The Block 2019: Week 14, front garden reveal

Some teams ended with a bang but unfortunately for others it wasn’t the bang they were hoping for as they rushed to finish the show’s biggest ever reno.

Shireen Khalil

@Shireenkal

8 min read

November 5, 2019 - 8:00PM

The Block judges gasped at the transformed front gardens (The Block)

Outdoors

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The judges had their doubts The Block teams could successfully complete the show’s biggest ever renovation, but after three months of tears and tantrums the couples have defied the odds.

All the teams managed to finish all the rooms in The Oslo in St Kilda, but the final reveal wasn’t the ending some had hoped for.

Unfortunately Mitch and Mark, who nabbed two consecutive wins, copped the lowest scores for their final reveal, while Jesse and Mel followed closely behind with their “undercooked” lighting plan.

Here’s what happened.

HOUSE 1: MITCH AND MARK

For the majority of the 14-week reveals, the Bondi boys got positive wraps from the judges.

But their winning streak came to an end on Sunday when they copped the lowest score of 22 for their rooftop terrace.

Unfortunately tonight wasn’t any better with a score of 21 for their front garden.

“Glamour” was one of the things the judges said Mitch and Mark lacked however Shaynna Blaze still loved their “simple” styling.

“You can tell they didn’t have the biggest budget to fully style everything but the magnificence of those posts is just so beautiful,” Shaynna said.

Mitch and Mark’s front garden. Picture: The Block

She also loved the towering palm trees, which all the contestants were gifted for their gardens.

“I think it’s gorgeous,” she said.

“I know this is on the street level on a busy street but I love nothing better than watching the world go by,” she said while making herself comfortable on the deck’s sofa. “I find it so relaxing.”

Darren Palmer said the veranda is “where the party starts”.

“Imagine entertaining in this house — you have cocktails out here, you can have a dinner banquet upstairs. You can really use all these different spaces so well across the house,” he said.

Darren Palmer said the veranda is ‘where the party starts’ in their entertaining home. Picture: The Block

“I think this really is a great entertaining home.”

But when the judges headed back later to see the garden at night, Neale wasn’t too impressed.

“I have to say it’s not as glamorous as I thought it was going to be with the lighting,” he said.

Shaynna said it would have been amazing if there was lighting on the Cycad plant because it was the centrepiece.

And Darren thought there was no standout feature to the garden.

“I think the boys have lost sight of the glamour factor this week … maybe it gets better as it gets darker, I don’t know,” Neale added.

The boys got the lowest score of 21 for their garden reveal.

They loved their choice of pot plants that were scattered around the garden. Picture: The Block

HOUSE 2: TESS AND LUKE

It was another positive week of reviews for Tess and Luke who impressed the judges with their “dark” garden.

The newlyweds kept true to their styling throughout the house, which Shaynna really appreciated.

“I love how they’ve done it ‘dark’, that’s their signature for inside the house — dark moody St Kilda — and they’ve done that on all their retaining walls. I like it.”

Neale said it always feels as though Tess and Luke never throw in the towel.

“They just keep on going. Yes this could be more finished but it feels pretty good.

“I think they have done the old girl proud,” he said referring to The Oslo building.

“When these plants have matured I think it’s going to be a real old-fashioned garden.”

The judges liked how Tess and Luke’s garden kept with their ‘dark’ theme throughout the house. Picture: The Block

Darren loved the tiles saying it was well done under the circumstances.

On the terrace, Neale said it was going to be a “party house” too.

He imagined having guests over during a warm, balmy evening — kicking off drinks before heading inside to the formal dining room.

“I’m starting to think if I lived in one of these houses my biggest problem would be deciding where to sit,” he said.

“I don’t remember on The Block ever experiencing this kind of luxury before you have even gone through the front door,” he added.

Shaynna thought what the couple achieved in the first two months of their marriage was “extraordinary”.

They also loved the luxurious feeling of the terrace. Picture: The Block

“To be able to do this, I don’t know what fights they have had behind the scenes, but it looks like they have really come together and worked out their skills on how to balance each other and sitting here right now I really see that.”

Heading back at night, the “wow” factor continued.

“I feel the light is slightly better distributed here,” Neale said as he compared it to Mitch and Mark's garden.

Shaynna said they used lighting “in the right way”.

“It’s a classic example of less is more,” Neale added while he also pointed out the lighting around the palms trees.

Overall, they created a garden to remember, the judges said.

And because of that, they scored 26.5, coming in third place.

And its relaxing vibe. Picture: The Block

HOUSE 3: ANDY AND DEB

Andy and Deb have come so close to sealing the deal several times only to find themselves runner ups.

And it happened again tonight with Matt and El’ise taking out the winning spot.

But the judges still found a lot to love.

“How lovely is this central island here with the palm tree coming out of it,” Darren said.

He also loved the blue stone saying it was a perfect choice for their garden and the suburb of St Kilda.

Shaynna was distracted by all the standout features and liked the simple planting throughout the garden.

“Look at these lights on the steps. Oh wow,” she gasped.

