By Steph Sandhoff
It’s raining, it’s pouring and they all got a warning… Did I or did I not say how ridiculous it is to be renovating houses without a roof? I think I did and in great detail too. Another thing I’m going to deem ridiculous is calling it ‘WFH’ (working from home) week, when the judges seemed to be looking for anything but a working from home space. To sum things up, this week provided us with tropical cyclone Ilsa, some of the worst mood boards, best DIY styling and the tackiest $4000 artwork I’ve ever seen… twice.
HOUSE 1 // Kyle and Leslie
Photo Attribution: Nine
Let’s get going with House 1 and I really don’t have much to say. These guys have a great sense of style and a very clear concept for their home. In saying that, I do believe they may over-invested in their studio space and therefore, underinvested in their WFH room. A budget warning from Scotty saw the pair reveal four walls, a TV and some wallflower furniture. I think their attempt to save money has weakened their overall concept, which in turn has resulted in an uninspiring layout. The judges pointed out that every piece of furniture sits against a wall; almost like each wall has a different purpose with nothing in the middle to connect them all.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Not including any built-in elements such as cabinetry or robes, makes a room look unfinished and unresolved. It’s as if they didn’t know what to do with the room so decided they would leave it up to the buyer. However from a buyer’s point of view, they aren’t getting anything for their money with this room. There’s no investment because there is no design. The furniture too gives the impression that think people will automatically remove it. The desk isn’t big enough to be a working space, the large shelving unit is just cheap filler and those white lounge chairs are completely impractical for what they were selling as a possible kid’s room.
Photo Attribution: Nine
I feel like we are getting the same thing every week from these guys. A first glance, you walk in and think “wow, this is stunning…” and it is, but when you take a closer look it really makes no sense functionality wise. This couple has serious style but their planning needs work. Their rooms lack a bit of depth and ‘oomph’, which can be a risk when you’re using such a soft and dreamy palette, but I think there is also a lack of substance to these rooms. They look beautiful but I can’t envision anyone living in them. The judges themselves pointed out many of these issues but then proceeded to ignore them and scored this room higher than it deserved.
HOUSE 2 // Leah and Ash
Photo Attribution: Nine
Let’s move on to House 2 and their surprise at a leaky ceiling. Having done nothing to ensure their roof was watertight, means they get little sympathy from me. The “she’ll be right” attitude from the Queensland couple doesn’t seem to reconcile with the amount of drama and whining we’ve witnessed in just three weeks. This week Leah and Ash went for a 1950’s inspired WFH space. Their room was deemed an exclusion zone towards the end of the week and I think it should stay that way. It’s not a room I would ever choose to work in regardless of the cracked ceiling. While it may appeal to some people, they are designing for the market, not themselves. Already, this house is becoming a boxing ring; you get punched in the face every time you move into another room.
Photo Attribution: Nine
While the colour and style of the room is not to my personal taste, I think a slightly deeper tone ‘teal’ would have increased the sophistication and sense of luxury they were trying to create with the use of colour, custom marble fireplace and expensive piece of art. The art itself is too busy and bright to be hung on such a vibrant wall and I really think they needed to edit this room and remove at least one feature. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, a room needs negative space; a place for the eye to rest so that the features can be properly admired. So far this house is giving Sharon and Ankur vibes from last year; a commercial or potential Airbnb.
Photo Attribution: Nine
The mistake Leah and Ash have made, according to the judges, was their decision to make the room a WFH space. The judges’ issue is more specifically the lack of bedroom on the ground floor - as the fold up bed the previous week was such a fail. It is something that could be a marketing issue for families, especially when you have easily comparable neighbours. Having no bedrooms on the ground floor does cause potential issues for any buyers that need to take disability or old age into consideration.
Photo Attribution: Nine
My other issue with this room is the cabinetry and floating shelves. From my understanding they decided to ditch floor to ceiling robes due to some structural beams and/or services running down the back of their cabinetry niches. Similarly to the sisters last week, finding this problem halfway through the week means they haven’t planned their layout correctly. One of the first things you do when you’re designing a space is to note any limitations, for example: windows, fireplaces, structural bulkheads, services, etc. This then dictates where you can place the different elements of your room. The decision to build both nib and false walls on either side of the door is a massive waste of space as they don’t fulfill their storage-based application. From a visual point of view the nib walls are clunky, and again the dark walnut cabinetry and oak timber floating shelves are another example of the couple’s inability to mix timbers. The entire concept looks like a short term solve; looks half-baked and done on the cheap.
HOUSE 3 // Kristy and Brett
Photo Attribution: Nine
Not that I always agree with the judges but I will admit to thinking they’ve been pretty bang on so far this year. However, they’ve officially lost me as an ally this week. I would love them to watch themselves back and see just how contradictory they are being. The judges themselves noted how easily the room could become a bedroom but admitted to not thinking that was a great idea either. I am genuinely confused as to what they wanted to see. A bar or pool room? That’s one less bedroom they can claim on their marketing brochure and potentially doubles up on their future plans for kitchen, outdoor and entertaining areas. I can’t wait to see the inevitable backtrack from the judges after they see the entire house come together. The lack of vision from these professionals is astounding.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Firstly, it’s not the couple’s fault the house has been designed with a pool and entertaining area in the front yard; a very odd decision in my opinion but something they will need to work with, not work around. However, I think this is exactly what they have done. I can’t think of anything better than a WFH or study space overlooking a front garden and pool area. The judges have often praised couples for designing workspaces to make the most of an attractive view or outlook. I would love an office overlooking a beautiful outdoor area; there is nothing more inspiring, but it’s also functional for any parent trying to simultaneously work and keep an eye on the kids.
