacking around the pool didn’t resonate. “I don’t love fake tiles. That, to me, is killing every stonemason in Australia right now.”

“It really just feels like a water feature, even though it’s such a big pool,” said Marty. The boardwalk alongside stepping stones was confusing and there wasn’t enough decking for Darren’s liking. “You have lots of walkways, lots of different heights and different materials, but not a lot of function, not a lot of enjoyable space,” he said.

The fire pit could have been improved by tiling the entire ground area. “You’re not walking over here in bare feet from the pool. It’s not that inviting,” said Dave. “I think the idea’s there, it just hasn’t been finished off properly.” There were pockets of unfinished zones that had potential, but it wasn’t enough. “We need to judge what we’re seeing, and what we’re seeing is a really poorly planned, uninviting space,” said Marty.

Score: 27/40

“There’s nothing exciting about this that says, ‘Come and hang in my backyard.’”

Shaynna Blaze

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post 5 ideas from The Block to steal for your own backyard appeared first on Home Beautiful.

From banana yellow to a chic French tile pattern, we’re giving our editor’s nod of approval to quite a few of the details. One of them even finds itself in our round-up of 2025 interior design trends. 

Next week, it’s onto the most exciting stage of the series: landscaping reveals. Until then, enjoy these five covetable details from the week 10 reveals.

1. Pops of banana yellow

Mimi and Kristian embraced the current butter yellow trend in their guest bedroom. Judge Shaynna Blaze described their bedding as “banana yellow”, but it’s certainly in the same realm as the soft yellow shade that’s been everywhere lately. “The banana palette is quite cute,” Shaynna said. “The banana and sage green, it’s quite beautiful with the rattan. You can’t fault the look and feel of this room.”  

2. French tile pattern on floor

It’s not often you see a French tile pattern, which is done by laying different-sized tiles geometrically, but it never fails to look sophisticated. It was no exception in Maddy and Charlotte’s laundry, where the sisters’ choice of antique-look tiles was flawless. “This is a beautiful tile – the French pattern,” said Marty Fox. 

3. Scotia decorative wall moulding

Little details make a room feel more chic, such as the scotia in Courtney and Grant’s guest bedroom. The strip of wall moulding, which is usually placed in the gap between skirting boards and the floor, was noticed by the judges. “That’s a little timber scotia, and it elevates the whole thing,” said Darren Palmer. It’s a simplified version of wainscoting which fits perfectly with their Modern Mediterranean aesthetic.

4. Coloured pedestal basin

There’s limited space in Ricky and Haydn’s laundry, so the Nood Co pedestal basin was a smart and stylish inclusion. “This is a buyer’s dream,” said Shaynna of the laundry’s layout and design. The salmon pink picks up the shade of the feature wall and the shape complements the fun, laidback feeling the boys have established in their barefoot beach house. The pink concrete pedestal basin is a much more current take on the traditional white ceramic sink.

5. Black chequered pillowcases

Black-and-white checks are going to be big in 2025, so Kylie and Brad are ahead of the game with the chequered pillows in their guest bedroom. Paired with dusty blues and greys, they’re on the money with this bedding combination. 

All of The Block 2024 laundries and guest bedrooms

Here’s how the teams went in the week 10 reveals.

1st place: Courtney and Grant

Taking the previous week’s judging advice, Courtney and Grant moved their cabinetry into the mezzanine rumpus room to fit a king-size bed in the guest bedroom. This turned their upstairs area into a second main retreat. “They’ve listened. How good is this?” said Marty. “So you’ve now got a day spa and a beautiful lounge, away from the other accommodation. This is the main wing that I would personally like to sleep in within this house.”

They hit the mark with the olive green feature wall, terracotta accents and abstract artworks. “That piece of art is very abstract, but the colours go without feeling matchy matchy,” said Shaynna. She praised the attention to detail and unique style. “No one does Moditerranean. Courtney and Grant have created their own look that is so high-level and sets them apart. It will set trends around the country, just like [2023 winners] Steph and Gian’s Japandi style.”

Their laundry didn’t include a toilet like in some of the other houses. Another downside that Darren pointed out was that the sloped ceiling might be a head-bumping hazard. Yet Marty felt these wouldn’t deter a buyer and that the laundry was beautifully executed. “Everything is so consistent, it’s beautiful. It’s finished to a high standard,” agreed Shaynna.

Score: 29.5/30 (After playing their ‘penguin’, worth one point)

2nd place: Ricky and Haydn

Putting in bunk beds meant Ricky and Haydn’s house would now sleep 12 people, which is the most on The Block this year. They went with a similar sophisticated tropical-feeling wallpaper used in their previous guest bedroom, complemented with sheer curtains. The room scored a 10 from Shaynna.

There was just one criticism. “It definitely needs a ceiling fan. In the summer months it will be absolutely boiling,” said Marty. However, that didn’t detract from marketability for him. “It’s got such broad appeal. When this goes online it will be that one property that feels relaxing, that’s knockabout,” he said.

The laundry impressed just as much as their bedroom. “It’s a functional space, but it’s still very beautiful,” said Darren. The white cabinetry was the same as those in the kitchen.

Of all the teams, the boys’ laundry had the most generous bathroom space and also included a mudroom for shoes and coats. “It’s ticking every single box,” said Marty.

Score: 29/30

3rd place: Kylie and Brad

First impressions weren’t great in Kylie and Brad’s guest bedroom, with the judges noticing an echo. “Acoustically, it’s not working,” said Darren. “It’s cavernous and it sounds so.” The layout left a lot to be desired as it lacked storage and felt cramped, but some of the style elements were strong. “I love the wallpaper, I love the lights, I love the bed linen,” said Shaynna.

The logistical issues continued in the laundry, with a washer and dryer placed behind doors. “I would take these off,” said Shaynna, demonstrating the difficulties they would cause when moving clothes from one to another. “That is terrible.” She wished Kylie and Brad had spent less time sourcing black and white pegs and more finessing the design. “Sorry, you wasted your time,” she said. 

Marty agreed, not understanding why Kylie and Brad have kept flogging a dead horse, so to speak. “They’ve never won a room on a black-and-white theme, yet they keep coming back to black-and-white themes,” he said. “The obsession with the black and white has to end.”

Score: 22.5/30

4th place: Mimi and Kristian

Ignoring advice from the judges, Mimi and Kristian stuck with their decision to change the floorplan and make what was supposed to be a rumpus into a guest bedroom. “We’re opposite a communal area and with all that glazing, it should have been a rumpus,” said Marty. “It’s definitely a mistake,” added Darren.

Despite that, the room was beautiful, with soft yellow and sage green. A Porta timber nib wall doubled as a room divider and bedhead. Behind this was built-in cabinetry and a desk nook.

They ended on a high with the laundry, which had plenty of storage and bench space. “This is a laundry,” said Darren. “I didn’t know I wanted green appliances before today, but yes I do.” The direct access from outside was a win and the layout was impeccable. “This is probably the laundry of the day,” said Marty. 

Score: 20.5/30

5th place: Maddy and Charlotte

It was a week full of setbacks for Maddy and Charlotte, who were determined to execute a queen-sized bunk over a queen bed, but unfortunately their endeavour fell flat. While Marty liked the idea of adding sleeping spaces, it didn’t translate in reality. “It’s got function, but it doesn’t have that magic,” he said.

As Shaynna pointed out, the external spiral staircase doesn’t make it child-friendly, yet it also doesn’t feel suitable for adults. “It just doesn’t feel like a second wing. It feels like we can fit four kids in here and we’ve got an extra play area,” said Shaynna. “They’re trying to cover too many parts of the market and I don’t feel this does it well enough.”

Aside from the fact it was unfinished, there was a lot to love in the laundry. “I like the cabinetry, I love the marble,” said Marty. Yet it could have done with some more storage for a house that sleeps 10. The toilet was lacking privacy, with a glass door meaning people outside could see in. “You need a frosted glass door,” advised Shaynna.

Score: 20/30

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post 5 editor-approved details from The Block’s laundry and bedroom week appeared first on Home Beautiful.

1. Lack of purpose

“This is functionally useless,” said Darren. Although Kylie and Brad were on the right track in rethinking the office brief, they failed to make the room’s new purpose obvious. Placing a couch in the centre of the space overlooking the room below was an unusual design choice. “This does not make sense,” said Shaynna.

2. Confusing curtain

The black curtain across the glass balustrade made the judges feel like they were at a ‘peep show’. “Can you imagine how confused a buyer is going to be?” said Shaynna. “They’re going to go, ‘Why do I have theatre curtains?’” 

3. Uncomfortable desk

A desk against the wall was a futile inclusion, given the feng shui was completely off. Shaynna showed how unappealing it would be to sit at, with a blank wall in front and your back to the room.

“This is ridiculous.”

Shaynna Blaze

All of The Block 2024 office and rumpus rooms

Here’s how the teams went in the week nine reveals.

