Challenge Apartment Reveal: Week One

Courtney and Hans: The score 28.5/30

Like Kerrie and Spence, Courtney and Hans chose to make a big statement with their choice of wallpaper. But unlike their bedroom neighbours, the judges loved their choice, immediately captivated by the sweet, yet quirky, striped paper with woodland creatures. They also liked the use of their mirrored wardrobe, the gorgeous Australiana artwork, and the way they had dressed their bed. This was a winning room - and the judges couldn’t get enough.
“This room has more impact, yet is more serene,” Darren said.
Shaynna thought the wallpaper would immediately appeal to a buyer who had younger children.
“I love it. And especially if you win this apartment, you get a teenager going, ‘My room! It’s the type of room you want to claim,” she said.
She also loved the placement of the wallpaper behind the bed, and the use of statement art on the opposite wall, “When you go to bed you have a beautiful piece of art to look at,” she said.
“The Austraiana theme is on trend. “It’s charming,” Neale added.
The couple extended the quirky feel of their room via more intimate details, including that gorgeous silver hermit crab figurine, and yep, you guessed it, more llamas - this time in the guise of planter box.
The couple then finished it all off with a velvet occasional chair, blue fluffy pillow, and a well-styled side table and standard lamp, picked to match the lights on the bedside table.
All up, it was a well presented room that nailed the brief. Well done guys - we love it.

This was a winning room - and the judges couldn’t get enough.

“I love it. And especially if you win this apartment, you get a teenager going, ‘My room! It’s the type of room you want to claim,” Shaynna said.

Sara and Hayden: The score 27.5/30

Let’s face it, Sara and Hayden haven’t had the easiest run when it comes to bathrooms. Despite spending a whopping $75k, the judges weren't fans of their main bathroom, awarding their space, complete with huge gold bath, last place. Thankfully, the opposite was true this week, with all three judges blown away by the simple, monochromatic space they presented downstairs. In the bathroom, the couple chose a gorgeous white textured tile, which paired beautifully with a simple grey floor tile. They paired this with a stunning Zuster vanity, complete with Terrazza handles, which the judges were smitten with.
“That’s amazing,” Shaynna said.
Neale agreed, saying he was in love with it’s simple sophistication.
This last addition paired beautifully with beautiful black and white bath, which Shaynna said “Looks really expensive, but isn’t.”
This fixture, in turn, worked beautifully with the black tapware and simple white sinks they had chosen. Everyone also loved the inclusion of the Alexa technology, which enabled the bath and shower to be turned on with a voice activation.
“You get the impression Hayden and Sara have listened - it’s almost like they wrote down a little list of all the things we have touched on,” Neale said. “I think we are seeing Hayden and Sara at their absolute best.”
Shaynna agreed: “Someone will be very lucky to win this.” And we agree - well done guys.
 

All three judges blown away by Hayden and Sara's simple, monochromatic space they presented downstairs.

“I think we are seeing Hayden and Sara at their absolute best.” Neale said.

Kerrie and Spence: The score 20.5/30

The brief was ‘bold, bright, St Kilda’ - and boy did Kerrie and Spence take that literally, revealing a room that had a large graffiti laneway mural, neon custom-made bedhead, and plenty of quirky details.
Darren thought they’d taken it too far.
“I feel like I’m falling down a rabbit hole - it’s giving me vertigo,” he said.
They were also unconvinced by the bedhead, and the inbuilt shelf, which they thought wasn’t functional as guests might bump their heads.
But apart from this, there were some aspects of the room they liked. Shaynna liked the wardrobe, custom built in dark timber. “How beautiful is this beautiful fine strip in the middle?” she said.
Neale also liked their custom-built floating study desk, and Darren liked the quirky neon Flamingo light.
But all up, all three thought they’d missed the mark with their bold statement room.
For their part, Kerrie and Spence are unconcerned. “It will be a talking point,” Spence said. “And we either knew they’d love it or they’d hate it,” Kerrie added. “Turns out they hated it.”
 

The brief was ‘bold, bright, St Kilda’ - and boy did Kerrie and Spence take that literally.

Kerrie and Spence revealed a room that had a large graffiti laneway mural, neon custom-made bedhead, and plenty of quirky details. Darren thought they’d taken it too far.

Norm and Jess: The score 20/30

Norm and Jess went all-out this week to create what they saw as their “ultimate Master Bedroom.” It was a huge space, but they found plenty to dress the room it with, including a large bed with plenty of scatter cushions, some gorgeous hanging pendants, a large white rug, blue velvet sofa, a large Fiddle Fig and two simple bedsides. They then furnished it with plenty of art, including a lovely print of a beach scene, a combi photo print in their walk-in, and that beautifully executed photo wall upon entry.
It was this last detail that Shaynna particularly liked.
“I have never seen a contestant do that before. That is really sweet and lovely,” she said.
Unfortunately that is where the compliments ended. They didn’t like the concrete sheeting used to clad the wall, with Neale and Shaynna both agreeing that it needed a bedhead in front of it to “soften” its impact. They also wondered why both the rug and the sofa were so small, and why much of their statement art was hidden in corners. “What’s the deal?” Darren wondered. “All the art is here in really weird, obscure places.”
“This couple has class and style and ideas and creativity - where the hell is it?” Neale wondered.
We disagree - we love this space. Well done Norm and Jess.

Norm and Jess went all-out this week to create what they saw as their “ultimate Master Bedroom.”

“This couple has class and style and ideas and creativity - where the hell is it?” Neale wondered.

Bianca and Carla: The score 23.5/30

Bianca and Carla nailed the “quirky St Kilda” brief, presenting a bathroom that was both functional, but fun as well. They achieved this, primarily, through the inclusion of that amazing pink palm tree wallpaper, which all the judges adored.
“I love that wallpaper. It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s pretty,” said Shaynna.
Mounted on top were two round mirrors, a black and white vanity, offset with a simple, brass hanging pendant light.
Shaynna loved the functionality of the space, and she loved the placement of their bath, contrasted against that great black tile, below the shuttered windows.
“You can see the sky, you can see the trees, and then at night, there will be stars. It’s a beautiful position of the bath,” she said.
The judges were once again impressed with the inclusion of technology, admiring the way the shower integrated with the lights via their ‘Alexa’ system. They also loved their “bells and whistles” smart toilet, which rounded out those technological add-ons.
All up, all three judges thought they had nailed the brief.
“It fits that ‘St Kilda Boutique hotel/apartment’ vibe,” Darren said. And we agree - we are in love with it. Well done, ladies!
 

“I love that wallpaper. It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s pretty,” said Shaynna.

All three judges thought Bianca and Carla had nailed the brief. “It fits that ‘St Kilda Boutique hotel/apartment’ vibe,” Darren said.

To be in with a shot to WIN this incredible apartment buy your MONOPOLY – The Block Special Edition HERE

Did you like this blog? Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to receive news from The Block! Subscribe now to receive $20 off your next order.