The Block 2020 recap: Master ensuite reveals

This week’s Block master ensuites were so good the judges named two winners. But only one room deserved the gong, according to an expert.

There were a few tears and tantrums on The Block this week. And that was just from me inspecting the room reveals. While there were some show-stopping master ensuites unveiled, one in particular featured more crimes than a season of CSI. Time to issue some citations.

JIMMY AND TAM CAME JOINT FIRST

I love me some Shaynna Blaze, but sorry; a buyer’s heart will not sing for this space.

Not unless the song is No No No by Meghan Trainor, Big Mistake by Natalie Imbruglia, or This Bathroom Hurts My Eyes, a new single I’m dropping before season’s end.

It’s a risky move to hope a buyer is going to part with millions after seeing the turquoise guest ensuite, but now this hot Pink one?

First came the green guest ensuite. Picture: Channel 9

Then the Pink. Picture Channel 9

Not only is the colour divisive, but the space feels so overly warm I need a Gatorade to replenish my perspired electrolytes.

The vanity matching the bedside tables is just too much. The small footprint, the lack of lighting, the Pink basins; there’s honestly very little to appreciate here. The fact that they came first is harder for me to wrap my head around than Year 12 algebra.

Jimmy and Tam's ensuite. Picture: Channel 9

LUKE AND JASMIN CAME JOINT FIRST

Now this is a win I can get on-board with. Luke and Jasmin have been deserving of first place for the past two weeks, so thank the design gods — it finally happened!

A worthy winner. Picture: Channel 9

A stunning curved wall, glorious tiles, gorgeous brass accents and more reeded shower screens; I’ve not been this excited about a couple’s good fortune since Bert & Ernie came out of the closet.

Although the space is not without its issues. Neale rightfully pointed out the vanity needs to be moved away from the shower screen. Like Beyonce rightfully pointed out: to the left, to the left.

That vanity needs moving and they should have gone with a white bath but this look deserves the win. Picture: Channel 9

And I’ll go against the judges and declare the black bath a mistake. It getting damaged on the way in was the universe telling Luke and Jasmin to use a white bath instead. The universe always knows. Like when you’re craving pizza and then a Domino’s brochure lands in your letterbox. Never ignore the signs.

HARRY AND TASH CAME JOINT SECOND

I’m bummed for Harry and Tash. Why, why, why was their bathroom not joint first? It’s far superior to Jimmy and Tam’s and ticked more boxes than me with a yum cha menu.

This room deserved to be equal first. Picture: Channel 9

Sure, the gold wall lights are an unnecessary pop of bling, but everything else in this ensuite is stellar. The colour palette is rich and luxurious, the layout is successful, the bath tub shape is a delight and the basins are period appropriate. And they’re the only team that used non-arched mirrors (a trend that’ll fade faster than MC Hammer pants).

Harry and Tash ensuite: Picture: Channel 9

On the topic of shower screen height, I don’t have an issue with it here and nor will a potential buyer. If we’re going to pick on that element it needs to be brought up in everyone’s spaces. Like parents with their kids, the judges have to at least pretend they don’t have favourites.

GEORGE AND SARAH CAME JOINT SECOND

This is another remarkable bathroom with a lot to love. In what was a pretty tough week, George and Sarah rose to the challenge.

Sarah and George’s ensuite. Picture: Channel 9

The Pink tiles in this space worked far better than they did in the guest ensuite. Putting them beside the small white tiles that sit behind the vanity was a genius move. I agree with The Blaze on this one; they broke a lot of design rules but it worked wonderfully.

Putting four tiles together in a space like this could have gone horribly wrong, but they worked really well together.

They broke the rules but it worked. Picture: Channel 9

I get Shaynna’s point about the splash zone outside of the shower. A door would have been a nice idea. But other than that, I’m with Darren; I’d be super proud to have designed this space, and I too wish it was my bathroom (even with the poo nook!).

A door probably would have been a good idea. Picture: Channel 9

DANIEL AND JADE CAME LAST

Sure, they didn’t deserve to come last, but there are a number of issues with Daniel and Jade’s master ensuite. The main one being that there are too many competing focal points. It’s busier than a Boxing Day sale.

Daniel and Jade ensuite: Picture: Channel 9

While George and Sarah successfully pulled off a number of tile combinations, Daniel and Jade weren’t as lucky. There are more heroes in this bathroom than in the Marvel cinematic universe, which is quite sad really because every individual element is pretty beautiful.

The shiny black wall tiles were a mistake. Picture: Channel 9

I will say that the black gloss wall tiles are a mistake and cheapen the room. They should have taken the matte tiles all the way up instead. It currently resembles my combination skin, and I’ll say the same thing to them as I said to my dermy: please reduce the shine.

Their space still isn’t the worst of the week though.

Chris Carroll is the Melbourne-based designer behind TLC Interiors; an interior design studio and home style blog that’s been helping everyday Aussies transform their spaces without breaking the bank since 2012. Follow him on Instagram