Tied 1st place: Ricky and Haydn

“We thought it was a better use of space creating a bigger games area,” Ricky explained of their decision to avoid an office. They went with a timber balustrade, arcade games and a pool table. “This is so smart,” said Marty. “You’ve got Street Fighter, you’ve got Pac-Man, you’ve got Phillip Island on the walls,” added Shaynna, who gave them a 10. 

Marty predicted buyers would have an emotional connection to this room. “I believe people will come and visit, and their kids will say, ‘Mum, Dad, you need to get this.’”

The rumpus room also got a great reaction, with a curtain to create privacy. “Having the sofa bed in this room means they can sleep 10 guests as opposed to the others who can sleep eight,” said Marty. “It’s leaning towards that investment piece for the end user of the property.”

“I’m personally not aesthetically excited by this room,” said Darren. “But in a real estate sales competition there is definitely going to be a buyer who wants this relaxed, less uptight style of holiday home.” 

Score: 28/30

Tied 1st place: Maddy and Charlotte

With business degrees under their belts, Maddy and Charlotte flipped the floorplan to make a more marketable house. The grand plan is to create a self-contained guest retreat with its own external access. To do this, they changed the office into a rumpus room and made the other space into a sitting area. These will connect to a bedroom and ensuite. 

“This is a massive selling feature,” said Marty. “It’s so multi-generational, multifaceted, multi-income generating, they have opened up a massive amount of possibilities by changing that window to a door. It’s genius,” said Darren. “It’s a game changer.”

In the other space, a large skylight filled their rumpus room with plenty of light and the judges liked the lived-in feeling. 

“The girls have listened to some of the styling tips and kept it a lot simpler,” said Shaynna. “How do you make it look so cosy when it’s never been lived in? I think the girls nailed it,” added Marty, who scored them a perfect 10. 

Score: 28/30

3rd place: Courtney and Grant

The couple took space from their office weeks ago to create a larger ensuite, making their space the smallest of all the houses. Regardless, they pushed ahead with a full office fit-out. The desk with two chairs felt a bit “business centre” for Darren. “I feel like I’ve walked into a possible therapy session,” he said. 

“If you’re going to run an office in here, your conversation will be heard [in] the lounge room,” said Shaynna. The rumpus room had more appeal. “Lovely furniture, beautiful colour scheme,” said Darren. “Decision after decision, we have style in spades.” 

Regardless, Shaynna pointed out that the floorplan change to create such a large ensuite weeks ago hadn’t panned out. “If we have a bathroom of that size, I want a king bed,” she said. “This comes down to ensuite week up here. We knew the planning was either going to work for them or bite them in the behind. And it’s definitely bitten them in the behind.”

Score: 23.5/30

4th place: Kylie and Brad

After scoring first place for their living and dining room the week before, it was a surprise that Kylie and Brad “dropped the ball” with their office and rumpus room design. “I don’t understand why there is a couch up against a glass balustrade,” said Marty. “Why am I sitting 30cm off a glass balustrade looking over the living area?”

The rumpus room wasn’t much better, with a lot of wasted space behind an awkwardly placed couch. Even the palette didn’t have the personality the pair have become known for. “When did they become so white?” said Marty. “I gave them a 10 last week. This is just not them.”

Score: 16/30

“10 out of 10 for creating the most uncomfortable room we’ve seen this season.”

Marty

5th place: Mimi and Kristian

A floorplan change saw Mimi and Kristian change a downstairs bedroom into a rumpus room with access to the pool and a bathroom beside it. The judges weren’t convinced. “If you’re going to change the floorplan to your advantage, you have to blow us away,” said Shaynna. “This has zero connection to the lifestyle outside.”

They also thought it should have been more suitable for post-swim hang outs. “Shouldn’t this be a place that’s pool friendly? If you have a plunge pool there and you want to come in and watch TV and play games, don’t you want surfaces that kids can be in their bathers?” said Shaynna. 

Even the styling wasn’t going down well. “It’s so basic,” said Darren. “I haven’t seen a room with this many things that I like separately that look so boring together. This is a nice couch, it’s a great coffee table but it’s ‘meh’.” Failing to finish their second room left the pair in last place.

Score: 12.5/30

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post 3 reasons Kylie and Brad’s office on The Block was a design disaster appeared first on Home Beautiful.

The property, which is located at 2/89b Eloora Road, Long Jetty, NSW 2261, has since been sold for $2.64 million. This means that both homes in the duplex have now been sold. You can see the other Bay Builds property here.

News Flash

But how do you keep things interesting when you’ve completed over 30 renovations together? The answer is simple: you tackle two renovations at once. The challenge started in 2021, when a block of land a few hundred metres from the beach on the Central Coast of NSW was put on the market. “It had an old shack on it,” explains Kara, “an old doctor’s surgery that had been abandoned years earlier.”

Who lives here?

Full-time renovators Kyal and Kara, their son Ziya, seven, and daughter Vada, six, and Lorikeet, Skye.
What is your interior style? Kara: “Layered, textured and coastal.”
Favourite piece of furniture? “I’m really loving the living room couch from Globe West. I love the curved shape and the beautiful, light fabric with a slight speckle.”
What does home mean to you? “Home means a safe place. It’s a retreat from the rest of the world that expresses your own personality.”
Your top renovating tip? “Work out your goals, whether you’re renovating to live in the home or as an investment. This will dictate your budget. Then prioritise what’s important.”

After purchasing the property, they demolished the old dwelling and drew up plans for duplexes with a difference. “We didn’t want to build two homes that were cookie cutters,” says Kara. “We thought, ‘Let’s have fun and play on the fact that they’re different’.” Although the layouts are a mirror image, the interiors are stark contrasts. The brief for the first house was light, bright and French-inspired, while the second house called for a moodier palette of darker tones with a coastal Spanish resort feel.

But with the carefully laid plans complete, Kyal and Kara faced a roadblock they’d never previously experienced: they had to wait more than 12 months to get approval from council. “We learnt to allow a much longer timeframe when you’re doing a duplex and having town planner involvement,” shares Kara. In November 2022, slabs finally hit the ground and the build began.

The couple work like a well-oiled machine, with Kyal focusing on construction while Kara puts together finishes, materials and colour palettes. By May of 2024, both duplexes were complete.

Living area

Each individual home has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a media room and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area that leads out to a backyard and pool. It’s this communal area that Kara believes suits her family’s lifestyle best, especially the orientation of the kitchen island. “It’s a controversial topic, but I love having a sink in the island if it looks out to the yard,” she says.

Kitchen

While this home is breezy and sun-drenched, befitting its coastal location, the deep tones offer a sophistication that grounds the space. The palette was a step away from their usual style, yet a return to the couple’s roots.

“When we did The Block 10 years ago, we were given an industrial apartment. That was a dark house,” says Kara. “I think with this house, a lot of it is our style but with a darker twist.”

“Warm and sophisticated” was the goal in the open-plan kitchen. Shaker-style joinery on the island painted in Taubmans Time Capsule offers a light base beside pantry doors, which are rich with Loughlin Furniture’s American Aged Oak.

Striking natural stone makes an impact on the benchtops and range hood, which feature Cosentino’s ‘Vancouver’ quartzite.

“We had our stonemason curve the range hood stone, which is one of my favourite things in the whole house,” shares Kara. “So much workmanship went into that.” Edstein installed all the quartzite in the kitchen, including the benchtops and curved range hood cladding, which perfectly complements the softly rounded edge of the arched niche that it’s positioned within. For more, visit Edstein.

We love… precious stone

Dining

‘Mila’ pendants from Uniqwa feature hand-woven palm leaves for texture, contrasted against the dark Walnut tones of the Globe West ‘Tolv’ dining chairs.

Cellar

“You can’t use normal glass for a wine room because it will fog up and drip with condensation,” explains Kara. Thermal Insulated Glass Products solved this issue, while Stone Style ‘Cathago’ cladding lends to the cellar’s underground feel.

Staircase

An internal garden is positioned beneath the ‘Helical’ Enzie staircase, which is bathed in natural light by floor-to-ceiling glazing from Wideline Windows & Doors. Finished in microcement, the soft curves of the stairs sweep upward, creating a sense of movement.

Powder room

Drama fills the powder room, with its curvaceous ‘Rockpool’ Middle of Nowhere mirror, Nood Co ‘Trough’ basin in Clay, and ‘Oxid Textured’ tiles in Lava from Beaumont Tiles.

Main bedroom

The primary room epitomises the Spanish coastal resort vibe Kara wanted. She opted for dual window coverings from DIY Blinds, layering ‘Allusion’ curtains in Linen over roller blinds.

Adding contrast is a dark Globe West ‘Vittoria Retreat’ bedhead, Snooze bedsides and Hale Mercantile Co bedlinen. A Miss Amara ‘Takha’ rug and framed Tapa barkcloth from Papua New Guinea, available at K&K Homewares, complete the scheme.

Ensuite and walk-in robe

The couple chose Beaumont Tiles ‘Channelle’ travertine mosaics in Brown to partition the shower in their ensuite.

