Written by Steph Sandhoff
Hey OAK + RIDGE fam, that’s what I’m going to start calling you - so you can’t back door it now. We’ve made it to Week 5 and hopefully this is the last week of bedrooms and bathrooms for a while. Not that I have anything majorly against them but I think we all need a break from talking about bedside tables and tile choices. The quicker we get into it however, the quicker we can move onto kitchens next week. Kitchens are fun too, we can talk about magic triangles and bin placement… ooft I’m getting ahead of myself.
HOUSE ONE // Tom and Sarah – Jane
Photo Attribution: Nine
Back to bedrooms, bathrooms and a powder room for House 1. Apparently two rooms wasn’t enough for last week’s winners; smart move, in my opinion. Tom and Sarah-Jane could have left the extra room for another week but surely the weeks ahead are only going to get bigger and harder and if you can get it done now you may as well. The powder room itself is a ten out of 10 in my book. I honestly can’t find anything wrong with it. I love all the choices and will have dreams about that organic shaped mirror. Do I have any suggestions? You could put the toilet roll holder on the other wall so it could be hidden by the sink. They could also have built in a 10mm shelf behind the toilet to give the room a sense of dimension and for styling purposes.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Let’s begin with the bedroom and I need to preface my paragraph with this. The first thing a professional designer does at the beginning of any client meeting is to turn off their personal preference. So I’m giving you all a chance to do this now. Go on; give it a try. Whether or not you want this room in your own home, this room is exquisite. The ability it takes to be able to wrap an entire room with wallpaper (that bold in pattern and colour) so successfully, is an art form and can take years to perfect, if ever. The addition of the brass four-poster bed and the perfectly curated gallery wall is pretty astounding coming from a novice. This style of room is not normally one I enjoy unless created by ‘pattern clashing queen’ Anna Spiro. If you’re not familiar with her, go get cosy, because I promise you will enjoy it. However, my point is I loved this room. It is so striking, so different, so country and would be at home in any design magazine and not just because it’s part of The Block.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Now having said all that, the room isn’t perfect and I wouldn’t have given it a 10. It’s a solid 9.5 for me. Mostly, there are a few things I would have removed or replaced. The style of the room is old fashioned in it’s timelessness; elegant and stylish. For me, the grey, latticework cushion on the bed doesn’t work. It’s too sloppy and the green, velvet bolster would have been better on it’s own. I also potentially would have picked bedsides that would have covered more of the wallpaper and the power points. This would also have allowed the bed to be more of a feature. My bigger issue, however small, is actually the styling of the study on the other side of the room. For me, this side of the room feels completely disconnected from that beautifully masculine and elegant bed side of the room. I understand they’ve gone for a contrasting pop of colour with the chair but a sense of connection and repetition was needed for this room to feel complete.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Moving on to the bathroom, and I have to say, we didn’t really get to see much of it. That also means I didn’t really see much I didn’t like about it. While their tiles choices may not be ones I’d pick for my own home, I do like them and I think they coordinate well with the room they just completed. I was really interested in how the teams would treat the rooms in the new part of the home and although these guys haven’t continued any wainscoting or paneling I do appreciate that they haven’t automatically tiled from floor to ceiling. I also love the height they chose to tile to; directly under the window and creating a shelf at the same time. Much to her embarrassment Sarah-Jane also decided to include ‘Shaynna cabinets’ or face level storage. As we are coming into the modern part of home I think this lack of consistency can be overlooked, however this is only a guest bathroom; surely one could argue this extra storage would be more useful in a master?
HOUSE TWO // Rachel and Ryan
Photo Attribution: Nine
Next up, we have House 2 with Rachel and Ryan who went the extra mile this week and actually moved walls. Yes, exactly what you hope to see renovators doing on renovator shows. Slightly more annoying when they’re using prefabricated steel frames, but I’m assuming that’s the point. Not only did these guys move walls but they also moved cabinetry, as they were not happy with how it felt in the room. On entering the room, I wasn’t happy with how I felt in it either. Probably because it looks like one of the rooms they do on a budget for charity. You know the $2000 budget rooms they do in 24 hours for Ronald McDonald House? It just looks bland and cheap. Like they did a quick dash down to their local Ikea, Spotlight and Adair and could only buy floor stock.
