The Block: Week 6, master ensuite reveal
Just when you thought this Block team couldn’t come up with another design that would leave the judges in shock — they have done just that.
It appears the way to go on The Block is not to play by the rules.
Just ask Bondi boys Mitch and Mark whose risky decision to completely transform their master ensuite into a kitchenette earned them this week’s room reveal win (yet again).
A few weeks ago the duo caused major controversy when they decided to change the structure of their entire master bedroom to create a “party space” — correction entertaining space — fitted with a kitchen, prep space and ensuite.
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It was a decision described by the judges as a “game-changer”. They also accused the boys of being “strategic” and “playing the game”. However, it was also a decision that earned them a winning spot that week.
And this week they’ve done it again after beating the other teams in Sunday night’s ensuite room reveal with their kitchen and bathroom.
It was a result that even shocked Mitch and Mark and left fellow contestants Jesse and Mel pretty annoyed (because they lost to them by half a point)
“It hurts to see Mitch and Mark take a win for delivering a kitchen and a powder room … it does hurt,” Jesse said, while adding a bit of sarcasm: “I’m thinking we could win kitchen week by doing a powder room.”
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HOUSE 1: Mitch and Mark (Winners)
Usually it’s Jesse and Mel that spark the controversy, but lately Mitch and Mark have stolen the crown, especially after last week’s “party room” drama.
But putting that aside, (after they hugged it out with host Scott Cam), the boys have secured yet another win for a risky structural design that paid off.
“Wow,” was the first thing Neale Whitaker said, as he pointed to the floor-to-ceiling Palm Springs-inspired featured wall.
“This will be party central St Kilda,” he added with a grin on his face,
Shaynna Blaze also agreed, saying “this is the party penthouses level and parties are going to be rocking.”
“Look at this we don’t just have a little wine fridge we have full fridge and freezer, oven storage for glass.”
It has actually has everything, even a popup plug for the DJ (nice one boys).
Neale described it in true Neale style. “A colour palette that says Hollywood poolside cabana”, or a “sunshine palette”. (Assuming that means bright and welcoming?)
Heading into the bathroom, Darren Palmer really disliked the mirror.
“I would never use that yellow glazed tile. I certainly wouldn’t put cyan and yellow together but it’s consistent with what’s happening on the rest of the floor.”
He changed his tune, saying the room is vibrant, fun and completely successful.
Then Neale intercepted with one of his … unique words — “Hoodzpah” (Yiddish word chutzpah, used to express admiration).
“It’s a kind of in your face, ‘I don’t care what you think, this is what we’re doing’ kind of bravery and it keeps coming back to me every time I step into one of Mitch and Mark’s rooms.”
He also think the boys are completely back on track saying they delivered an amazing space.
“Nobody has ever done anything like it in the history of The Block,” he said.
The only thing Shaynna didn’t like was the black cabinetry, saying it “drags you down”.
She had an epiphany as to why the boys have a kitchen and power room — “because they’re planning to put in a pool”. But she again questioned the acoustics, saying it will affect their neighbours.
Either way, they scored 29.5.
HOUSE 2: Tess and Luke
Neale really loves the word “wow”. He used it again when walking into Tess and Luke’s ensuite.
“There’s more terrazzo in here than you can shake a stick at.” Okay Neale.
Shaynna was distracted by the size … while Darren was appreciating the tile choice in the shower.
“They really know how to do bathrooms don’t they,” Shaynna said, referring to their recent main bathroom win.
“Look at that bath, it’s got that gorgeous angle to it. So if you’re laying in the bath you open the shutters and you're getting that natural light come in, wow.”
Darren wasn’t saying much. That’s because he was thinking about how hard their jobs are going to be with the high standards of the room reveals.
“We keep saying it season after season they keep raising the bar but they really have, and this is just a really great bathroom,” he said.
It was all going so well until Neale noticed the view from the shower, but Tess and Luke assured them the window will be frosted. Sadly, for them it wasn’t during marking.
Neale also had an issue with the colour of their rendered feature wall. For him it was too grey and overpowering.
“It’s an aesthetic issue for me not a functionality issue.”
Darren agreed saying they could have done any other colour that didn’t make the room feel like it was closed in but Shaynna actually liked it.
“I’m going to say the opposite. I love dark dramatic walls. It becomes this amazing pillar that connects to these gorgeous basins and brass taps.”
Her love kept flowing. She said Tess and Luke have hit their stride after she had previously had a go at them for their lack of style.
Neale pulled out one of his words again, describing the room as “scan deco” (Scandinavian meets deco) while Darren said he was going to walk out of there with a sense of “lushness and finesse” — his two fave words.
Shame they didn’t get the frosting done because according to Darren, it had potential to be a winning bathroom.
Tess and Luke scored 27.5 — third place.
HOUSE 3: Andy and Deb
Talk about delivering a mind-blowing bathroom. Andy and Deb literally had the judges yelling, well Shaynna in particular, over their tub feature.
The moment Neale said “Alexa, run me a bath” and water flowed from the ceiling and into the glowing bathtub, Shaynna was in awe.
“Oh my God, that’s awesome,” Shaynna yelled and I mean, it was pretty cool.