The walk-in robe gets a textured touch thanks to The Dharma Door’s ‘Amua’ wall hanging, available via K&K Homewares.

Second bedroom

The curved motif continues in the second bedroom, with the twisting shape of McMullin & Co bedsides and the ‘Amara Scalloped’ bedhead in Coffee Bean by Halvorsen Interiors. This deep hue is carried through to the Black ‘Totana’ wall light from Lighterior.

Main bathroom

Large ‘Rock Salt’ tiles in Danish Smoke cover the bathroom walls and floor, while smaller ‘Tetra Pavilion’ tiles in Sesame Gloss, both from Beaumont Tiles, create a feature behind the vanity.

Joinery in Loughlin Furniture’s American Aged Oak grounds the luxe Dekton basin in Grigio from Cosentino. Brass accents offer a warm touch, with Beaumont Tiles ‘Misha’ hardware in Brushed Copper and Nightworks Studio ‘Duomo Piccolo Stem’ sconces in Whiskey Brass.

Alfresco

You can’t emulate a European-inspired lifestyle without a gorgeous outdoor area. Millboard Limed Oak decking leads to the round pool by Backyard Retreats, finished in Cemher Microcement ‘Micropool’. “I love the tiered walkway up to the pool,” shares Kara.

In the barbecue area, Stone Style ‘Tunisian Pearl Sandblasted’ crazy pavers offer tactile flooring, while the ‘Lucia Curve’ dining table and ‘Granada Scoop’ chairs, both from Globe West, invite long, alfresco meals. “We’re so proud of this home,” says Kara. “It’s just beautiful.”

While the couple’s personal lives have changed since their time on The Block, with the addition of their son Ziya, seven, and daughter Vada, six, their ability to make a home beautiful remains. “I don’t think our teamwork has changed over the years,” reflects Kara. “We’ve learnt to trust each other more.”

Interior design: Kara Demmrich, kyalandkara.com.
Building: Diverse Design & Construct, diverseconstruct.com.
Joinery: Beachside Kitchens, beachsidekitchens.com.au, and Loughlin Furniture, loughlinfurniture.com.au.
Landscape design: Landart, landart.com.au.

SOURCE BOOK

See the real estate listing for this home here and check out the other half of the duplex here.

The post The Block’s Kyal and Kara’s enchanting Spanish-style abode has sold for $2.64 million appeared first on Home Beautiful.

FAIL: Lack of contrast 

It was a whole lot of white, cream and beige in Maddy and Charlotte’s house this week. “That’s vanilla,” said Shaynna, likening their living and dining area to the most plain ice-cream flavour. “We all have a double scoop, don’t we? Vanilla with pistachio? I need pistachio,” she continued. The room required more contrast to make it really shine and prevent it from feeling like a project home. If everything’s hitting the same note, it feels flat. Unfortunately, this was the case for Maddy and Charlotte’s living and dining room.

“There’s nothing wrong with vanilla, you just need some sprinkles.”

Darren Palmer

FAIL: Decor too small or too large

Kylie and Brad’s room may have won, but there was one thing that let it down – a rug that was too small for the table. “It’s the one thing I can fault,” said Darren. Finding pieces that fit a space perfectly creates a more a designer look. Get it wrong and it throws a room off completely. It’s not so easy to do, though – even furniture designer Courtney missed the mark, with pendants in the corner that were too small and too high. Meanwhile, Maddy and Charlotte’s dining table was too tiny for such an expansive space. If your budget allows, custom furniture is the best way to get it right.

FAIL: Fumbling the floorplan

Mimi and Kristian’s layout was unfortunately a “fumble” in Marty’s opinion. “They’ve just gone, let’s take the house that’s got the best outlook and turn everyone’s back to look at that TV,” he said of their decision to place the sofa facing away from the view. While TVs are considered essential to modern living, good design makes them a focus, not the entire focus – especially in a holiday home. Orientating furniture to optimise the view and conversations is more of a priority when you’re away on vacation.

“I’m not coming to the beach for my whole lounge room to be built around a TV.”

Shaynna Blaze

All of The Block 2024 living and dining rooms

Here’s how the teams went in the week eight reveals.

1st place: Kylie and Brad

Kylie and Brad accented their oak floors with a licorice black timber wall and olive green furniture and decor. “It’s unbelievable,” said Shaynna. The ambient lighting particularly impressed the judges. “Not a single downlight in sight,” said Marty. “This is the lighting layout I’ve been hoping to see all day. These wall sconces are perfect. The strip light through here, fantastic.”

“This dining table anchors the kitchen and the lounge,” said Shaynna. “This is magnificent. This is what happens when you take the time to order a custom table.”

Dekton tiles were installed around the fireplace at great cost, but it was worth the investment. “The palette is really simple – black, green, oak – the end,” said Shaynna, who loved the addition of crushed linen curtains. “They add softness to this really strong, simple palette.”

Score: 29.5/30

“Who knew that licorice ice cream could be this delicious?”

Darren Palmer

2nd place: Courtney and Grant

Courtney and Grant’s room was delivering rum ’n’ raisin flavours, with deep browns and caramel. If only they had planned the fireplace better. “That is possibly the worst position within a room of this size,” said Marty. “No one benefits from it,” agreed Darren. Luckily it was all up from there, with elegant curves and open shelving, lit beautifully. “I love that we have the naturals and the neutrals with a little bit of punch,” said Shaynna. 

After the striped ensuite debacle, a more pared-back approach was well received. “All the lovely archways, the way they’ve done the niching around the curtains. It gives it a softness and tactility that I really love,” said Darren. “They’ve softened things that need to be softened and sharpened things that need to be sharp. It’s a lovely contrast.”

The dining chairs, designed by Courtney’s furniture business, The Lazy Stylist, were a hit. “They’re cute as hell,” said Darren. “The colour is beautiful, the form is beautiful.”

Score: 26.5/30

“They like my dining room chairs. That’s just made my day.”

Courtney

3rd place: Maddy and Charlotte

Being vanilla isn’t all bad – Maddy and Charlotte’s living and dining space was cohesive and had plenty of marketing pull. “Vanilla is a universally-loved flavour,” said Marty. The natural log fire was also a “phenomenal” choice in his opinion. The palette appealed to Darren, but he would have liked a bit more drama. For Shaynna, it was the styling that let them down, needing to be more elevated.

“It feels friendly and natural, encompassing and inviting,” said Darren. “Texturally, they’ve got it right,” added Shaynna. “I love the big texture in the rug, the smaller texture in the couch and texture in the timber.”

Score: 25.5/30

4th place: Ricky Haydn

“This is about five metres bigger than the previous houses,” said Darren of the boys’ living and dining area. There were some tweaks that needed to be made to the layout. “It feels quite heavy,” said Darren, as pieces were loaded towards the living area. Marty felt the dining table needed to run in the other direction to give more space to move around it. 

Shaynna would have liked the dining table to be a darker colour so everything wasn’t all the same tone. “You look at those beautiful stools, the leather stools [in the kitchen]. The table needs to be that colour,” she said. 

The biggest statement in the space was the artwork from the Cungelella Art collective’s Artist Lane. Worth $20k, the boys won it in a challenge. “That is absolutely stunning and perfect for this space,” said Shaynna. The James Hardie oblique panels on the wall amped up the holiday beach vibe while the Cosentino stone under the fireplace was a little luxe – but not quite enough. “They’ve done a beautiful job. It’s just a bit basic for me,” said Shaynna.

Score: 25/30

5th place: Mimi and Kristian

Newlyweds Mimi and Kristian received the worst score of the season. The only team with a two-storey home, their floorplan left them with the smallest living and dining area. What they lacked in space, they didn’t make up for in the design. “When you have a smaller space, you need to balance that by upping the luxury in the materiality,” explained Marty. “There’s no sophistication. For me it’s the biggest let down of the day.”

The couple went with a soft green laminate feature wall and walnut table that was in the wrong spot for Shaynna. “I find this table a barrier,” she said. “You’re walking in here and you’re going straight into the dining table. I would have preferred a round table.” Let’s hope the early frontrunners can get back their winning streak.

Score: 23.5/30

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post 3 of the biggest fails from The Block living and dining rooms appeared first on Home Beautiful.

The Block bedroom trends

Step aside beige and boucle, this is what’s in now.

1. Coffered ceilings

We’ve moved beyond feature walls, with feature ceilings being the next big thing. Coffered ceilings, which are recessed and often have sunken panels, bring an extra element of interest. These can be highlighted with lighting, as Ricky and Haydn did in their main bedroom. Or lined with wallpaper, as Kylie and Brad did with a bronze metallic design that completely shifted the mood of the room.

2. Asymmetrical details

“Asymmetry seems to be really consistent through this season of The Block,” judge Marty Fox pointed out. Traditional design styles lean towards symmetry, as it gives a sense of order. Yet The Block team Mimi and Kristian are proving asymmetry can contribute to a calm space too. Their earthy and emerald-toned bedroom in week two had an asymmetrical bed backing that gave the room a contemporary feel. While it may be on trend, Marty stressed it shouldn’t come at the expense of functionality. He wished Mimi and Kristian had two bedside lamps in their main bedroom, instead of one. We hope they continue to embrace trending asymmetrical details, taking this feedback on board.