Photo Attribution: Nine
I honestly think the judges went easy on them this week. Maybe it looked better in real life because the only elements that don’t look like they were recycled from someone’s grandparent’s holiday home is the art, the cabinetry and the wallpaper. The cabinetry, which is way too modern and way too cold; the art which was used in House 1 last week and the Grafico wallpaper that needs to stop being used as a country band aid when you have no other better ideas.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Into House 2’s better half, their guest bathroom and the judge’s all agreed there is “nothing timid about this”, praising the lack of safe choices in the room. It is certainly a major improvement on the latest bathroom but I have to be honest I don’t love it. I purposely don’t read any other blogs or opinion pieces before I write this blog so you get my very first (unaffected) impressions but I honestly can’t wait to see what people think about this one. I feel like Rachel’s instinct to go country retreat, is leading her down this ‘cave-like’ avenue and I really wish she was only taking small elements of it. I like the idea as a concept but not as a theme, eg. I love the river stone basins and that stunning timber slab. However her tile choice and the amount of beige coming through, in combination with so many black features is beginning to feel oppressive rather than relaxing.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Overall, I feel that House 2 has the vision. They even have the eye when it comes to certain features and what to spend big money on but they really struggle when it comes to the supporting finishes. Use this bathroom as an example. The layout is correct. The features are correct but the little things, the supporting elements, just let it down. The shower frame didn’t need to be black; the vanity, tapware, bath and toilet were way, way enough. The double niche behind the bath is worse than last week’s 2005 stack stone. The shape of this room and ‘wet room’ style is perfectly set up for bath shelf. Niche’s, when avoidable, should be avoided and in this situation they actually had to try harder to include them. There are 3 of them actually, if you include the one in the shower. The tile choices weren’t great either. The large format tiles are super oppressive and the feature tile behind the bath got lost but also managed to give the bathroom a terrible beige hue at the same time. Last but not least, stop putting rugs and art in bathrooms. I let all the teams get away with it in the country part of the home because well, art in old bathrooms was kind of the done thing but there are no excuses now.
HOUSE THREE // Ankur and Sharon
Photo Attribution: Nine
Onto House 3 and the upside down pillow. We have the biggest house, the most absent couple and a house that could still win because let’s be honest; it’s one of the best regardless of what Ankur and Sharon do to it. These guys are the only team still working in the existing part of their house this week. Apparently it’s because their house is so big but part of me wonder if it’s because they are so far behind… Design blog, sorry! The judges didn’t really have much to say except to again admire the scale of room. The utter scale, the traditional elements, the bay window, the light; you really don’t get much better. The bones of this home really do sell themselves. Having made odd decisions in the past, I do commend the couple on their improved skylight placement. However I would have loved to see a matching skylight on the other side of the room, as this is the side where you’ll be working and doesn’t get as much natural light from the window.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Neale admitted to “seeing suggestions of trauma” and I’d have to agree. I feel though, as if the suggested trauma was potentially causing havoc from the very first moment because every problem I see leads back to the planning stage. The layout of the room feels unbalanced; as if there isn’t enough space for either the study area, nor the bed, nor the sitting area. There are far too many chairs in the room. The style of the room itself isn’t country or is it consistent with any other room they have presented. Their art placement is abysmal and don’t get me started on the pendant lights hanging from their skylight or that cactus cushion.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Walking into their matching ensuite and I’m even more confused. The judges decided to bypass the criticism and celebrate the couple’s successes. I’m personally impressed they could find any, but they decided they loved the colour palette and the layout. I’ll give them the layout. I think the layout is really clever. Considering the small space and shape they had to work with, I think they’ve done a great job. I’d love to see the footage of who came up with it though: the couple or the builder. It doesn’t matter but it would be interesting to know.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Now, looking at this bathroom I’m confused how this is country, especially since these guys are still in the original part of the home. It’s not the pink, I promise. I love pink and I love a pink bathroom. Trust me. I recently booked accommodation in Melbourne based on the fact that it had an entirely pink bathroom. It’s just that this isn’t a country bathroom. The floor tiles maybe, but it’s a stretch. The vanity is an art deco style in a Scandinavian timber. The lighting, basins and mirror are contemporary with mid century references. Finally the pink, picket fence, feature tiles in the shower are just ghastly. Here’s another tile tip: if they’re shiny, say no – if they’re matte, they’re a go. I am genuinely confused why the judges decided not to care about the country element in House 3 this week. Just because those tiles look like a picket fence doesn’t make them country. Barbie’s picket fence doesn’t count, guys.
HOUSE FOUR // Dylan and Jenny
Photo Attribution: Nine
House 4 is up next and it definitely feels smaller than the rest. I’d say this is due to the huge amount of storage they’ve included along the wall. In comparison, this is when Rachel and Ryan decided to swap their storage to the shorter wall next to the door. Personally, I'd probably opt for the extra storage. It also keeps the room feeling more balanced and finished. I also think their choice of ‘shaker style’ cabinetry is much nicer. A timeless and versatile finish no matter what style future owners of the house prefer but also a warm and expensive-feeling finish with country references for room reveals. The other fixed components of this room are done well with Darren noting the repetition of vertical line in the fluted paneling, S-track sheers and fluted wall sconces. These small details really give the room a strong base and allow the rest of the space to be ‘built upon’ in layers. I just hope that curtain covers the entire back wall.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Speaking of layers, we have more green and orange bedding; at least we have an added blush tone this time. Still, I’m not particularly excited. It looks like it's straight out of an Adairs' showroom, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not exactly creative either. The art above the bed, which Shaynna thought coordinated so perfectly, I think clashes horrifically with the rest of the room. I also wish the wall sconces were set slightly lower; lining up with the middle of artwork would look so much better. The art is so saturated in colour, that I think it would have worked better placed where the hats were to make the room feel more balanced. The hats then could have been styled in the wardrobe to reference the bedding and assist in the continuation of the colour scheme around the room.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Moving into their matching guest bathroom and I feel like I’ve seen it all before. I’m getting flashbacks from last year, this year, probably next year if they don’t start letting contestants buy from suppliers that don’t start with B. I honestly feel like this is Tanya and Vito’s bathroom from last year. Don’t go crazy. I don’t mean it’s similar enough to say they copied. I just mean, I’ve seen it all before. There is nothing interesting here except those lavender sinks and they are the worst part of this room because they don’t match. I’ll give them this, there are no palm trees and those terracotta feature tiles beat House 3’s ‘Barbie picket fence’ by a mile but what else have they done?
