The Block 2019: Room reveal highlights

The biggest building in The Block history has finally been transformed from a once trashy backpackers hostel into five majestic homes worth millions.

Shireen Khalil

@Shireenkal

3 min read

November 9, 2019 - 11:49AM

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

It was the biggest building in the history of The Block with even the show’s executive producer Julian Cress admiting it “may have crossed a line”.

There were times when it looked like the contestants wouldn’t finish the builds as budgets ran dry and tempers frayed. But after three gruelling months, the teams are at the business end of the season. It’s auction time.

The once dilapidated Oslo hostel in the popular Melbourne suburb of St Kilda is unrecogniseable.

Inside, the former backpackers’ flophouse has been turned into five majestic homes.

Before Channel 9 bought the building for a reported $10.8 million, the low-budget hotel offered accommodation in shared dorm rooms for as little as $18 a night.

It’s a long way from the images on Tripadviser of the “budget friendly accommodation” that had a 2.0 “poor” rating on the travel website.

The hostel was completely transformed on this year’s series of The Block.

THE OSLO NOW UNRECOGNISABLE

In three months, five couples transformed the building, which is double the size of last year’s Gatwick overhaul and more than six times the size of the original Block in Bondi back in 2003, into five, three story homes with a hefty price tag.

The show’s executive producer admitted they may have ‘crossed the line’ by giving five teams the mammoth task of renovating a building double the size of The Gatwick.

Here are some of the room reveal highlights from 2019.

The Block 2019: Week Two, Ensuite room reveal

Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses goes the real estate mantra and the teams went all out to impress the judges in week two with the guest bedroom ensuite.

The five couples were given the mammoth task of completing a bathroom in just a few days, and while some succeeded, others failed pretty badly.

Jesse and Mel, who took out the first win of the seaon with their guest bedroom, didn’t finish the job and what they did present was labelled as a “tomb” and a “fail” by judge Neale Whitaker. Shaynna Blaze struggled to find any other words but “whoa” and “yawn”. Ouch.

Jesse and Mel’s unfinished ensuite copped major flak from the judges.

Mitch and Mark’s ensuite had a touch of ‘Hollywood glam’.

Tess and Luke went for a white tiled bathroom, but Neale thought it ‘wasn’t anything new’.

Andy and Deb won the challenge with their Scandi inspired ensuite.

Matt and El’ise’ ‘sweet, little room’ won Shaynna’s heart.

The Block room reveal: Week 4, Master bedroom

This was the week that kicked off Mitch and Mark’s controversial decision to position their their house as an “entertaining” space.

The Bondi boys chose to turn the area designated as a master bedroom into a lounge, complete with a kitchen and bathroom — and the judges loved it.

Inside Mitch and Mark’s master bedroom turned entertaining space won the week.

The skylight above Tess and Luke’s bed won points from judge Darren Palmer.

Andy and Deb’s room gave off a relaxed, calm vibe - although the styling was criticised as too ‘nana’ and the team made changes later in the series.

Matt and El’ise nailed the colours of their master bedroom, according to the judges.

The judges loved Jesse and Mel’s room, describing it as gorgeous.

The Block: Week 6, master ensuite reveal

Mitch and Mark’s risky decision to completely transform their master ensuite into a kitchenette earned them another win.

The duo caused major controversy when they decided to turn their entire master bedroom into a “party space” — correction entertaining space — fitted with a kitchen, prep area and ensuite.

It’s not a ensuite. It’s a kitchenette and it won Mitch and Mark the week six room reveal.

Inside Tess and Luke’s main ensuite, which the judges thought was a bit too grey.

Deb and Andy nailed the styling and Neale loved that Turkish rug.

Matt and El’ise’ structural change of adding an extra powder room didn’t entirely pay off, but the judges still thought it was stylish.

Space for days in Jesse and Mel‘s main ensuite, which the judges thought they used very well.

The Block: Week 7, kitchen and butler’s pantry reveal

The Bondi boys’ winning streak came to an end when they copped flak for their artificial light windows.

While the boys were trying to create the effect of “real” windows, it was a big fail in the judges eyes, with Shaynna Blaze describing it as “tacky”. They quickly got rid of it in time for the next reveal, which the judges thanked them for.

Mitch and Mark decided to put fake windows in their kitchen and it didn’t go down well.

Tess and Luke went for a contemporary look.

Andy and Deb’s winning kitchen the judges couldn’t fault.

Matt and El’ise’ kitchen earned them the least amount of points.

The judges thought Jesse and Mel made a comeback with their styling.

The Block: Week 8, living and dining reveal

Sadly, Mitch and Mark were in the spotlight again for all the wrong reasons with the judges tearing their living and dining reveal apart.

The judges were extremely disappointed with the overall design and structure with Neale calling it an “assault on the senses”. It was probably the most brutal feedback they had been given out of all the 14 room reveals.

Mitch and Mark got slammed over the layout of their living and dining room, with the judges saying nothing matched.

The judges loved how spacious Tess and Luke’s room felt, especially with all the ample light.

The judges were blown away by Andy and Deb’s living and dining room.

Matt and El’ise were commended on the layout of their room.

Inside Jesse and Mel’s winning living and dining room.

The Block 2019: Week 9, courtyard reveal

The F word had no doubt traumatised Mitch and Mark but it was Matt and El’ise’s turn to face criticism along with Tess and Luke, who were also marked down for

lack of “functionality”.

Nonetheless, all the courtyards looked pretty good, getting some of the highest scores in the reveals.

Matt and El’ise copped flak over that design word no couple wants to hear, ‘functionality’. Picture: Channel 9/ The Block

The judges completely changed their tune, giving Mitch and Mark a near perfect score of 29 for their courtyard reveal — compared to the grilling they copped in the past.

Shaynna absolutely loved Tess and Luke’s colour palette.

Andy and Deb were criticised for their lack of ‘comfort’ ie the hard, wooden benches.

Jesse and Mel’s courtyard was described as being ‘spectacular’, ticking all those functionality boxes and earning them the win for the week.

The Block 2019: Week 10, ensuite, studio reveal

It was the week that brought Shaynna to tears — all because of Andy and Deb’s “absolutely beautiful” room.

“I can’t talk,” she said while looking around the room, stunned.

According to the judges, it conjured an indescribable emotion.

Simple, classy and absolutely beautiful are some of the words used to describe Andy and Deb’s studio bedroom.

Mitch and Mark going for the classy look.

Tess and Luke went for a self-contained apartment complete with a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. It won them the challenge.

The judges felt Matt and El’ise’ room had a glamorous vibe, especially with the green colour palette.

The judges loved the clever way Jesse and Mel used the space.

The Block 2019: Week 11, double veranda 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 — 16.5.

The judges tore into Jesse and Mel’s two outdoor spaces in what was the most brutal feedback any couple had received in this year’s season of The Block.

Jesse and Mel got slammed for their veranda with the judges describing their style as ‘boring’.

This is what a 10/10 balcony looks like. Mitch and Mark got the show’s first perfect score during this reveal.

Tess and Luke won over the judges with their industrial styling and concrete table.

According to the judges, Andy and Deb’s lower veranda wasn’t a true representation of their beachy, Scandi vibe.

Darren Palmer was a big fan of Matt and El’ise layout.

The Block 2019: Week 13, garage, rooftop terrace

Mitch and Mark were on top of the world when they won their second room reveal in a row towards the end of the The Block’s 2019 series.

But then they unveiled their rooftop terrace and it all went downhill.

The pair were hammered by the judges for their “trashy” terrace design that was supposed to mimic a boozy night. They learnt from their mistakes and have since rectified their styling choices.