3. Curves and arches everywhere

Arches are back in style in a big way and we’ve really seen them shine in this season of The Block. This week, Courtney and Grant went the extra mile by creating an arched entrance to their main bedroom. A curved wall was also created in their first bathroom and they had curved skirting boards in their guest bedroom, which judge Darren Palmer admired for the craftsmanship involved.

4. Next-gen timber panelling

While VJ wall panelling was the big thing for a while there, we’re seeing other options rise in popularity. Modern white Porta panelled walls appeared in the bedrooms of a couple of bedrooms this week. But ‘shou sugi ban’ has been the breakout timber feature wall of the season. The charred black panels have become a consistent feature throughout Kylie and Brad’s moody modern beach house.

5. Toasty warm tones

As was pointed out in Maddy and Charlotte’s main bedroom this week, there’s a shift towards rich, warm tones in interior design. “The walnut is definitely on trend,” Darren said, referring to the wardrobe. “These warm greys are definitely on trend.” Colour, pattern and personality are back in a big way.

The Block 2024 main bedrooms and walk-in robes

Here’s how the teams went in week five.

Tied 1st place: Courtney and Grant

Looking around their room midweek, foreman and former contestant Dan Reilly, who appeared on the show with his partner Dani, was concerned. “Have you guys bitten off more than you can chew this week?” he asked. Yet Courtney and Grant were confident they could deliver – and they did, tying for first place with Mimi and Kristian. “This is 2024 style, next level,” Marty swooned seeing the finished result. 

“It’s nothing we’ve ever seen before,” said Shaynna. “It has a very Italian feel to it.” The recessed curtains, plush green bed frame, Porta panelled feature wall and expansive skylight combined for elevated results.

Although Marty didn’t like the “fake flames” in the fireplace, he felt buyers would become emotionally attached to the space. “This is the most marketable room we’ve seen so far on The Block,” he said. “These guys are operating in a league of their own.” 

Score: 28/30

Tied 1st place: Mimi and Kristian

“This is by far the most hotel-like room that we’ve walked into, in terms of finesse, calmness and sophistication,” said Marty, who pointed out the waved bedhead from Steph and Gian’s brand Japandi Estate. The only double-storey house in The Block this year, its raked ceiling was an impressive sight. Even more impressive (in Darren’s opinion) were the sheer curtains designed on a rake in such a short timeframe.

This team won the Hafele wardrobe upgrade, which gave their soothing room an extra touch of opulence. “This is not just a holiday home, this isn’t just a place to retire to,” said Shaynna. “They’ve created a lifestyle in this house. It feels coastal. It feels warm, it feels inviting. It says Phillip Island. I can imagine people wanting to buy this to live in for the rest of their life.”

Score: 28/30

2nd place: Kylie and Brad

This week cemented the feeling that Kylie and Brad had found a way to execute their bold style in a palatable way. “They’ve hit their look and feel now,” said Shaynna. The judges agreed the black ‘shou sugi ban’ wall was the hero, along with the statement metallic wallpapered ceiling. “Now they’re nailing the materiality,” said Marty, who felt the quirkiness would stand out for buyers.

There were a few notes from Shaynna, who would have lowered the pendants next to the bed. Yet the wardrobe had them finishing on a high. “It’s like walking into a jewellery box,” said Darren. “I liked the wallpaper in [the bedroom], and I love it in here. It just looks so opulent and luxurious. This rug is such a good inclusion.” 

Score: 27.5/30

3rd place: Maddy and Charlotte

New team Maddy and Charlotte replaced Jesse and Paige, who decided to leave the show. Visiting former contestants Ronnie and Georgia got them started with a room design that continued the aesthetic Jesse and Paige began in their house, but after coming on mid-week the sisters made some tweaks. “This is definitely an evolution of that modern colonial style,” said Darren.

With fresh whites and a coastal feeling, Marty liked the new direction. “I love that they’ve elevated the space,” he said. “It feels a little bit more expensive.” There were some sloppy elements, but it was successful overall. “These guys know what they’re doing,” Marty said of the house-flippers moonlighting as accountants. “The fact they can pull this together in less than a week blows my mind.”

Score: 24.5/30

4th place: Ricky and Haydn

The holiday resort style continued in the boys’ main bedroom with palm tree wallpaper. “Look at that ceiling,” said Shaynna of the glowing halo in the coffered ceiling. The room was left unfinished, without window coverings or decor elements like a doona cover. “I wonder if the time and effort that went into that feature is the reason we don’t have sheer curtains hanging,” Marty pondered.

The wardrobe also left the judges underwhelmed. “I’m trying to understand why they put carpet here, walking straight from the bathroom,” said Shaynna. “Timber should definitely still be in here,” agreed Marty. The judges finished with a plea to Ricky and Haydn to step up the planning and attention to detail.

Ricky and Haydn: 21.5/30

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post 5 current design trends The Block teams nailed this week appeared first on Home Beautiful.

You’d think The Block would be a piece of cake for these two who speak fluent construction site, but coming in mid-week on a house that’s been started in someone else’s style is surely going to challenge even the most savvy contestants. Luckily, former The Block team Ronnie and Georgia got them off to a flying start with design plans. The question is, will they continue the modern colonial aesthetic? Time will tell. What we do know is that the pair are grateful to be here and want to deliver the best possible end result for Jesse and Paige’s house. “We want to honour the hard work, the four weeks of time, effort and emotions,” said Maddy. “You started this, this is your home too.”

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

Everything you need to know about The Block 2024

Strap on your hard hats and fluoro vests, because The Block 2024 is here! The 20th season of the reality TV series kicked off on Channel 9 and 9Now on Monday, August 12, straight after the Olympics. Located on an island, it’s an exciting (and logistically challenging) season.

Hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft are back, along with judges Shaynna Blaze, Marty Fox and Darren Palmer, who recently unveiled his newly renovated home in Bondi to Home Beautiful.

In May 2024, Neale Whitaker revealed the news that he’s leaving The Block, after reducing his time on the show in 2023 to spend more time with his partner of 20 years, David, who has been experiencing health issues.

The five teams selected for The Block 2024 are tasked with creating the perfect holiday home. So pour yourself a piña colada and bring on the room reveals!

When is The Block on?

What nights is The Block on? The show is airing on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm, and on Sundays at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Where is The Block 2024 being filmed?

The Block 2024 will be filmed on Phillip Island, just off the coast of Victoria and 90 minutes from Melbourne. Julian Cress, who created the show with David Barbour, says they wanted a special location to mark 20 seasons. “We weren’t going to settle for just any location, as it’s a major milestone, and Phillip Island has exceeded all of our expectations,” he says. By the end of the series, the teams will have built five new holiday homes on Phillip Island.

The Block purchased Island Cove Villas in Cowes on Phillip Island for an estimated $9.5m in 2023. Longtime Block architect Julian Brenchley brings his expertise once again and the five teams will be tasked with bringing his designs to life.

Is Keith on The Block in 2024?

Fans of the series will be happy to know that Keith, who has been the Block foreman for 16 seasons, will be making a special guest appearance on The Block 2024. In May 2024 it was announced that he’s stepping back from the show to spend more time with his two daughters, Ebony, 14, and Jasmin, 11. We might see his right-hand man, Foreman Dan, take on a bigger role this season. Former Block contestant Dan Reilly first appeared on the series in 2012 with his partner Dani and then in the All Stars season in 2013. After that he came on to help make sure the teams are ticking all the building boxes, along with Keith.

Long-standing judge Neale Whitaker will also be back as a guest, as will a number of other All Star Blockheads. The Block 2023 winners Steph and Gian are among the favourites set to return, as will Ronnie and Georgia, who shared their DIY cabinetry hack for under $1500, Michael and Carlene, who can do a stunning caravan makeover, and Kyal and Kara, who just completed their Bay Builds project.

Who are the couples in The Block 2024?

Meet the five original teams from season 20 of The Block.

Kylie & Brad (parents from Cairns, Qld)

Kylie and Brad are parents of four children: Parker, 9, Netleigh, 6, Steele, 4, and Slade, one. Kylie is 37 and a hairdresser, which would come in handy with maintaining her shiny green hair. She also runs a business selling hair products with her mum, but isn’t afraid to pick up a drill and get stuck in. Brad is 32 and no stranger to a building site as he works as an electrician and plumber. They’ve been married for seven years, and as fans of The Block they’re keen to give it a crack themselves.

Kristian & Mimi (newlyweds from Adelaide, SA)

Kristian is 31 and an electrician who wants to start his own business one day. He’s married to 28-year-old restaurant manager Mimi, who works at her family’s Vietnamese restaurant. The couple’s spectacular wedding ceremony took place in Adelaide in November 2023 and went viral on TikTok. They’re bringing their strong work ethic to The Block this season.