Photo Attribution: Nine
Let’s start with their layout. They have a bath stuck in a corner behind the door. A vanity that is unnecessarily small, leaving a huge amount of space to it’s left side. I would either have chosen a larger vanity or given the toilet more space so it didn’t have to be in the shower. You also now have the potential of a wet ass if you use the shower before you pee. The two mirrors are also oddly high, even for an average sized person. I would personally struggle to see my entire face, let along my décolletage. Another tip, never attach your toilet paper holder to your vanity if you have a spare wall on the other side of the toilet. It looks tacky. Finally, as Neale pointed out, the styling is also deplorable eg. The loofah; if it uses suction, don’t put it on display; it more than likely belongs in a drawer.
HOUSE FIVE // Omar and Oz
Photo Attribution: Nine
We’re onto House 5 and starting with their bedroom. First things first, did I miss the memo that said it was pink week this week and the one where the judges don’t care if the rooms are country any more? Why is it suddenly okay to head to Japan? I mean, if that’s really where the boys were heading they got a bit lost but we’re certainly not in the Macedon ranges either. I need a map and so do the contestants; a map for dummies actually. Let’s start small. The cabinetry is adequate. I hope it’s consistent with the rest of house. If not, I hope they continue it through the new build. The styling of the open shelving is atrocious however; the blue container from Officeworks has to go. Tell me again how they got a 10. The replica ‘Cross Back Dining Chair’ is the one great nod at country in the room and stops the space from feeling completely generic.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Similarly to Shaynna, I actually like the choice of venetian plaster in the room; it gives it a raw, earthy quality and I think it successfully creates that modern country crossover which the new part of the house can be. If that’s what Shaynna meant by the room “connects to the landscape in terms of serenity” I guess I understand. However the choice of bedding and art lets it down. Venetian plaster is sophisticated in its quiet and simple texture and the choice of timber furniture sits in harmony with it. I would have loved to see the Venetian plaster on every wall (similarly to House 1 with their wallpaper), the simple timber furniture, and a heavily layered linen bed in more subtle tones, perhaps with some traditional country patterns and textures eg. heavy wools, crochets, plaids etc. for some depth and more refined interest.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Into the bathroom of King’s and even though I’m not saying wow, we also probably can’t take the title away from them just yet. Especially considering all the issues they had this week. There’s a lot to praise in this bathroom. Starting with the layout, which many couple are still struggling with, even in week 5. The shower is a great size, though I’d be surprised if the opening left by that shower screen is to code – it looks on the (very) small side. I love the way they’ve dealt with the window, treating it with shutters, centering it, creating a shelf and a bench seat. I’ve often tossed up between a shelf and a bench seat; usually not having enough room for both. I think the way they have only made the bench stand out is important because visually having them having both as features would be too much. The only change I would make to their layout would be to hide their toilet between the shower and the vanity. This seems to be a mistake couples continue to make right throughout the show.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Their choice of herringbone tile is great one, referencing their past bathrooms and keeping a small room light and bright. However I don’t love their floor tile. It is obviously a ‘terrazzo look’ tile rather than a true terrazzo. This is understandable as true terrazzo would be out of their budget but you have to be careful when purchasing fake products. A ‘terrazzo look’ or ‘marble look’ tile is often a photograph of the real thing and can often have a fuzzy quality to it. The tile the boys selected appears to have been printed on quite a large scale, attributing to it’s ‘replica’ quality and hence the quality of your bathroom will decrease. Finally, I’m not usually a huge fan of a metal shower frame; however because this room is simple and light, the ceiling height, gold frame on this shower screen actually creates a sense of luxury and visual balance in this space. The gorgeous striped towels are just the cherry on top of a pretty great week for House 5.
Thanks for reading another week. See you guys next week for magical triangles and bin placement, exciting I know! Don’t forget if you’d like each week’s blog sent straight to your inbox don’t forget to subscribe. I’d also love to hear your comments and feedback down below.