Photo Attribution: Nine
On to the style of the space, and I personally think it’s commercial in the best possible way. They have included such small elements of corporate style; I don’t see how it’s any more corporate than House 2. The room boasts a functional layout, huge amount of storage and some of the best furniture choices I’ve seen in a study. They’ve created a perfect balance by combining the more ‘casual’ linear wall cladding with the formal style chair and cushions.
Photo Attribution: Nine
I do think it was a good idea to ditch the black cladding as the white colour will make more sense with the outdoor aspect but I would have loved to see a little bit of restraint shown with the amount of paneling used. If they had used it in the niches and left the bulkheads in traditional flat plaster, I think it would have looked more refined and purposeful. Instead it looks as if they didn’t know where to stop. The vertical paneling beautifully references the vertical lines of the desk, however slightly less would have allowed the desk to have more impact.
HOUSE 4 // Steph and Gian
Photo Attribution: Nine
Already used to working in their original house, these guys were a pleasure to watch this week. Set on designing a study, they wanted the judges and/or buyers to be able to see the potential for change. While Darren would have liked to see a sofa bed in the room, that was about all the judges had for constructive criticism. I’m not getting back into the beam debate. We like them, I’ve called it, move on. I’d also like to challenge ‘beam berating Darren’ to find a sofa bed that he deems stylish enough to put in his own house.
Photo Attribution: Nine
I genuinely love this room. While only a small room, Steph and Gian really did seem to tick all the boxes in what ended up being a hard week to figure out what the judges were after. While the styling was impeccable and the concept clean, I really think it was the cabinetry that won it for them this week. The amount of thought that went into the form and function of those sliding cupboards is outstanding, especially for a week’s work. This could easily be a home study, a storage space, an office fit for both a creative or an executive and one I now want to replicate for my own business. The concept shows a real understanding of the current approach the world is taking to a more modern and fluid form of employment.
Photo Attribution: Nine
While I believe these guys deserved to win both this week and last, it makes me wonder whether some people come more naturally to hard or soft design, for example a bathroom versus a living or bedroom space. Their week 1 bathroom is miles from where they are now and I can’t wait to see what else they have up their sleeve. It’s very rare we see something new on this show and if their DIY ‘interior selection’ boards are anything to go by, I’m excited to see what else they have up their sleeve. It may be because I love a good material board but what a clever way to save money, show just how the space can be used and ultimately sell the dream.
Photo Attribution: Nine
HOUSE 5 // Eliza and Liberty
Photo Attribution: Nine
Surprise, surprise, the only other house struggling with water damage is the other of the two teams that didn’t even try to prepare for rain. Luckily for the girls, the damage wasn’t too destructive and they were able to present what was a refined version of last week’s design. With similar tones and a modern 90’s style, the girls decided to present a fifth bedroom rather than a ‘working from home’ space as they included a spacious desk in their studio space.
Photo Attribution: Nine
Honestly though, I think the small amount of rain damage has worked out well for them. Their ‘grass cloth look’ wallpaper can be ripped down and replaced with something completely different. I call that divine intervention. Real grass cloth wallpaper can be gorgeous, when used successfully, as you would have seen Dee Jolly do on past seasons of The Block, but this replica version looks like something they picked up at Kmart; a peel and stick product marketed at renters. While I’m glad they listened to Shelley and ditched the ‘timber look’ product, I do wish they had also ditched the art. I’m honestly shocked that even one couple wanted to use this piece of art, let alone two – a shiny ‘Slim Aarons style’ piece of art for $4000… what a waste of money. Personally I don’t love the idea of art on wallpaper; the wallpaper should really be the art or at least the feature. I would have loved to see a cozy chair in the corner replacing the desk, with the artwork hung above it. The blue tones would have referenced the blue wallpaper and made the room feel more balanced.
Photo Attribution: Nine
The girls are definitely on track but they’re not all the way there yet. Their style seems a little unsophisticated, but with a fun, retro feel they may be successful if they keep stepping it up. I will say that for a team that has needed to change their approach each week, they have been able to do so whilst keeping a sense of consistency throughout the house.
If you guys are new to the OAK + RIDGE Block Blog then welcome and if you are back from last year or last week then thanks once again for hanging around and/or subscribing. If you’re all for working smarter not harder and would like each week’s blog sent straight to your inbox, don’t forget to subscribe, it’s free! I’d also love to hear your comments and feedback below.
See you next week for some bath and powder rooms. I’m intrigued to see whether the teams back up my theory of having a natural design predisposition for soft versus hard spaces.
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