Ricky & Haydn (best mates from Melbourne, Vic)

Best friends for 20 years, these two are almost like brothers. Ricky is a 34-year-old plumber, so he’s used to being on the tools and getting things done. Being on The Block is a dream come true for him. Haydn is a 37-year-old IT manager whose wife Chelsea is eight-and-a-half-months pregnant when the boys start on The Block, so there will be a Block baby!

Courtney & Grant (married from Sydney, NSW)

Courtney is 32, and an event account manager and furniture designer. Grant is a 30-year-old landscape development manager, which he hopes will give him an advantage in the later stages of The Block. The couple have been married for three years and feel that being on The Block now, before they have kids, is the perfect time.

Jesse & Paige (engaged from Perth, WA)

This engaged couple was the youngest on the show, until they decided to leave one month into filming. Carpenter Jesse is 24 and, having worked on plenty of big projects, he should have been aware of what it takes to build a luxury home, but the added pressures and time restraints of The Block took their toll. Paige is 27, and a claims specialist who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. The couple departed after the week four bedroom reveals. This followed weeks of fighting and threats to quit. “I haven’t been myself,” said Paige, citing mental health struggles. They were replaced by sisters from Sydney, Maddy and Charlotte.

Where is The Block 2025?

The location for The Block 2025 has been announced as Daylesford in Victoria. The 21st season of The Block will take place at 1 Raglan St, which is a 2400 square-metre block located 90 minutes from Melbourne. Five modern homes will be built here, in what is planned to be a carbon-neutral neighbourhood called Middleton Field. The developers, Hygge Property, have shared plans for architecture that aligns with the landscape and design guidelines for the area.

The post The new team on The Block are professional house flippers appeared first on Home Beautiful.

It wasn’t just Mimi and Kristian – other The Block contestants proved beautiful bedheads are trending in general. Courtney and Grant’s guest bedroom featured a scalloped-edge bedhead, enhanced with arched wallpaper behind it. This clever design move made it feel as though the bedhead extended to the ceiling.

Contestants Ricky and Haydn also used wallpaper to create a pseudo bedhead. They built a bulkhead curve, lit with LEDs, and placed pink palm tree Grafico wallpaper in the space behind the bed. The stunning results really took the boys’ barefoot beach house to the next level.

Along with bedhead inspiration, The Block teams delivered ideas in spades – from Jesse and Paige’s DIY scalloped kids’ table to the curved skirting in Courtney and Grant’s Modern Mediterranean house. “I feel like everybody’s really hit their groove,” said Scott Cam. We take a look through all the room reveals below.

The Block 2024 kids’ and guest bedrooms

Here’s how the contestants scored with their bedrooms in week four.

1st place: Mimi and Kristian

“The colour palette is so sophisticated, I absolutely adore it,” said Shaynna, taking in the whimsical rainbow-themed room. The interior designer was impressed with their ability to reference rainbows, arches and circles throughout the space “without it feeling over-the-top”.

It was a turnaround from the previous reveal, when the newlyweds failed to impress. “Kristian and Mimi probably got a bit complacent last week,” Darren exclaimed excitedly when he saw it. “You can see what happens when you get a bit complacent. I don’t see complacency here. I just see expertise. I see attention to detail. High levels of finish, a beautiful layout, great decisions in design. They’re back, baby.”

Score: 28/30

2nd place: Kylie and Brad

After taking previous feedback on board, Kylie and Brad tweaked the direction they were heading in their black island escape. “I’m compromising. I’m doing a kids’ room in a slightly more coastal direction,” said Kylie. “This is it, they’ve done it!” said Darren. “It feels soft and light and bright.” Shaynna pointed out the natural timbers and earthy rug and felt they had finally got the balance right between the black and other softer elements.

Real estate agent Marty felt this was a much more marketable room by Kylie and Brad, with the bunk beds a big selling point. “This is the only bedroom that sleeps seven people so far, so they’re one person ahead of the pack,” he said. “If you’ve got that in a holiday home, you get the highest rent and you build an amazing investment opportunity.”

Score: 27.5/30

3rd place: Courtney and Grant

This couple delivered the luxe finishes and calming colours we’ve come to expect from their Mediterranean interior design style. “I can confidently say we’ve continued the aesthetic,” said Courtney. The curved skirting board got the attention of the judges in particular. “That’s a curved profile on a curved wall,” said Darren, pointing out the degree of difficulty involved in executing that. “They would have had to cut [little slots] on the back and gently mould it, then fill it and sand it.” The pendant placements didn’t appeal to Shaynna so much, as she felt the height differences were odd. “They look like space ships. It almost looks like a mistake,” she said.

The drawers were located in an inconvenient spot in the wardrobe, but otherwise this team’s attention to detail was praised. “These guys are next level. Look at the mood lighting in the study nook,” said Marty. He called their house “an auctioneer’s dream” and appreciated how Courtney and Grant have been consistent with the materials included throughout their house. “They’re tying everything back in so beautifully. It’s not in your face – it’s just enough.”

Score: 27/30

Tied 4th place: Ricky and Haydn

Bringing on former The Block contestant Duncan Miller as their builder paid off for the boys. “I’m so glad they’ve got a good builder. This is levels ahead of what was there before,” said Shaynna, who called their room stylish and sophisticated. “It’s the first time I’ve said ‘sophistication’ for the boys.” The level of detail was noticed, such as the shadow line between the ceiling and wall. “That takes effort, it takes time. You’ve got to have a good builder who knows that they’re doing,” said Darren.

The feature wall evoked a “holiday resort” feeling that Shaynna wanted them to run with. The only thing that needed improvement was the colour palette, with the warm yellow not working with the cool grey, but it was a minor criticism. “I think they’ve delivered a room that a buyer will walk through and really appreciate,” said Marty. “It will shoot well, it’s a really good effort.”

Score: 26.5/30

Tied 4th place: Jesse and Paige

Animosity between Jesse and Paige didn’t stop the engaged couple from delivering a charming kids’ bedroom. They went with a “Parisian dollhouse” feel which Paige said “really plays into the modern colonial” style they’ve been creating in their blue-and-green dream holiday house. “I think we’re the only house with a walk-in robe,” Jesse said. The judges were impressed with the “smart idea” to put in the wardrobe without doors, so it doesn’t feel closed in. “I think this works brilliantly,” said Marty.

It was only on closer inspection that they noticed there were sections inside the wardrobe that hadn’t been wallpapered, leaving the raw plaster exposed. “We’ve got a bit of an incompletion issue there,” said Darren. The sweet styling and sorbet colour palette went down a treat, though. “It doesn’t feel juvenile,” said Shaynna, who felt it was a sophisticated take on a kids’ room.

The desk was a DIY project that came up beautifully, but the functionality was questionable. “I love that desk. I just want to check if you can sit at it,” said Shaynna. It was a tight squeeze for Darren, but it would possibly be less of an issue for a child. “They could have done the scallop higher,” Shaynna suggested. Regardless, it was generally a successful room that Marty felt buyers would respond well to. “It feels very upmarket,” he said.

Score: 26.5/30

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post The Block 2024 proves it’s the year of the novelty bedhead appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Just as we’d expect from this couple who has always gone against the grain, Kylie and Brad’s house is about as far from a classic beach pad as you can get. They’re parents of four children who are aged from one to nine and Kylie and Brad are The Block 2024 contestants with a distinct design point of view. It’s been a battle for the Cairns pair to unify their personal tastes with what it takes to win The Block, not to mention facing personal relationship issues along the way, but they executed a beautiful home in the end.

It began with a disastrous all-black bathroom in week one before they found the sweet spot with a winning “moody and sexy” kitchen in week six. This was closely followed by two 10s for their olive green, liquorice and oak living and dining room in week eight.

Kylie and Brad received criticism throughout the series from judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Marty Fox. In particular, for their mezzanine office space which was considered “functionally useless”. It culminated in a walk-out by the pair at the front yard and facade judging and they remained absent during work on the communal outdoor areas in the final week. They’ve had a tough time on the series but have brought a point of difference with their glamorous holiday home.

• Mimi and Kristian’s house
• Courtney and Grant’s house
• Maddy and Charlotte’s house
• Kylie and Brad’s house
• Ricky and Haydn’s house

Tour every house on The Block 2024

The Block 2024: Kylie and Brad’s house

Take a tour of House 4, full of swathes of black, white and metallic.

Week 1: Main bathroom

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the black bathroom in Kylie and Brad’s house. “I wanted drama and I got drama,” said Shaynna. “I’m loving the subtlety of the Dekton [tiles] on the walls in the shower and also on the floor.” As for Darren, he loved the idea of a dark palette for a holiday home. “If they’re intending to do a black shack, awesome; I think that’s a really appropriate beachside holiday accommodation look.” He would know, having his own holiday accommodation, Akora Cabin. He’s also just finished the renovation of his Bondi home, which he shared with Home Beautiful. 

All the judges agreed that the tiles were a great choice, as were the skylights. The neon art and vase were a miss, but a few tweaks to the execution and this team could be on the right track with their black aesthetic. “Take those two elements out and put softness in there, and I think it’s beautiful,” said Shaynna.

