The Block 2018: Week 3, challenge room reveal

CONTESTANT Kerrie had a “creative breakdown” during The Block’s latest challenge, and the finished product has the judges asking: “Were you listening?”

THE Block’s latest challenge saw the five teams turn their backs on St Kilda’s former Gatwick Hotel and tackle a nearby property instead.

The “style to sell” challenge revamped an 1800s St Kilda property about to hit the market, with each team given a bare room and told to style it ready to be seen by prospective buyers.

Related: The Block 2018: Children’s bedroom room reveal

Related: The Block 2018: The Block: Bathroom reveals

Up for grabs for the winning team: A tidy $5000 to put into their own apartment back at the Gatwick. Let’s see how they did …

HANS AND COURTNEY, WA, LIVING ROOM

What they had to work with.

“I don’t know whether we’ve done enough styling,” confesses Courtney as they wait to be judged, but she needn’t have worried.

“I love it. It’s rich, beautiful tones, textures … it suits this type of house,” judge Shaynna Blaze says.

“The strength for me is that it is elegant. [But] you needed to turn up the glam factor, the luxe factor a little bit. But overall, it was a really lovely living space,” fellow judge Neale Whitaker tells them.

Courtney and Hans’ finished product — the judges liked it, but could have used a touch more glam.

BIANCA AND CARLA, VIC, DINING ROOM

The bare dining room.

The girls confess they’re “embarrassed” with what they’re presenting, as they both feel like the room is still bare.

The judges, however, are pleased — and if anything, actually think the opposite.

“The floral arrangement was really great. You got the proportions right in the room,” says Darren Palmer. But he had criticisms, too: “Styling isn’t just about shoving things in empty corners, or arches — but that’s exactly what you did. You did a fantastic job … but there’s still room for improvement.”

Bianca and Carla were embarrassed about their dining room — they needn’t have been.

NORM AND JESS, QLD, DOWNSTAIRS BEDROOM

Norm and Jess’s bedroom before.

These two got rare unanimous praise for the judges for their colourful room.

“I think it’s great, and the artwork is brilliant,” Shaynna says. “The sense of colour is divine.”

“It’s a lesson they’ve learned — not to be timid about colour,” Darren says.

“What a lovely room,” Neale says.

They styled it out.

KERRIE AND SPENCE, SA, THE STUDY

Kerrie and Spence’s room, pre-‘creative breakdown’.

Kerrie had a “creative breakdown” as she struggled to style the room, and the news from the judges is not good.

“I am SO glad Kerrie and Spence have done this challenge. Cos if they delivered this as a room for judging, I would’ve said, ‘Were you listening?’” says Shaynna. Ouch.

“I didn’t have a lot of good to say about your room. There was too many different styles — beach, but not St Kilda beach. Scaling back is something you need to think about,” Shaynna continues.

Kerrie and Spence’s (not so) styled room.

HAYDEN AND SARA, NSW, UPSTAIRS BEDROOM

The blank slate.

This one is like vegemite to the judges — Neale loves it, whereas Darren and Shaynna aren’t keen at all.

“I don’t quite know what to say, other than that old expression: ‘It’s greater than the sum of its parts.’ You took some risks … somehow, it does make an impact. I loved it,” says Neale.

“It does make an impact, because it made me go ‘Ugh’,” says Shaynna.

Hayden and Sara’s styled bedroom.

THE WINNER IS …

Norm and Jess, who score $5000 toward their apartment back on The Block thanks to their sterling efforts styling the downstairs bedroom.

Norm and Jess’s winning room.

The Block airs 7.30pm Mondays-Wednesdays and 7pm Sundays.