The Block 2019: Week 11, double verandah reveal

It was a design so bad it left The Block judges fuming. The “tragic” reveal resulted in one of the show’s lowest scores of the season.

Shireen Khalil

@Shireenkal

8 min read

October 21, 2019 - 11:55AM

Outdoors

Don't miss out on the headlines from Outdoors. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Remember when Jesse and Mel were copping repeated blows from the judges — well it was history repeating itself during Sunday night’s verandah reveal.

The judges tore to shreds their two outdoor spaces in what was the most brutal feedback any couple has received in this year’s season of The Block.

Such words used to describe the rooms were “boring as bats**t”, “mess”, “tragedy”, “lazy” and extremely “disappointing”.

Naturally, they received the lowest score — 16.5. Back in week one Jesse and Mel copped the all-time low score of 14.

So what exactly went down?

HOUSE 5: Jesse and Mel

The couple really paid the price for their lack of effort. There was a prolonged awkward silence the moment the judges walked onto their first verandah.

“We’re on a verandah, not in a garden,” Shaynna Blaze said as she pulled a very sour face.

“C’mon, like please; research, research. They have done it for all the bedrooms, the kitchens. — Jesse knows more than anything about the front of the house, the look.”

Jesse and Mel's got slammed for their verandah with the judges describing their style as ‘boring’. Picture: The Block

Then she spotted a fake pot plant on the outdoor table and completely lost it. “I am taking off extra points for taking the piss out of putting in this plastic plant. I’m sorry, I’m hiding that. Not happy. Nah, this is ridiculous.”

Neale Whitaker described their basic design as being “lazy” while Shaynna shook her head in agreeance.

“I thought Jesse and Mel perhaps more than anyone understood the value of St Kilda real estate and creating that dream. Where is the dream in here, where is the romance?” Neale asked.

As Darren looked around he felt “underwhelmed” and while he really liked the pot plants, the overall verandah to him was a bit “meh” (his words).

Then Neale went on a massive rant saying they can’t just throw in the towel because they don’t think people are going to use the verandah, comparing it to their amazing indoor courtyard from a few weeks back.

Shaynna Blaze was super offended by the plastic pot plant (pictured) so much so, she grabbed it and put it out of the camera's sight. Picture: The Block

“All I am seeing is some garden furniture on an empty verandah and a few pots which does not make it a lifestyle.”

The upstairs verandah was even worse, according to the judges. Again, there was a moment of silence as they scouted the room.

“Oh boy,” Neale said.

That’s when Shaynna described it as being “boring as bats**t”.

Darren pointed out the style was disconnected to the rest of the house, while Neale said texture was missing.

“When you look at what they have been handed, it is the most beautiful shell … and to make such a mess is a tragedy.”

“Talk about a missed opportunity.”

The flogging continued mainly with the lack of creativity but let’s cap it at that — you get the idea.

They came last.

The upstairs verandah wasn’t any better, with the judges also tearing it to sheds for lack of creativity. Picture: The Block

HOUSE 1: Mitch and Mark (Winners)

Then you have Mitch and Mark whose verandahs earned them the first perfect score of the season.

“What a sanctuary,” Shaynna said, as she panned the room.

Darren took a seat on the sofa and began to compliment the decor, from the furniture to the fan and the heater.

“They have planned the space well too,” he said, pointing to the “lounge area” and “garden” section.

Neale said it was a great extension of the entire house.

Shaynna loved how the timbers didn’t match, giving it that sense of “verandah”.

“Oh it’s just stunning,” she added. It was the homiest she felt in a while.

This is what a 10/10 balcony looks like. The boys got the show’s first perfect score. Picture: The Block

Upstairs was just as good with the boys keeping true with the styling of level three’s entertainment room.

They matched it with an alfresco dining table of 12. The size of the upstairs balcony blew the judges away.

“I think it’s a party house, don’t you?” Neale asked as he laughed. (It’s a touchy subject) … “and a party house with a view”.

“This is why you would live in St Kilda,” Shaynna said and Darren agreed as he counted the seats around massive dining table.

The judges fell in love with the industrial look and feel of the balcony. Picture: The Block

“Twelve people wouldn’t make a lot of noise if they were up here having a party with a master bedroom next door …” Darren said sarcastically.

Neale intercepted to say that even though they referred to it as the “party house” jokingly, it is seriously the “ultimate entertaining space”.

“And it’s when you step out here, it makes sense of the whole lifestyle that the house is selling. This is where it all makes sense.”

He was very impressed the boys had the vision in week one.

“To deliver this and get away with it is something quite exceptional.”

Darren just kept reminiscing about having a long lunch up there.

And just like that, the Bondi boys got a well deserved score of 30.

They were also blown away with the classy style of the upstairs verandah that adjoins to their entertaining space on level three. Picture: The Block

HOUSE 2: Tess and Luke

Considering Tess and Luke barely had a dollar to their name, they managed to pull off two very stylish verandahs, nabbing second place.

While the judges didn’t find quite as much going on as next door (Mitch and Mark), they still really appreciated their effort.

Darren was a big fan of the industrial vibe and the concrete coffee table.

“Look it doesn’t have the pizzazz of next door but it’s still a very, very nice verandah,” Neale said.