Score: 22/30

Week 2: Guest bedroom

After a “disaster” of a black bathroom in the previous week, Kylie and Brad tried to rein in the use of black. Unfortunately, the pivot still wasn’t in the right direction. “It feels like Art Deco, but it’s not working because it’s not an Art Deco place,” said Shaynna. In agreement, Darren felt the style didn’t match the coastal location. On the plus side, Marty thought it wasn’t as “intense” as their bathroom. “This is palatable, this is marketable,” he said. The couple got points for putting in a fan, but the judges still wanted to see if Kylie could stay true to her style in a marketable way.

Score: 22/30

Week 3: Main ensuite

After a couple of weeks struggling to impress the judges, Kylie and Brad decided to persist with their black-and-white aesthetic. “They hate it, but I’m sticking with it,” said Kylie. “Instead of doing black, we’re [going for] white with black accents.” The shou sugi ban on the wall, which is a charred timber cladding, was a hit. “It’s a beautiful contrast [to the blackbutt vanity] – that light timber with the dark timber,” said Shaynna.

Darren liked the pendants, which were a more modern and simple version of the ones that felt “90s night club” in the first week. Shaynna still wanted them to drop the Art Deco details and lean into the beach setting more, but Marty felt good progress was being made. “I think it’s a massive step in the right direction for these guys, because they’re not losing their personality,” he said.

Score: 23/30

Week 4: Kids bedroom

After taking previous feedback on board, Kylie and Brad tweaked the direction they were heading in their black island escape. “I’m compromising. I’m doing a kids room in a slightly more coastal direction,” said Kylie. “This is it, they’ve done it!” said Darren. “It feels soft and light and bright.” Shaynna pointed out the natural timbers and earthy rug and felt they had finally got the balance right between the black and other softer elements.

Real-estate agent Marty felt this was a much more marketable room by Kylie and Brad, with the bunk beds a big selling point. “This is the only bedroom that sleeps seven people so far, so they’re one person ahead of the pack,” he said. “If you’ve got that in a holiday home, you get the highest rent and you build an amazing investment opportunity.”

Score: 27.5/30

Week 5: Main bedroom and walk-in robe

This week cemented the feeling that Kylie and Brad had found a way to execute their bold style in a palatable way. “They’ve hit their look and feel now,” said Shaynna. The judges agreed the black ‘shou sugi ban’ wall was the hero, along with the statement metallic wallpapered ceiling. “Now they’re nailing the materiality,” said Marty, who felt the quirkiness would stand out for buyers.

A dedicated space for make-up was a nice idea. The judges just would have preferred doors you couldn’t see through, to hide the view of products from the bed.

There were a few notes from Shaynna, who would have lowered the pendants next to the bed. Yet the wardrobe had them finishing on a high. “It’s like walking into a jewellery box,” said Darren. “I liked the wallpaper in [the bedroom], and I love it in here. It just looks so opulent and luxurious. This rug is such a good inclusion.” 

Score: 27.5/30

Week 6: Kitchen

• Best feature: Matte fingerprint-proof cabinets.
• Biggest mistake: Trading practicality for novelty spin storage.
  
  “This is moody and sexy,” said Darren. He loved the ultra matte cabinetry which doesn’t leave fingerprints, calling it a “clever decision” considering there are no handles. Their pared-back approach to styling was a big improvement from week one. “There are three things in here – a chopping board and plants – and it just works,” said Marty. “It’s so simple, but it’s so luxurious.”

The pair won pantry styling on a chocolate wheel game during the week, which took their organisation to the next level. The judges loved the novelty of the FurnSpin cabinets on the ends of the island and wall joinery, but wondered if the kitchen could have done with some extra traditional storage. “This is space age,” said Shaynna. “This is Tom Ford meets James Bond.” 

Score: 29.5/30 (After playing their penguin, which added one point.)

Week 7: Guest ensuite

The judges loved the black Dekton tiles in Kylie and Brad’s week one bathroom, so it was a safe bet to put them in their guest ensuite. Combined with the grooved panelling above, it was considered a good design move. “I love the fact they haven’t tiled the whole thing and they’ve done this board here, which looks fantastic, the Hardie Groove,” said Shaynna. 

The dusty pink vanity was “a bit random” in Marty’s opinion. This was the hero in the room for Shaynna who only wished they hadn’t placed clashing pink products in the shower. “I keep going to the column basin because it’s the bright shining light in this room,” she said. “I’m looking at the shampoo and conditioner in this lolly pink and it detracts from what the basin is doing. If you’ve got a hero, leave it alone. You don’t have to match it with anything else.” 

Kylie and Brad went with contentious timber-look shower tiles, yet Darren approved. “I think it encapsulates that shower space so beautifully and it needs this balance. It needs that softness,” he said. “Even if it’s not real timber, I think it’s a really beautiful use of this tile.” Meanwhile, Marty was vocal about his distaste of materials masquerading as something else. “I think that’s a mistake. Using the timber-look tile is not what I would have done,” he said. “For me, it just feels a bit off.”  

Score: 24.5/30

Week 8: Living and dining room

Kylie and Brad accented their oak floors with a licorice black timber wall and olive green furniture and decor. “It’s unbelievable,” said Shaynna. The ambient lighting particularly impressed the judges. “Not a single downlight in sight,” said Marty. “This is the lighting layout I’ve been hoping to see all day. These wall sconces are perfect. The strip light through here, fantastic.”

“This dining table anchors the kitchen and the lounge,” said Shaynna. “This is magnificent. This is what happens when you take the time to order a custom table.”

Dekton tiles were installed around the fireplace at great cost, but it was worth the investment. “The palette is really simple – black, green, oak – the end,” said Shaynna, who loved the addition of crushed linen curtains. “They add softness to this really strong, simple palette.”

Score: 29.5/30

Week 9: Office and rumpus

After scoring first place for their living and dining room the week before, it was a surprise that Kylie and Brad “dropped the ball” with their office and rumpus design. “I don’t understand why there is a couch up against a glass balustrade,” said Marty. “Why am I sitting 30cm off a glass balustrade looking over the living area?”

The rumpus wasn’t much better, with a lot of wasted space behind an awkwardly placed couch. Even the palette didn’t have the personality the pair have become known for. “When did they become so white?” said Marty. “I gave them a 10 last week. This is just not them.”

Score: 16/30

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom

First impressions weren’t great in Kylie and Brad’s guest bedroom, with the judges noticing an echo. “Acoustically, it’s not working,” said Darren. “It’s cavernous and it sounds so.” The layout left a lot to be desired as it lacked storage and felt cramped, but some of the style elements were strong. “I love the wallpaper, I love the lights, I love the bed linen,” said Shaynna.

The logistical issues continued in the laundry, with a washer and dryer placed behind doors. “I would take these off,” said Shaynna, demonstrating the difficulties they would cause when moving clothes from one to another. “That is terrible.” She wished Kylie and Brad had spent less time sourcing black and white pegs and more finessing the design. “Sorry, you wasted your time,” she said. 

Marty agreed, not understanding why Kylie and Brad have kept flogging a dead horse, so to speak. “They’ve never won a room on a black-and-white theme, yet they keep coming back to black-and-white themes,” he said. “The obsession with the black and white has to end.”

Score: 22.5/30

Week 11: Backyard and pool

The married parents of four had a tumultuous week, with delivery delays setting them so far back that landscaper Tom Lovett from House 5 had his team help them out so they could finish. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and the judges were unimpressed. “It’s giving me absolutely nothing,” said Dave. The faux stone stacking around the pool didn’t resonate. “I don’t love fake tiles. That, to me, is killing every stonemason in Australia right now.”

“It really just feels like a water feature, even though it’s such a big pool,” said Marty. The boardwalk alongside stepping stones was confusing and there wasn’t enough decking for Darren’s liking. “You have lots of walkways, lots of different heights and different materials but not a lot of function, not a lot of enjoyable space,” he said.

Week 12: Front yard and facade

With personal dramas unfolding, Kylie and Brad still managed to complete their front garden and facade with some highlights. “We’ve got the coastal planting. All of this will grow in,” said Dave. “We’ve got the banksias and the lilly pillies. All of this put together will give you a nice entrance, and you’ve got to love the round steppers. That’s very architectural.”

“The circles are a really lovely balance against all the angles of these butterfly houses, because there are lots of sharp points and sharp angles,” Darren noted. “Then you’ve got the softness of the curve here, played out again with the mirror here, played out again with the door handles. It’s nice, I like that repetition.”

“That’s probably the only thing I’m liking,” said Shaynna. The choice of pendant lights at the entrance had her worried they would be banging against the wall with the Phillip Island winds. The artwork by Kylie next to two chairs at the front entrance didn’t go down well, either. “If you have to put a piece of art on the outside of your building, you’re in trouble,” she said.

“It’s almost like they’ve checked out.”

