The Block’s Luke and Tess to appear at Moreton Bay Food and Wine Festival

The Block’s Tess and Luke have returned to Cairns after 101 days of hard work. Don’t miss them at Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival.

The Block’s Luke and Tess will appear at the Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival. Photo: Courtesy Channel 9

SHARING the stress, exhaustion and exhilaration of renovating a house in 14 weeks on national television has taught this couple plenty about themselves and project management.

Tess and Luke Struber and four other couples are battling to deliver the best renovation on Channel 9’s The Block, which is airing now, and they’re keen to share their experience with fans at this year’s Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival. They’ll be appearing on September 7 and 8.

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Filming for the reality TV series, which is in its 15th year, finished in June and the pair from Cairns is eagerly awaiting auction day on November 9 to decide the winner.

They’ve had a chance to sleep, catch their breath and reflect on a once-in-a-lifetime experience that pushed them to the limit.

“We always knew it was going to be hard, but I honestly had no idea just how hard it would be, especially in the first week … to deliver a bedroom and a bathroom when you don’t know any tradies down there, you don’t know how far away hardware stores are, you’re basically thrown in the deep end and (told to) swim,” Luke says.

“And the thing is, you really do have to do it on your own. I think a lot of people question how much help you get. Of course you have your team, you have your builder, your plasterer, your plumber and whatnot, but you are the project manager. You are all of a sudden thrown into the massive build and it’s very overwhelming,” Tess says.

The Block’s Queensland contestants Luke and Tess will appear at the Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival. Photo: Courtesy Channel 9.

Tess and Luke applied four years in a row, before making the cut this year.

Tess says while she expected to be filmed for the program, she struggled with the constant nature of it. “If we were just there to do a renovation, we’d be OK, but it’s not just a renovation. It’s a TV show,” Tess says.

Luke says he struggled with tight timelines and how easily a small problem could affect everything else on the job, and prevent them from finishing a room.

“I think it was a really tough 14 weeks. It took a while to work it all out, but I honestly think our house is one of the best down there and I love it so much,” Tess says.

“We’ve learnt how resilient we can be and how even when you don’t think you have any more in the tank, when you don’t know how you’re going to push through, you still manage,” Luke says.

“Also, what you are capable of as in the amount of work you really can get done in a week. And I think I’ve learned to be a little bit more proud of ourselves,” Tess adds.

The Block’s Luke and Tess will appear at the Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival. Photo: Courtesy Channel 9

Good design, planning and careful budgeting are Tess and Luke’s main tips for home renovators. “Budget is a big thing and it’s a real thing, and I think you need to have a budget that’s realistic,” Tess says.

“I think when you’ve got the luxury of time, play around with a few ideas, draw 100 designs on a piece of paper because once you start, it is so difficult to change,” Luke says.

“Definitely don’t try to do it in a week,” Tess says, laughing.