The Block 2021: Mitch and Mark

We get to know Mitch and Mark – Granddads from Sydney, NSW and take a look at all their completed 2021 Block home.

From last place at The Oslo to first place in Hampton, Mitch and Mark’s Block dream comes true.

Australia first met Mitch and Mark on The Block in 2019 at The Oslo where they came fifth but still took away an impressive $384,000 in prizemoney. Together for sixteen years, they are back to win.

Now they return to The Block to show more of what they can do and snatch the crown as winners.

Mitch and Mark are back to win!

Experience:

Mitch and Mark know their stuff when it comes to flipping houses and renovating.  They are up to house No.20, and before The Block was about to start renovating their own home on Sydney’s northern beaches.

“There is nothing like finishing a project after planning it for so long and seeing it come to life, we love it,” Mark says.

They plan to use their experience in renovating and being on the show before to maximum advantage, but this might mean occasionally letting their guard down.

“Last time we got so caught up with the build, we didn’t allow ourselves as to have as much fun as we could have,” Mitch says.

Mitch and Mark are up to their twentieth house renovation, and before The Block was about to start renovating their own home on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Mitch - entrepreneur:

Mitch has three grown up children and the couple have five grandchildren who are the delights of their lives.

Mitch recently resigned from his long-time job as a manager of business and innovation to be part of The Block again. He had committed to a new five-year contract, but when the TV producers came calling, he knew it was the right decision to leave.

“I thought about it and said do I really want to be doing this for the next five years? I’d rather be back on The Block,” he says.

With a steely determination and not afraid to give an opinion, added to his flair for design, Mitch should not be underestimated.

In 2019 at The Oslo Mitch and Mark came fifth but still took away an impressive $384,000 in prizemoney.

Mark - entrepreneur:

Mark spent the first 36 years of his life living in Adelaide, before moving to Sydney.

A psychologist, he left his job working in personal injury and insurance after appearing on The Block in 2019, to focus on the Mitch and Mark brand.

“I think to come out of The Oslo and achieve what we did, it made us realise we can do anything,” he says.

Mark has a very close relationship with his builders on The Oslo, Jason and Stevie Charles.

The Charles brothers will be back on The Block with Mitch and Mark again.

“When we rang Jason and asked him to come back, he said he couldn’t have anyone else do it with us, which was lovely,” Mark says.

Always on site while Mitch shops, Mark is organised, not afraid to get on the tools and another fierce competitor.  



The unstoppable grandparents recently got to help Cam and Jules (MAFS) on the makeover of their new home.

Together:

As in 2019, Mitch and Mark will be prepared to do anything and everything it takes to win. They are excellent renovators who always consult each other. Headstrong and with clear ideas, Mitch and Mark rubbed some contestants up the wrong way in 2019. Will it be the same at Bronte Court? 

Whatever happens, Mitch and Mark will bring their A game once again on The Block, which might have the others shaking in their work boots. 

Fast facts about Mitch and Mark

• Mitch has an incredible designer shoe collection.
• In 2020, Mitch and Mark sold a renovated house they owned in Melbourne for $ 1.35 million.
• Mitch was a champion water skier when he was younger.
• The pair first appeared on Australian TV in 2017’s Aussie Property Flippers.

House 2

House 2 - Mitch and Mark's house has a Queen Anne style heritage façade.

Mitch and Mark are what you might call 'old hats' (sorry guys!) in the renovation game.

Take a look at some of Mitch and Mark's past renovations HERE

Mitch and Mark know their stuff when it comes to flipping houses and renovating.  They are up to house No.20, and before The Block was about to start renovating their own home on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Mitch talks about styling a bed! How colour, texture and a little thought can make your bed the focus of the room HERE

“A well-styled bed can really bring the whole room together,” Mitch tells Insider Style.

MITCH AND MARK BLOCK ROOM REVEALS

BLOCK WEEK 1
GUEST BEDROOM
Last Place

Pretty in PInk! WE love Mitch and Mark's Guest Bedroom.

Goodbye Palm Springs, hello contemporary modern said the judges to a guest bedroom that clearly says there is more to Mitch and Mark than their Oslo build showed. With its breath-taking Grafico wall and soft colour choices married to a warm carpet choice, the pair have created a guest sanctuary complete with study nook (or work space) perfect for a post-covid home, and a sun-drenched extra bedroom – thanks to the VELUX skylights overhead – perfect for guests or a growing family.

BLOCK WEEK 2
MASTER BATHROOM
WINNERS!!!

Congratulations to our winners Mitch and Mark who created a truly stunning bathroom.