Marty Fox

The garage had everything it needed to. “There’s no pizzazz, but I frankly don’t care,” said Darren. They judges were happy to see the house had direct access to the tennis court. “This is actually a massive feature for the buyer,” said Marty. Yet it was clear something had gone amiss this week. “It feels like it was rushed. It feels like there was no money,” said Dave.

Score: 26/40

Head to the real estate listing for more details on Kylie and Brad’s The Block house.

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post The Block team Kylie and Brad’s $2.6m dark and moody island escape appeared first on Home Beautiful.

It was like déjà vu in week two, with the contestants completing their first set of bedrooms. Once again, it was a close call between the same two teams, but Kristian and Mimi pipped Courtney and Grant at the post by half a point. Both kept it understated and appropriate for the Phillip Island location. Sorbet shades made for a delectable kids’ bedroom by Courtney and Grant, while earthy and emerald tones reigned supreme in Kristian and Mimi’s guest bedroom.

Judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Marty Fox definitely didn’t all agree on their opinions of the bedrooms this week. Yet one thing was clear: there are already some clear frontrunners who can execute a strong floorplan and creative vision. While Courtney and Grant have been consistently impressive, it’s Mimi and Kristian who are standing out from the start, much like Steph and Gian did in 2023 before taking out the win. “If they continue this journey throughout, these guys are going to be hard to beat,” Marty noted during the reveals.

If other The Block contestants’ journeys are anything to go by (just look at Dan and Dani’s journey), anything can still happen. In bedroom week, some chose to design their space for kids, while others made it for guests.

The Block 2024 guest bedrooms

Here’s how the teams ranked in week two and what the judges thought.

1st place: Kristian and Mimi

This couple is on a roll, with their modern coastal guest bedroom putting them in the top spot once again. “This is another level,” said Marty, who appreciated the “high end” feel. “This is saying boutique hotel,” agreed Shaynna. The asymmetry of the room wasn’t doing it for Darren, who called it “design for design’s sake”. A power point visible next to the bed was another small detail that could be improved on. Subtle nautical touches such as the rope on the pendant give this room a sophistication the judges approved of.

Score: 28/30

2nd place: Courtney and Grant

As it’s located near the main bedroom in the house floorplan, Courtney and Grant decided to go with a kids’ room this week. “I love these beds,” said Marty, who was into the sorbet colours and personality in the styling. He thought this room would do well from a real estate viewpoint. “When the buyer gets an emotional response, that’s when they do the best with the bidding.” With a drawing nook and space for toys, it was ticking a lot of their boxes. “It’s cute as heck,” said Darren. The only downside was the lack of heating or cooling, which Marty said buyers would penalise.

Score: 27.5/30

3rd place: Paige and Jesse

Despite another tumultuous week, Paige and Jesse executed a beautiful guest bedroom. “I have no background in design,” Paige shared. “[But] I am so proud of this room.” While we thought this team was leaning towards a ‘Coastal Grandma’ aesthetic, it seems they’ve abandoned that idea. “This is more a traditional American Hamptons,” said Shaynna, who called the style modern colonial. The judges approved of the striped wallpaper and blend of contemporary with traditional. However, Shaynna would have liked to see consistent use of metals throughout this room and the rest of the house. Overall, it got good reviews. “I just feel at home,” said Marty. “It feels coastal and beachy.”

Score: 27/30

Tied 4th place: Ricky and Haydn

The use of bunk beds in this bedroom was good in theory. “There’d be no holiday house without some bunk beds,” said Darren. But it quickly turned into ‘bunkbedgate’ for Ricky and Haydn, as both Marty and Shaynna weren’t happy with the layout of the room and where the bunk beds were, on the wall next to the door. “It’s an issue for me,” said Shaynna. “It’s a good room, it’s not a great room,” added Marty, “And we’ve just seen great rooms.” While Shaynna wouldn’t even give them that. “I don’t even think it’s a good room. I think the wardrobe is the hero. The rest of it needs to be fixed.” The lack of heating or cooling was a problem too.

Score: 22/30

Tied 4th place: Kylie and Brad

After a “disaster” of a black bathroom in the previous week, Kylie and Brad tried to rein in the use of black. Unfortunately, the pivot still wasn’t in the right direction. “It feels like Art Deco, but it’s not working because it’s not an Art Deco place,” said Shaynna. In agreement, Darren felt the style didn’t match the coastal location. On the plus side, Marty thought it wasn’t as “intense” as their bathroom. “This is palatable, this is marketable,” he said. The couple got points for putting in a fan, but the judges still wanted to see if Kylie could stay true to her style in a marketable way.

Score: 22/30

Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post Can we already tell who’s going to win The Block 2024? appeared first on Home Beautiful.

But just how much can we really learn from renovation reality TV, and what does a real-life renovation look like? House Rules winning couple Adam Dovile (now Better Homes and Gardens resident builder) and Lisa Lamond renovated their own home.

They shared the renovation on social media and now live in the completed home with their two young daughters. We spoke to Lisa during the process about how renovating in real life compared to doing a reno for a TV show like House Rules or The Block.

Can you give us a quick outline of the scope of your renovation? “We’re undertaking a full renovation of the existing home including an extension. The property is on an acre block and we have a lot of landscaping ahead of us. We have completed the extension which has all our rooms so it is nice to be in them now. All four of us and our dogs were living all together in the family room for a few months. We still have no roof over the majority of the home!”

Does it bring back memories of when you were on a renovating TV series? “Absolutely, it brings back the memories of working alongside Adam but obviously without the added pressure of cameras watching you try and attempt things for the first time ever.”

Are you doing the interior design and/or decoration yourself? “Yes, I’m currently studying interior design, so I’m really enjoying being able to put some learnings and my own creativity into practice.”

You used moodboards on the show. Are you doing that for your own home? “I have put together a few moodboards and flat lays for different spaces within our home. It definitely helps me visualise the look that I’m trying to achieve and gives me a good starting point.”

What style are you designing your home? “We have quite a French provincial exterior, however internally, we will be more modern/minimal. We’re trying to design a home which is authentic to us with rooms which make us feel happy, relaxed and comfortable. I would like our home to be an entertainer’s paradise.”

What homewares are you excited about? “I will always be a sucker for wallpaper and its ability to make a statement in a room. I will be trying to bring as much greenery into our home as I can – using some of the beautiful pots that are around. I’m obsessed with artwork and posters at the moment so will experiment with these to bring in colour. Hopefully this will help bring some softness into the spaces as we tend to lean towards bold colours.”

Lisa’s tips on how to survive through the chaos of a home renovation

1. Set aside daily cleaning time

With all the excess dust, it really is important to stay on top of the cleaning every single day. Without doubt one of the hardest aspects of living through a renovation is the dust and its uncanny ability to end up throughout the house. Dust needs to be vacuumed from the carpet daily or it will end up becoming almost impossible to remove. A steam mop is going to be your best friend at the end of each day.

2. Be organised

Organisation is key to getting through a renovation. The site needs to be kept as clutter-free as possible, without any trip hazards. Keeping a skip or trailer on site and regularly removing rubbish will help you keep on top of this.

3. Keep everything covered

Ensure door openings and furniture are covered at all times. Plastic sheeting can be used to cover the doors and rolled up drop sheets can be placed at the bottom to prevent dust from entering any rooms that are not being worked on. Any furniture, windows, and open cupboards in adjacent rooms should also be covered.

4. Set up a home within your home

Only take on one big renovating task at a time. This will ensure you are able to create a separate living space in your home away from the general work area. This space needs to remain large enough to comfortably live in. It must also be a safe, clean retreat where you are able to escape the chaos.

5. Safety must always come first

Safety on any building site is paramount. You must have a designated area which can be sectioned off and used for storing tools and dangerous materials. It’s also really important to clean out your air vents regularly to keep your house a safe living environment for your family.

The post Why a real-life reno is nothing like The Block appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Is black a good colour for a bathroom?

The problems that come with creating a black bathroom began for The Block’s Kylie and Brad team from day one. Here are three reasons a black bathroom was a bad idea…

• Sourcing challenges: Finding black bathroom elements proved difficult for Kylie, who had to turn to more obscure online suppliers. In the end, she secured a black toilet, vanity, floor tiles and even black toilet paper. Plans for a black bath were abandoned when the one Kylie found was too big for the space. This didn’t go down well with The Block judges. “We have the glaring omission of a bath,” said Darren. “These homes, if they’re going to be used by a lot of families, especially when there’s sand outside, you do need a bath tub.”
• Getting the balance right: A dark palette requires lighter details to soften it. The white herringbone tiles, timber batons and industrial hanging lights were a bit dated for Darren. “It gives off a mid-2010s nightclub vibe,” he said. The neon artwork and vase were also a miss. “It takes it very theatrical,” said Shaynna.
• Turning off buyers: Black might be suited to Kylie and Brad’s tastes (or the Addams Family’s), but it’s not for everyone. “If I brought 10 buyers in here, only one or two would want to buy it,” said real-estate agent Marty. “You need to appeal to the masses. This is heavy, this is dark.” The goal of The Block is to sell the home at the end, so this team might need to rethink their strategy.

