By Steph Sandhoff
We’re officially off and running on The Block 2023. Starting with a bang, our five couples have been tasked with a guest bathroom. Not the guest en-suite in the main part of the house, but the bathroom in the newly built studios – just in case Gian and ‘Steph the architect’ are still confused.
After years of fan requests for new judges, the show has thrown us a bone and added real estate agent, Marty Fox, to the judge’s panel. I’m looking forward to a fresh perspective, especially one that promises to be straight talking and potentially brutal. After catching up on every season of Selling Houses Australia, I’m a now a little hesitant to trust Shaynna’s opinion on anything but storage.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Before we move on to all the curves the couples created this week, we do need to note just how bizarrely skinny these rooms are. Not that I blame the couples for this, as it looks to be a ‘Block’ decision, if the pre-fabricated frames are anything to go by. I could understand if you were working within an already constructed or partially constructed building – there would be limitations. However, the studios are a new addition to the already existing 1950’s houses and could easily have been increased in width, even 500-1000mm would have made a huge difference, both visually and physically.
HOUSE 1 // Kyle and Leslie
Photo Attribution: Nine
First up we have Kyle and Leslie in House 1. House 1, also known as 14 Charming St, is one of the largest houses on a 609 square metre block. The Block architect, Julian Brenchley has described the proposed house design as ‘A New Rural Barn’. It retains a touch of the 1950’s yellow brick façade, which will sit with multiple white, cladded, pitch gable forms.
Photo Attribution: Nine
These guys had the largest bathroom this week and were one of multiple couples that featured a curved design. In a week where every bathroom boasted multiple curves, this one is definitely my favourite. Although I think the curves themselves could have been softer and rounder, the perfect choice of tile and the execution of where the tile meets the curve make it an incredibly successful feature. The light coloured walls and ceiling combine with the curve to make the bathroom seem larger but I do wish they had recessed their mirrored cabinets, which visually encroach on the space.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Their layout was also well thought out and I loved how they hid their toilet behind the door. The choice of plant, pot and artwork cheapens this end of the room for me and I wish they had continued the sophisticated styling they used on the vanity and in the shower. Overall, this was my favourite room this week and deserved the win in my opinion.
HOUSE 2 // Leah and Ash
Photo Attribution: Nine
Moving on to ‘House Decider’ winners, Leah and Ash, who chose first and snapped up House 2. 16 Charming St sits on a 594 square metre block, although the existing house is relatively small. This modest 1950’s home does however feature a 10 year-old cedar tree in the front yard, which is sure to make an impact and save the couple money when it comes to Landscaping Week. Julian Brenchley describes his final design as ‘An Iphone house with curves’, boasting white painted brick, a timber clad curve and black ‘Colourbond’ cladding.
Photo Attribution: Nine
On entering their bathroom this week, the judges were seemingly lost for words. I had lots of words ready to go, although none of them are particularly positive. This room screams… it is a competition of features in which none of them are winning. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate every choice they made. I love the green mosaic tiles in the shower, I love venetian plaster and I love a curved ceiling. My issue it that the curve is too dark and hides the beauty of the tiles. It also clashes with the vanity, the toilet and the floor tiles.
Photo Attribution: Nine
The vanity itself is an odd choice considering the depth of colour in the walls. A lighter tone vanity, be it timber or laminate, could have made a huge difference. I also wouldn’t have specified a vanity with such a dark and detailed marble top and backsplash. The backsplash is also unnecessary and the curve of it sits awkwardly with the bottom curve of the mirrored cabinet. This style room would have been much more at home in a commercial setting like a restaurant or hotel rather than a residential home.
HOUSE 3 // Kristy and Brett
Photo Attribution: Nine
Next up we have House 3, which was picked by Kristy and Brett. Located on a 574 square metre corner block, 18 Charming St is one of the largest existing houses. Corner blocks are often coveted and can provide a leg up when it comes to sale profit, although this proved to not be the case for Ronnie and Georgia after placing last back in 2021. It will be interesting to see whether “the ‘ginormous’ corner house” proves to be a successful choice this year. The design itself references Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House with a cantilevered pavilion at the top. If you haven’t completed a degree in Architecture you may have to Google it?