“Beautiful!” Shaynna said when she walked into Mitch and Mark’s guest ensuite and from the vibrant feature tiles to the double vanity, aged brass tapware, matte finish bath and basins and more, her fellow judges agreed. Even the layout impressed, with Darren noting it’s not a larger room than their competitors, but a better room, with more thought put into placement including the toilet tucked out of sight, the central door and the wall to wall strip drain. Throw in the fun touches like Mitch’s unique gold bath ducks and they were in love. “It’s a jewel!” Neale summed up.

BLOCK WEEK 3
MASTER BEDROOM
Second place


We are loving this master bedroom retreat Mitch and Mark have created.

With its generous walk-in robe, balcony hinting at a secluded outdoor sanctuary and beautiful finish, Mitch and Mark’s master bedroom retreat showed the judges they’ve well and truly moved on in style and execution from their first Block! A traditional, yet contemporary room, they decided, with features such as ceiling a standout, drawing the eye to perfectly place pendants over the bedside tables and a bed so beautifully styled Neale was left asking for tips. For Shaynna it was the artwork – matched to the bed – and colour palette that combined to scream Luxe!









Take a close look at Mitch and Mark's master bedroom including the stunning pink artwork and pendant.

BLOCK WEEK 3
Basement week - Home Steam Room
Tied Second Place

A day-spa at home! When can we move in?

While the other contestants went for the cinematic experience in their basements, it was up to Mitch and Mark to think outside the box once again, offering up a unique solution to their underground space with a day-spa style steam room. Full tiled and plumbed, with underfloor heating and what Neale called “perfect” lighting, the downstairs wet-room featured a full steam facility (complete with steam-proof speakers!), the perfect addition to a home with everything. Once again it was a room that had Neale envious, no easy task!







Mitch and Mark have created a stunning home day spa! View the room and shop the details HERE.

Block Week 5
Master Ensuite
Last Place



Mitch and Mark created a glamorous marble master ensuite.

In a rare mis-step from the planning kings, Mitch and Mark’s bathroom left the judges a little confused this week, with Darren pointing out the space between the basins and the shower screen was too tight, the screen itself too large. It was, he said: “a planning disaster!”. But not all was lost, with Shaynna loving the colour palette, the tile choice and styling that makes it “a jewellery box of a room. And Neale agreed, saying there was much to love… if only the layout could be fixed.

Take a close look and shop Mitch and Mark's master ensuite HERE.

Block Week 6
Bedroom & Re-Do week
Score: 28 /30
Third Place

“Whimsical”, “Playful”, “Cute” and “Fun!” the judges said and that’s just what Mitch and Mark wanted to hear for their children’s bedroom. With bunk beds, pistachio-green wardrobes and beautifully styled to lure in a young buyer, skylights (with blinds) overhead for brilliant light during the day and dark when it’s needed, Neale noted this is a kids room right now, but one that could be easily converted to an older child’s room or even an office easily. And that’s smart planning. So too was the re-do bedroom, now a smart addition to the home with its own feel and colour scheme.





“Whimsical”, “Playful”, “Cute” and “Fun!” the judges said and that’s just what we see in all those gorgeous features.


The re-do room is now a smart addition to the home with its own feel and colour scheme and those cockatoo artworks.

View Mitch and Mark's room and shop all the details including all the gorgeous kid's decor.

Block week 7
Kitchen Week
Score: 22 ½ /30
Spent: $33,768
Last Place

Mitch and Mark presented a kitchen that was uniquely their own.

From the brass “M” incorporated into the Calacatta Maximus Caesarstone to the long island bench with enough overhang for seating and a superb colour palette bringing appliances, cupboards, surfaces and more together, Mitch and Mark presented a kitchen that was uniquely their own. “Just breathtaking”, Darren declared, with the kind of appeal buyers will want. Great layout, visually stunning and with an adjacent breakfast nook, it ticked a lot of boxes… except one. Where’s the pantry? In a four-bedroom house, is that the biggest mistake the boys could have made?



Mitch and Mark's gorgeous kitchen with those incredible Danish stools.




The stunning adjacent breakfast nook ticked a lot of boxes…


View Mitch and Mark's kitchen and shop all the details including those dream kitchen stools!

Week 8:

Living & Dining Reveal

Score: 24 ½ /30

Spent: $37,691

Fourth Place

Mitch and Mark created a pretty living and dining space ready to entertain.

With striking rows of skylights flooding the huge living and dining area with natural light, this is the wow factor the judges were looking for and a space sure to amaze anyone who walks in the front door. From the beautifully styled dining table: “It looks like a party about to begin!” Neale said, to the clever fans overhead and ample sofa seating facing the television and fireplace, this is a room to excite – with one problem. A partition to create a hallway from the door could help divide the spaces, Shaynna suggested, with better zoning.

 
A beautifully styled dining table"it looks like a party about to begin!” Neale said.

 
With striking rows of skylights flooding the huge living and dining area with natural light.

 


The sofa seating is styled perfectly to face the television and fireplace.