The Block 2024 bathrooms

Here’s how all of the teams stacked up after the main bathroom reveals in week one.

1st place: Kristian and Mimi

These newlyweds pulled off the win, walking away with $140,000 in prizes for their bathroom with a beachy feeling. “The holiday home we’re trying to create is a contemporary, coastal kinda vibe,” said Mimi. “It’s welcoming and fresh and soothing.” The responses were overwhelmingly positive from the judges. “This room’s a huge success,” said Darren, who loved the blues. His only qualm was that there might have been a better layout, “judging by how much open space there is that doesn’t have a purpose”. It impressed from a real-estate perspective, too. “This truly is a proper family bathroom,” said Marty.

Score: 28.5/30

2nd place: Courtney and Grant

This married couple from NSW had a strong vision for a Modern Mediterranean (Moditerranean) bathroom. “We’re thinking sandstone, travertine, American oak, brushed gold, pops of marble,” Courtney explained. “Now we’re talking,” said Darren when he saw their bathroom. “These tiles are stunning. The handles look like shells off the beach,” said Marty. “Someone’s got the eye here. The mood lighting, the tile choices, the skylight.” Meanwhile, Shaynna wasn’t so blown away. She agreed the subtle lighting was “fantastic” and that it was a smart decision to not tile all the way to the ceiling to save time, but she wanted a little more drama in this holiday home. “You can take it further.”

Score: 28/30

3rd place: Ricky and Haydn

Plumber Ricky would make sure his team had all the pipes in the right places, but with Haydn in IT, these best mates weren’t design experts. “Number one is, it’s got to have a bath,” said Haydn, stating the obvious. With Haydn’s pregnant wife going into labour mid-week, he jetted off the island to meet his newborn baby and Ricky was left to finish the room alone. “Commendable execution to be one man down,” said Marty. “Good floorplan, vanity’s in the right spot.” Shaynna agreed that the layout was good and she liked the bath, but thought the colour choices didn’t quite work together. Darren’s advice was to start with a flatlay or moodboard for each room to make sure all the materials work together.

Score: 24/30

4th place: Kylie and Brad

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the black bathroom. “I wanted drama and I got drama,” said Shaynna. “I’m loving the subtlety of the Dekton [tiles] on the walls in the shower and also on the floor.” As for Darren, he loved the idea of a dark palette for a holiday home. “If they’re intending to do a black shack, awesome, I think that’s a really appropriate beachside holiday accommodation look.” He would know, having his own holiday accommodation, Akora Cabin. He’s also just finished the renovation of his Bondi home, which he shared with Home Beautiful. All the judges agreed that the tiles were a great choice, as were the skylights. The neon art and vase were a miss, but a few tweaks to the execution and this team could be on the right track with their black aesthetic. “Take those two elements out and put softness in there, and I think it’s beautiful,” said Shaynna.

Score: 22/30

5th place: Jesse and Paige

This engaged couple from WA started strong, with Paige having a good idea of what she wanted aesthetically. “I love my blues, I love my greens. I think that leans more towards that timeless approach rather than being trendy,” she said. Combine that with Jesse being a carpenter, and you would have thought these two would be a winning combination. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. “It’s not finished, the poor things,” Shaynna pointed out when the judges walked in, wondering if the vast amount of tiling was too ambitious. “There’s a lot of labour and money in putting up these sheets of tiles,” she said. “You don’t have to tile every bathroom, every wall.” Marty was more harsh about them failing to finish, while Darren found the room “a little hectic”. Positives were the brushed chrome details, storage and under-floor heating.

Score: 18.5/30

Take a tour of all The Block holiday houses so far

Week 1: Main bathroom reveals

Week 2: Guest bedroom reveals

Week 3: Main ensuite reveals

Week 4: Kids bedroom reveals

Week 5: Main bedrooms and walk-in robe reveals

Week 6: Kitchen reveals

Week 7: Guest ensuite reveals

Week 8: Living and dining reveals

Week 9: Office and rumpus room reveals

Week 10: Laundry and guest bedroom reveals

Week 11: Backyard and pool reveals

Week 12: Front yard and facade reveals

In case you missed it:

The post 3 reasons this black bathroom on The Block didn’t work appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Since then, they’ve continued to win over the design world and our hearts. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of their company, Alisa & Lysandra Interiors. They’ve stepped back in front of the camera for their YouTube series The Design Duo, even competing in a ‘Twin Off’ to build their ideal family home. The pair also launched a personal care brand, al.ive body, bringing sustainability to luxury hand and body products.

Here, The Block twins reflect on their career, how to find personal style and the trends to look for in 2024.

How would you describe your personal styles?

1. Urban luxe

While the pair regularly create spaces for clients in a range of styles, they do have certain aesthetics they gravitate more towards. For Lysandra, an urban luxe look, with plenty of contemporary touches, is perfect. She chose this style when building her family home in the ‘Twin Off’ Design Duo episode.

“I wanted my home to have a contemporary feel that exudes luxury,” says Lysandra. “My design aesthetic is darker, featuring smoked glass, coffee Oak floorboards and marble.”

2. Natural and earthy

Ambience is everything to Alisa, especially with organic elements. A mix of Japanese and Scandinavian influences informed her design choices in the ‘Twin Off’ challenge.

“I designed around a Japandi aesthetic that features a light colour palette and a range of materials and textures from natural stone to rendered walls,” says Alisa.”

3. Better together

Even when their styles contrast, there’s a deep appreciation and admiration for their twin’s design choices that underpins the working relationship. And, despite their differences, Alisa and Lysandra often surprise themselves with how often their preferences match up.

“It’s fascinating how much we align when it comes to preferences—I mean, we often end up gravitating towards very similar, if not the exact same materials and finishes.”

“The main point of difference is how we each uniquely interpret and utilise these materials and finishes in our designs. For instance, we might both use the same natural stone in our homes, but the colours and finishes we pair it with create totally unique looks for each of our spaces.”

How has your approach to design evolved since winning The Block?

1. Finding a signature style

In news that’ll be reassuring to anyone just starting to gain an interest in interiors and design, the twins are adamant that developing a signature style is something that happens slowly. Nailing that look, whether it’s contemporary, Hamptons or a country aesthetic, is something you’ll achieve with time and experience.

“Our journey since winning The Block has been quite the ride. Our design tastes and perspectives have evolved significantly. Finding our signature style has been a gradual process, shaped by experiences and the types of projects we’ve encountered along the way.”

“Building a portfolio we’re genuinely proud of has been a game-changer. These days, prospective clients seek us out for designs that resonate with our overarching vision, drawn from the body of work we’ve curated.”

2. Always adapting

One of the most important aspects of being a successful interior designer is the ability to adapt. While creating a sense of style is important, Alisa and Lysandra pride themselves on their changeability, especially when it comes to working with clients and difficult projects.

“Versatility is key for us. We pride ourselves on being adaptable designers who can dive into any design ethos, given the right partnership with a trusting client. It’s that mutual confidence that allows us to explore various styles and bring our expertise to craft spaces that truly reflect the desires and personalities of those we work with.”

What’s your favourite space to design?

For Alisa and Lysandra, the question is akin to asking how long a piece of string is.

“That’s a tough one because we genuinely enjoy designing every space! If we had to pick, bathrooms are so much fun to design. However, kitchens also rank high on our list of favourites. Bedrooms, too, can be incredibly enjoyable to design; it all boils down to the unique challenges and creative opportunities each space presents!”

How might other design teams blend differing interior styles?

1. Find common ground

The twins suggest finding a piece of commonality, no matter how small. A shared elements that resonates with all of the people involved in the project is a great place to start.

“Start by openly discussing your individual preferences, understanding what aspects of each style appeal to you both.”

2. Compromise

Striking the balance between give and take is of the utmost important when you’re attempting to merge contrasting styles.

“This might involve integrating elements from each style in a balanced way, seeking a fusion that feels harmonious rather than conflicting.”

3. Get in the mood

Visual inspiration can help you create harmony, especially in the form of a mood board.

“This allows you to visualise how different elements could coexist in the space and helps in making informed decisions collaboratively.”

What interior design trends are you expecting to see this year?

1. Sustainability

“I think this has been a bit of a buzz word for a while, but definitely think as designers we will be looking at environmental impact when making design choices. We have Luxaflex window coverings featured throughout both homes due to many factors, but their tailored approach using high quality materials and being made in Australia is a huge benefit.”

2. Health and wellness

“The focus on well-being will continue to thrive. Expect designs that prioritise natural light, indoor air quality and spaces that contribute to the overall health and happiness of occupants. Even spaces that incorporate saunas and ice baths as part of daily life.”

What’s next for Alisa & Lysandra Interiors?

2024 has barely started but the twins are as busy as ever!

“We have lots of interior design projects in the works, plus many exciting plans for al.ive body. In terms of another Design Duo series, never say never!”

The post Alisa and Lysandra share their interior design tips for 2024 appeared first on Home Beautiful.