Photo Attribution: Nine
Kirsty and Brett seemed to flourish this week due to Kristy’s project managing skills however this success didn’t seem to flow over to their design. My first thoughts are that I hate that curved shower niche. If you’ve read any of my previous blogs, you’ll know I prefer a shelf to shower niche and this hasn’t changed. I think that niches date and the curved shape and feature tile in this bathroom really accentuate this issue. The lack of depth in tone is also a problem, as every part of the room blends into one. Pair this with a terrible ‘terrazzo look’ floor tile, the non-descript wall tile and the room already looks tired and cheap. I know terrazzo tiles are popular and that the real stuff is usually out of most budgets. My tip here is to look for the smallest and most subtle pattern. This means it is much harder to pick whether the tile is a print or whether the flecks of stone are real.
Photo Attribution: Nine
A mix of styles also causes problems in this room and the judges were keen to point out the combination of contemporary shaker vanity, Morrocan style shower and industrial shower screen. I think the higher ups at Reece have instructed all their staff to push sales of this industrial shower screen, as they seem to be in every bathroom this week. Again the mirrored cabinet isn’t recessed and this portrait style of mirror should really only be used as a set of two. The only part of this room I like is the shower seat and I hope they redo this room at some point this season.
HOUSE 4 // Steph and Gian
Photo Attribution: Nine
Moving into House 4, we have Gian and Steph the architect. Oh and her Dad… though I’m not sure how long he’ll last with the other couples ready to kick him off The Block in what looks like a heated first body corporate meeting. Not much is known about 20 Charming Street, however it was the most expensive for the show to purchase. Described by Julian Brenchley as “A Hamptons-slash house”, I am interested to see just how the couple plans to incorporate their ‘Japandi’ style. Unlike the ‘addition style’ of the other houses, this one has a more uniform look.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Looking at their first bathroom and it looks like they have tried to mix ‘Japandi’ with the Hamptons and ended up with a holiday cabin in the woods. I’m all for working with the house and showcasing it’s existing features, but the addition of the timber beams is a massive mistake. It confuses the room style-wise, took unnecessary time and money to install and makes the room feel smaller by lowering the ceiling. I also wish their shower screen extended from wall to wall as the strip of tile either side encloses the space and adds to the cabin vibe.
Photo Attribution: Nine
I will applaud their choice of vanity, sink, tapware and mirror. Although not to my personal taste, the single mirror is more successful here than in Houses 2 and 3 as it sits flush on the wall and is balanced with a pendant light on either side. Similarly to House 1 they have partially disguised their toilet and I actually prefer the way it faces the room rather than the wall. Finally, the niche in the shower is too small to even be functional, however it’s placement on the wall is looks sleeker than the floating arch in House 3.
HOUSE 5 // Eliza and Liberty
Photo Attribution: Nine
Last up we have Eliza and Liberty in House 5. 22 Charming Street has been described as “Charming by street, Charming by nature”. Yes, I’m still trying to figure out why, as it is just as ugly as the rest. Similar to the other houses, it sits on a 632 square metre block and will be the ‘quiet achiever’ this year. Julian Brenchley has designed a softer exterior palette in terms of texture, with some remaining 1950’s brick, timber cladding and a recessed second story clad in a charcoal Colourbond product.
Photo Attribution: Nine
On entry, the girl’s room is light, bright and has a successful layout. In what looks like a slightly smaller room than the rest, they have hidden the toilet between the vanity and shower and went with a shower shelf rather than a niche. This was definitely necessary in a room with such a patterned and colourful tile. I will admit to being over this style of tile and am not sure what their reason was for choosing it. Yes it’s fun and playful but it belongs in a café or kid’s bathroom. There is nothing subtle or sophisticated about it.
Photo Attribution: Nine
The judges pointed out the main issues of mixed metals, super high shower head and toilet button but were overall impressed with the space. While I like their choice of vanity, their mirrored cabinet needs to be recessed and I would have loved to see a textured pendant or sconce placed beside the mirror to balance it. They obviously didn’t have room for a double vanity but the mirror needs something to ground it. A half wall of tiles with a sconce above would have given a more finished and resolved look.
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See you next week for the finished studios!