View Mitch and Mark's living and dining space and shop all the stunning furniture and styling items.
 

Block Week 9
Hallway & Laundry
Score: 26 ½ /30
Spent: $25,092
Third Place

Mitch and Mark created well-planned and well-executed spaces that was definitely something for the judges to love.

A glass floor in the hall to bring light downstairs, beautiful artwork above, and a hallway that smoothly and effectively separates the living and sleeping areas of the house, this was a well-planned and well-executed space that was definitely something for the judges to love – especially when they realised it led to a full-size pantry, something they’d searched for but failed to find back in kitchen week! Next surprise was the versatile, fully equipped laundry with garage access offering an impromptu mudroom and more storage, to complete the home. It all added up, Neale said, for a “pretty damn good” way to tie things together.



Mitch and Mark used a spectacular glass floor in the hall to bring light to their basement.


The versatile, fully equipped laundry with garage access offering an impromptu mudroom and more storage.

A great choice of hallway runner and artwork again by the boys.

 
View Mitch and Mark's hallway and laundry space and shop all the stunning furniture and styling items HERE.

Block week 10 - Backyard & Pool Reveal
Score: 28/30
Spent: $46,425
Joint Second Place

Mitch and Mark have created a tropical oasis!

Mitch and Mark’s love of Palm Springs was obvious to Neale from the moment he walked into their back yard, with its huge overlooking tree a feature saved from the original garden. The judges were quick to embrace the wide spaces that had been enclosed by the pool surround fencing, including the poolside cabana complete with fridge, barbecue and alfresco dining area. Tucked out of site was the clothesline and services, making this a “perfect backyard resort!” Darren said with one minor point to consider - will there be somewhere for kids to play?

Mitch and Mark have created a “perfect backyard resort!” Darren Palmer said.


Mitch and Mark's poolside cabana is complete with a fridge, barbecue and alfresco dining area.


Mitch and Mark included an easy to manage raised gardening bed.


The judges were quick to embrace the wide spaces that had been enclosed by the pool surround fencing,


View Mitch and Mark's backyard and pool space and shop all the stunning outdoor furniture and styling items HERE.

Block Week 11 - Garage, study and wine cellars

Score: 23/30
Third Place

Mitch and Mark in their creative and clever work from home space. 

With its custom mural, Mitch and Mark’s simple and spectacular garage leads to one of The Block’s surprises, a hidden study/office fitted into “stolen space” above, the perfect work-from home office with ample space for two, plus storage, a big selling point in post-Covid times. Into the basement the judges were surprised again, this time to see the space next to the existing day spa steam-room had been transformed into a combined TV room and wine cellar with its own kitchenette. Despite issues with the layout and execution the judges agreed it’s another value-add to an already stunning home.

Mitch and Mark’s simple garage with that spectacular mural.

Mitch and Mark created the perfect work-from-home office with ample space for two, plus storage, a big selling point in post-Covid times.


We adore this 'Lady Love' framed canvas art print!


Mitch and Mark transformed the basement into a combined TV room and wine cellar with its own kitchenette.


We are all obsessed with the coffee table Mitch and Mark selected!


View Mitch and Mark's home office, cellar room and garage. Shop all the stunning pieces including that incredible coffee table online HERE.

Front Facade and Front gardens - FINAL WEEK!!!!!

Score: 29 ½ /30

First Place

Congratulations to Mitch and Mark for winning front garden and facade week.

A “perfect” white picket fence, paved pathways that look like they’ve been there for years, a tree-surround seat for watching the world go by and grass – complete with cubby house and trampoline for children to enjoy - Mitch & Mark’s front yard was just what the judges wanted to see. “Storytelling at its best!” Neale summed up, and the story was a home fit for any family. After worries the very grown-up backyard pool surround might polarise buyers, all three judges agreed this child-friendly area more than evens the balance.








Take a close look at Mitch and Mark's Front Garden & Facade HERE

House 2 - updated & unrevealed rooms:




Mitch and Mark tweaked their guest bedroom.


Mark even found time to make use of the steam room!


2021 BLOCK AUCTION RESULTS



After a fierce battle between buyers advocate Frank Valentic and entrepreneur Danny Wallis, the couple’s house 2 went under the hammer in the second auction of the day for a staggering $4.044.444.44, bought by Danny.

With a reserve of $3.4 million, that gave them a profit of $644.444.44. Adding in their $100,000 prize money that took their total to $744.444.44.


2021 Auction results

We catch up with Mitch and Mark after The Block auctions HERE

Catch up on everything Mitch and Mark HERE

View and shop Mitch and Mark's Block rooms HERE

Everything you need to know about The Block 2021 HERE

Mitch and Mark HOME grew from our desire to create unique and beautiful interiors that reflect individual lifestyles. Check it out HERE