“Andy and Deb never disappoint do they,” Neale chimed in.

Andy and Deb’s garden which has kept true to their 'seaside’ vibe. Picture: The Block

Neale loved the massive pots saying they’re the best he’s ever seen.

“I think they’re my new favourite pots,” Shaynna added.

The chairs were also a winner with the judges referring to them as “stunning” and really “comfy”.

“Oh my God this is so cool it’s like a rocking chair,” she yelled, rocking back and forth.

Looking out at the garden she described it as looking like a seaside resort.

“In the 1900s when these verandas were built, you could actually see the ocean so this actually was a seaside house.”

She was also impressed with the styling, saying it has remained consistent throughout the house.

The judges loved the hero palm tree at the centre of the garden. Picture: The Block

“It all ties in so beautifully,” Neale added.

When they returned in the evening to see how it looked in the dark, they were still pretty impressed.

It got an “oh la la” from Darren, and when he says that you know it’s good.

Shaynna even danced up the stairs.

“This feels seriously glamorous,” Neale said.

Shaynna said there was a heightened glamour to it that wasn’t there during the day.

“I feel this has gone up a level.”

Neale said it was subtle but it still had a real level of theatricality about it.

It was so impressive Darren said if he were driving past, he would stop just to take a closer look at Andy and Deb’s garden.

“I will definitely slow down to take in the impact of seeing in house number three. It adds a great deal to the landscaping and a lot to the appeal of the facade.”

The pots and chairs on the terrace were also winners. Picture: The Block

HOUSE 4: MATT AND EL’ISE (WINNERS)

“This is different,” was the first thing Shaynna said about the front of the house.

“Unlike the paired-back simplicity of Andy and Deb’s garden, Matt and El’ise’ is all about the detail,” she continued while pointing at the little cobble stones.

“How gorgeous.”

Neale was distracted by the tiles. “This takes it to a whole other level,” he said.

For Darren, it was all about the “not one but two kumquat trees”.

It was the first bit of real colour they had seen in any of the garden reveals so far — so they were pretty happy about the kumquats. (They’re a group of small fruit-baring trees if you’re wondering.)

Matt and El'ise’ winning garden. Picture: The Block

“El’ise and Matt have this knack of making everything feel like it’s been here forever.” Neale said.

“There is a real maturity about it and a sense of authenticity even down to the (grey) umbrellas. It’s that eye for detail which says this is a home.”

On the terrace the judges noticed they mitered the edges of all the blue stone pavers — another great attention to detail.

“I love how they have matched the seats to the (purple) colour of the daisies,” Shaynna said.

“To me it’s not cutting edge, it’s not tyring to pretend, it just feels like a genuine home,” Neale added.

The judges loved their tiling and kumquats. Picture: The Block

Darren thought their approach was appropriate for the facade and said it felt expensive and genuine, while Neale compared it to a London terrace home.

“It’s got that real sense of grandeur about it.” Neale loves that word … grandeur.

Matt and El’ise got the highest points for the final reveal with a score of 29.5 — their second win a row.

From the top. Picture: The Block

HOUSE 5: JESSE AND MEL

Last but not actually last was Jesse and Mel whose “simple” garden got them a score of 22.5 — coming in second last.

The Melbourne couple went for a slightly more minimalistic approach.

“That is a whole garden bed of gardenias, it’s like an ocean of gardenias,” Shaynna said.

“It is still minimal though,” she said as she burst out in laughter.

Darren said it was “evident this is a budget version” but he pointed out the “beautiful” tiling — that’s something I guess.

Neale said there’s an elegant simplicity to their garden.

“It’s still got its dignity but unfortunately it doesn’t stack up to some of the other gardens we have seen … but they’ve done it.”

Jesse and Mel had a ‘simple’ style for their garden. Picture: The Block

“It’s only because we have come from somewhere like that (pointing over to Matt and El’ise’ garden) that it doesn’t look impressive but it’s still bloody impressive,” Darren explained.

Up on the terrace Shaynna thought the contrast of the charcoal, grey and green was “very nice” to look out at.

“It’s beautiful; the styling is not high end but it’s complete. It’s a bit open to the imagination on how it’s going to look but I think the money they had and the fact they were doing the tiling, really, they’ve done well,” Shaynna said.

Back to the gardenias, Darren said once they’re fully grown, “you’re going to have a proper hedge, a beautiful carpet of gardenias”.

“And that is going to be absolutely gorgeous.”

The tiles were the biggest standout feature for the judges. Picture: The Block. Picture: The Block

Neale said Jesse and Mel are probably going to be disappointed they weren’t able to deliver to another level, but if anyone deserves to sit down on the terrace with a glass of wine “it’s these two”.

But they managed to find the “magic” with the lighting at night.

“I’m seeing more romance out here now, than what I saw in the light of day, but even the lighting planning is undercooked,” Neale said.

Shaynna advised them not to put their garden on their real estate brochure.

If they were going to get scored on “effort” the judges said they would have given the Jesse and Mel 10/10 but unfortunately that’s not how it works. Instead they got given 22.5.