The Block 2022: Working from home space

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that homes need a space to get away from the living areas to concentrate on work if needed or just escape for quiet reflection.

And this week’s working from home spaces, - plus one with a twist – showed that lesson has been well learned.

From functional offices to separate work precincts and a wine lounge with a view to die for, the Block heads made the most of the ample space they had to deliver just what their high-end homes needed, with guest judges Alisa and Lysandra joining Darren Palmer stunned by the variety of solutions they saw.

Guest judges and ex- Blockheads, Alisa and Lysandra joined Darren this week.

Tom and Sarah Jane

26 / 30 - First place

Built around a walk-in Vintec wine cellar, House one’s television room built into the Stratco garage space is the perfect getaway, the judges agreed, ideal for teenagers or anyone wanting a break from the rest of the home.

Past the powder room and upstairs however was where their addition really shone. The only home with a second level thanks to early engineering planning, this is a complete office that could easily be converted to a guest apartment, with eight eye-level Velux skylights, two separate work stations and kitchenette.

A potential office? Definitely, the judges agreed, a nanny (or granny) flat? Why not! Either way, all agreed it’s a definite value add to the home.

Tom and Sarah-Jane take the win in working from home week.

Complete with Vintec wine cellar, House one’s television room built into the Stratco garage space is the perfect getaway, the judges agreed, ideal for teenagers or anyone wanting a break from the rest of the home.

The only home with a second level, this is a complete office that could easily be converted to a guest apartment, with eight eye-level Velux skylights, two separate work stations and kitchenette.This space is a clear winner!

This space brings a new meaning to 'head in the clouds' with these incrduble skylights from Velux.

The simplicity of this space is simply stunning, with smart inclusions such as a kitchenette it's no wonder these two keep finding themselves at the top of the leaderboard.

Taking the space to new heights are these Boucle Swivel Chairs... I love them and I need them!

Shop the look of Tom and Sarah-Jane's room right here at The Block Shop.

Rachel and Ryan

24.5 / 30 - Second place

If a home has a winery, Rachel and Ryan thought, why not add a wine room to enjoy the end results?

Down the landing steps into a cosy space featuring a full-wall Grafico mural and spectacular view over the vines to Mount Macedon beyond, this is a separate entertaining space perfect for showcasing the micro-winery House 2 boasts.

With a benchtop area for preparing the drinks, huge couch in front of a wide television and an woodfired stove to give country ambiance, this space is less about work and more for play, the judges agreed… but is that enough?

A work space would have added value, the judges agreed and adding a desk in here may not work.

If a home has a winery, Rachel and Ryan thought, why not add a wine room to enjoy the end results? We can't argue with that logic.

With a benchtop area for preparing the drinks, huge couch in front of a wide television and an woodfired stove to give country ambiance, this space is less about work and more for play, the judges agreed.

With an incredible view out to The Macedon Ranges it's hard not to want to open a glass of wine and soak in the view.

I am in LOVE with the wine rack's used on the wall, complemented by the lighting it really is a wine lovers heaven!

Rachel has an incredible eye for colour's and keeping cohesion in her rooms, we adore this artwork Rach has used.

Shop the look of Rachel and Ryan's room right here at The Block Shop.

Omar and Oz

24 / 30 - Third place

A textbook example of a room that was just too much for this mammoth Block challenge, Omar and Oz’s huge home office space was nowhere near ready, the victim of build problems way out of the boys’ hands.

What was theirs however, still left the judges underwhelmed, with artwork choices too big for the space, a desk way too big for just one person but too small for two and a nautical feel that’s out of place in a country setting.

Once it’s finished, the judges hoped, the room could be a showcase for living and working out of the city, with more than enough scope to do both.

The dissapointment is obvious for the boys, Omar and Oz’s huge home office space was nowhere near ready, the victim of build problems way out of the boys’ hands. Third place with a very incomplete room, well done boys!

The judges agreed the boys had used amazing furniture in their room, calling the lounge and its strapping detail "sexy".

The boys room is clearly incomplete but with beautiful Australian Made and owned furniture like these TH Brown stools we are excited to see the finished product.

This fireplace and dog bed are two of my favourite things in this room, good choices here boys, now back to it!

Shop the look of Omar and Oz's room right here at The Block Shop.

Dylan and Jenny

22.5 / 30 - Fourth place

In a year when home cinemas had been downplayed, Dylan and Jenny’s 100-inch monster television took the judges breath away and helped give the new space a double use – as office or screening room.

The lack of fireplace lost points from Alisa and Lysandra, as did the “dead space” in the room’s centre, something that could be remedied with the addition of a dining table perhaps, or a larger version of the bar area.

Once again the Caesarstone desktop, felt cold to the judges, but a few styling touches – and a repair to a cracked ceiling – could have pushed them higher up the scores.

Jenny and Dylan in their working from home space. The lack of fireplace lost points from Alisa and Lysandra this week.

Dylan and Jenny’s 100-inch monster television took the judges breath away and helped give the new space a double use – as office or screening room.

A beautiful little corner with that stunning coffee table and incredible Victoria Hutchins artwork that is tieing it all together.

The Caesarstone desktop, felt cold to the judges, but a few styling touches – and a repair to a cracked ceiling – could have pushed them higher up the scores.

Shop the look of Jenny and Dylan's room right here at The Block Shop.

Ankur and Sharon

19.5 / 30 - Fifth Place

As a work from home space, Darren said when he took in House three’s shed addition, “this is a killer”.

But the layout left him wondering. With a television in a corner as opposed to on one of the two available walls, a huge Caesarstone desk dominating and a cocktails area to one side, the orientation seemed confused, they felt, and didn’t make the best use of the fireplace at the other end.

Extra power points were needed, they all agreed if this was to be a functional workspace, a week one mistakes they didn’t expect to see this far into the competition.

Sharon and Ankur in their working from home space which left Darren confused.

With a television in a corner as opposed to on one of the two available walls, a huge Caesarstone desk dominating and a cocktails area to one side, the orientation seemed confused, the judges felt, and didn’t make the best use of the fireplace at the other end.

There is no denying that fireplace could really make this space sing, it is absolutely incredible to look at but perhaps not in the best spot.

Shop the look of Sharon and Ankur's room right here at The Block Shop.

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