“I have never before seen that in my life,” Darren said as he stared in disbelief.
Shaynna was also mesmerised by the glow around the tub. There was a light around the tub to give it that affect.
For most of the reveal she had her hands on her face, like the iconic scene from Home Alone (you know).
“Wow, it’s very ambient isn’t it. It feels really crisp and clean,” Darren said. Their reaction was almost like they had stepped foot into a make believe world.
It’s okay guys. Just a bit of water from the ceiling into a tub (but it is impressive, I’ll give them that).
They also loved the styling.
“Here we have this beautiful custom-made cabinetry that works with the vanity which means you don’t notice the toilet,” Shaynna said. “I like what this is doing and the styling in it is very beautiful … it’s paired back and the styling is paired back which is spot on this week.”
Neale loved the Turkish rug saying it made him feel like he’s in a Turkish hammam (bath).
Darren was really impressed by the level of detail. “It feels custom built and bespoke,” he said.
Although, Shaynna had one thing to critique and it was (again) the combination of the mirror and trying to apply makeup (which she has brought up in past reveals).
“If I’m doing my makeup or if you’re shaving, don’t you want to have a clear mirror,” she asked. “Like, I love this mirror for moods, but this doesn’t give you the right temperature of what you’re putting on your face and I could walk out like a clown.”
Well, Shaynna that is some visual.
Overall, they loved the ensuite.
However, it wasn’t enough to take the top spot — instead Andy and Deb came equal second with Jesse and Mel.
Andy and Deb scored 28.5 — equal second.
HOUSE 4: Matt and El’ise
So Matt and El’ise divided their ensuite to create an extra powder room. Sadly, their structural change didn’t entirely pay off with the judges who said they didn’t use the space correctly.
In saying that, they still delivered a stylish bathroom which caused the judges to remain silent (for a while) as they entered the room.
“It’s really different,” Shaynna said when they finally decided to say something. All while Darren excused himself to touch the wall. He does that a lot … touching things.
“I just have to do it,” he demanded.
“I swear to God, I don’t think I love a wall finish as much as I love this,” he continued, saying it feels really rustic and tactile.
“But it’s so super modern — like it’s a really beautiful finish especially among all this black on black joinery.
“I love it, so much — like a lot.” Okay Darren, time to move on now.
Even Neale was like, “I hear you …” In other words — stop, Darren.
Neale was a fan of the soft, grey colours and the “veins” from the tiles on the floor which continued up to the wall.
Shaynna was impressed with style. “It’s beautiful,” she said, but she also noticed a few issues.
She couldn’t understand why the shaving cabinets weren’t reassessed into the walls.
“I always get surprised when you’re building an area from scratch — you have to have those cabinets mounted on the wall — so why can’t they be recessed?”
Then she jumped straight on to hating on the bath … “I hate to say it but that bath looks so small.”
Neale agreed that it was “tiny”.
“The placement of it feels a little awkward,” Shaynna added.
She then moved on to the shower.
“At what cost has that wall been built … from in here this shower is so expansive it does feel like it’s come at cost of the space in the other part of the bathroom.”
But then she had another moment.
“Hang on. I just realised they have a separate toilet and toilet (in here) … why when there’s only two people living here?”
Matt and El’ise explained it’s to service their terrace, so they have a separate powder room for guests who don't have to go into the master ensuite.
Darren said aesthetically it’s the most exciting bathroom he’s seen so far.
“I love it. Except never put beauty ahead of functionality,” he concluded.
Sadly they got the lowest score of 26.
HOUSE 5: Jesse and Mel
It was a good week for Jesse and Mel who really impressed the judges on how they used their massive space.
“This has space that straight away makes it feel luxurious,” Shaynna said.
And it did have space for days.
“Last week I said they’re back in the game and they have stayed in the game. It’s just beautiful,” Neale said, which almost felt like he had a tear in his eye.
“This speaks volumes of the bath we saw next door (Andy and Deb), this is much wider, a much longer bath that feels like it fits perfectly within this room,” Shaynna said, saying the styling is superb.
Jesse and Mel apparently achieved the impossible — turning Neale into a lover of chrome again. I mean it took three bathrooms, but they finally got there.
“The luxury in this is really in the hotel resort style feel,” Darren said.
Shaynna thought it was by far the best out of the bathrooms she had seen in the ensuite reveal.
“This bathroom feels more than double than where we have just come from,” (again, she was referring to poor Matt and El’ise’ room).
But, always a “but” with Shaynna. You should know by now.
She thought the lighting layout over the basin was odd and the taps on the basin was a very standard choice.
“I find this really frustrating, that it’s an everyday tap,” she said, comparing it to the more luxurious looking taps.
Overall, Neale thinks it’s a bathroom that will have strong buyer appeal.
“Regardless of what your taste is. I really believe everyone loves a bathroom like this.”
The judges have really changed their tune with Jesse and Mel’s styling choices which they once described as “office like” ie, boring and bland.
Jesse and Mel came equal second with a score of 28.5
SCOREBOARD:
Mitch and Mark: 29 (winners)
Tess and Luke: 27.5
Andy and Deb: 28.5
Matt and Elise: 26
Jesse and Mel: 28.5
The Block airs tomorrow at 7pm on Channel 9
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