Tess and Luke won over the judges with their industrial styling and concrete table. Picture: The Block

Given they’re on a dwindling budget, it was very well done according to the judges.

“The pieces they have chosen have been chosen well and they do relate back to the aesthetic and vibe of the house. There’s nothing cheap about this as well,” Shaynna pointed out.

As she glanced over at the table and cup of coffee, she said they sold the story well.

“They’re selling the idea and the lifestyle with the limited budget they have.”

They then made their way to the verandah upstairs and the feedback remained consistent.

“I think they have done so well,” Shaynna said, adding that functionality wise they have done just as good a job as Mitch and Mark.

Especially this … (we agree). Picture: The Block

The only issue Neale had was the positioning of the table, but even then he said Tess and Luke were doing “pretty well”.

“It is consistent with what they have delivered downstairs. It’s beautifully styled and I think they have done their absolute best with the available budget,” a very proud Neale said.

All three judges loved the energy of both verandahs.

And to Tess and Luke’s surprise, they came second with a score of 23.5.

They also impressed with their upstairs verandah given their very little budget. Picture: The Block

HOUSE 3: Andy and Deb

Jesse and Mel weren’t the only couple to cop brutal feedback — Andy and Deb also found themselves in the firing line, but obviously not as bad as Jesse and Mel.

The judges were really disappointed with their lack of styling, saying it didn’t represent their beachy, Scandi decor throughout the rest of the house.

“You know what I’m surprised I’m not seeing given this is the ‘beach, Scandi house’? A hammock. It would have been perfect,” Darren said.

“A crocheted hammock would have been a much better choice than the sofa and it would have been really in line with what they have done inside.”

He liked the simple, grey colour scheme and furniture but it wasn’t enough to impress Shaynna.

According to the judges, Andy and Deb’s lower verandah wasn’t a true representation of their beachy, Scandi vibe seen throughout the rest of their house. Picture: The Block

“I think that (sofa) is way too industrial. It suits next-door (Tess and Luke’s house) … they’re not comfy chairs and the last thing I would ever want out on a verandah is a glass table. The dirt that would settle on that daily,” Shaynna said.

Neale interrupted to say he has always been a big fan of Andy and Deb’s styling but when he walked through the door, he was expecting a little bit more.

“It’s hard to get excited about,” he said honestly.

“And I know it’s budget but I think within the budget they had, they could have injected more colour, personality and oomph.”

Shaynna thought it didn’t reflect their style at all.

“It’s the first time I’m going to say this. This verandah doesn’t connect to what they’ve done,” she said.

“If it’s just about budget and saving money then Tess and Luke did a better job.”

They then went to the upstairs verandah on the hunt for a hammock — they didn’t find one.

However they did like the decor better, with Neale saying there’s more of a “story happening here”.

Once they headed to the upstairs balcony, they saw more of the couple’s signature style coming through. Picture: The Block

“Suddenly they have created a little area you want to be in,” he said.

They appreciated how it was more consistent with the rest of the house.

But Shaynna attacked the pots (again) and said she was also very disappointed there were no heaters.

“I feel this verandah has more generosity, more warmth than downstairs, but it’s still undercooked,” Neale swooped in to say, adding, “It’s still not what I’d be expecting from Deb and Andy.”

Shaynna also used that harsh word — “disappointed” to describe how she felt about their reveal.

Darren agreed saying he couldn’t remember the last time he walked into one of their rooms and didn’t love it.

They came equal fourth with a score of 20.5.

They said this (pictured) balcony was more ‘them’ with the rustic look. Picture: The Block

HOUSE 4: Matt and El’ise

Matt and El’ise haven’t had a win since earlier in the show and unfortunately this week wasn’t about to change that.

Only Darren liked the layout of their verandas, Neale and Shaynna on the other hand weren’t fans at all taking particular aim to the hard, “park bench”.

“I think it’s a really lovely chair,” Darren told the others.

Neale sat down to try understand what Darren was talking about — but no.

“I think this is the hardest bench I have ever sat on in my life. I wouldn’t even sit on this in a park.”

Darren Palmer was a big fan of Matt and El’ise layout. Picture: The Block

Shaynna said the balcony was missing any sense of colour.

She looked into the adjoining master bedroom and said: “We have got a room in there with gorgeous colour, there’s soft sage green, teal bits … why do we have to have this,” she said, picking up the grey coloured pillows.

Neale agreed, adding that everything jars and just doesn’t work.

He was also confused about the mini fridge.

“Okay, you have a drink up here, but where do you bring the drink from? Nothing adds up in here. It’s another hard space and there’s another formality about it.

“I’m really not responding to it at all.”

Well that’s no good.

“To me it seems to be a very muddled verandah.”

Darren also loved the wall lights. Picture: The Block

Darren however had no problem with any of it — except for the positioning of the mirror which had gutters reflecting from it.

Neale got a little frustrated and asked him what exactly he liked about it.

“I really like this chair,” Darren said as he sat on it, legs crossed. “It actually is quite beautiful.

“I like how consistent they have been with that monogrammatic pallet. It’s a different approach but they have committed to it and I think they have done it nicely.”

Sadly, not nicely enough.

Matt and El’ise came equal second last with a score of 20.5