Karlie, Will + Carleen: ‘We’re over the moon!’

For the first time in Block history, two couples have scored 30 out of 30 for their kitchens. Karlie and Will and Dan and Carleen will need to share the honour of being The Block’s kitchen champions, but something tells us they don’t mind …

“Everyone says kitchens sell houses, so to get 30 out of 30 … We’re over the moon,” Will tells The Block Shop.

He and Karlie bested the competition with their hallway, laundry and powder room last week, so this win makes it two in a row. It’s a significant win for Dan and Carleen too, they won for their living and dining area, so this whole space has been given the judges’ tick of approval.

“We feel terrific about how our apartment is coming together,” Carleen says.

With two couples scoring 30, and two others tied on 28, it was one of the most hotly contested weeks on The Block this year.

“I think it just shows how competitive this season has been,” Karlie adds. “We all scored well.”

The details of Karlie and Will’s luxurious kitchen blew the judges away – the amazing benchtop, the amazing sink, the joinery, the appliances – all incredible.

“A great kitchen has gotta be practical, but also, on trend as well,” Will explains.

Their kitchen is just that: a mix of the practical, like their fully integrated dishwasher, and the bold, like their black glass cooktop. Their styling choices, like their candle in timber pot, are simple and effective.

“We’ve gone with a bit of jet black, which is a bold move, but the judges liked it. I think it works really well with the polished concrete floors. Having high-end, quality appliances, as well as cabinetry, underfloor heating under polished concrete, I think that’s what’s given our kitchen the wow factor,” Will says.

Dan and Carleen’s sleek and contemporary kitchen is sophisticated, but understated. Their bold choices, like their black cabinet handles work because they’ve been used sparingly. Their appliances are any homeowner’s dream, but for Carleen, it’s all about that benchtop.

“A great benchtop makes for a great kitchen,” Carleen explains. “It’s not just somewhere to prepare your food, these days, it’s somewhere to entertain. Everybody stands around the kitchen bench.”

Elsewhere on The Block…

The judges fell in love with the layout of Kim and Chris’s kitchen, and nothing says luxury quite like the warming drawer, one of many quality appliances from Siemans.

In their “restaurant-quality kitchen”, Julia and Sasha wowed with Gaggenau appliances, gorgeous gold stools and charming artworks – ‘Shifted Love’ and ‘Wildflower’.

Andy and Ben presented the Block’s “party kitchen”. With appliances from Neff Appliances, a wine rack, and a sizable fridge, the space is certainly up for the challenge of entertaining … but we can’t look past those stunning timber and aluminium handles!

The kitchen is the heart of a home, and the talented team at Freedom Kitchens believes in making your dream kitchen a reality.