The Block 2022 Week 1 Bathroom Reveal

For its 18th season, The Block 2022 Tree Change heads to Gisborne South in Victoria’s beautiful Macedon Ranges, where five couples will each build a 500-square metre house, tennis courts and even a winery on 10 acres of prime Aussie heartland.  For the first time in Block history, not only will the contestants build a homestead, they'll also plan and think about landscaping more than 700 square metres of land, from the minute they arrive on set.  Scott Cam is also joining the fray and renovating a home too.

This is clearly a big challenge for the contestants and they are starting The Block 2022 Week 1 with a bathroom reveal so they are not being eased into the project.  The stakes are high too as this bathroom could win the contestants $10,000 in cash, a fully mature tree for their landscaping and a $250,000 Winning Appliances kitchen upgrade.  So no pressure at all!

The Block 2022 Week 1 Bathroom Reveal

All the images are here together with the judges thoughts and my reflections on each room.

First Place: Omar and Oz

“Wow!” said Neale when he walked into Omar and Oz’s bathroom, and the compliments kept coming. “It’s sophisticated!” Shaynna said as she took in the 90-degree Herringbone wall tiles, Hardie Groove panelling and patterned floor tiles. “It’s stunning!” Neale added. “It all works,” Darren summed up.  “This feels like a bathroom that belongs in this house – and belongs on this Block.” And it wasn’t just looks, with features like a heated floor and heating above, face-level storage, power points in all the right places and luxurious shower/bath area making this a room to set the standard for this year.

My thoughts on Omar & Oz's bathroom reveal

• This is a beautiful and very elegant bathroom with many appealing aspects.  The Block 2022 bathroom reveal has started well.
• However, I don't love it and I think that's because I find the herringbone right angled tiles a little overwhelming.  Their appeal lies in their handmade quality but I feel they are just too rustic and at odds with the vanity unit.
• I love the tapware and heated towel rail.  They look rich and elegant without being brash – nicely understated.
• The floor tile is very appealing and suits the heritage aspect of the house.
• I love the use of the VJ panelling which also suits the style and the vanity is simple and elegant.  I would have liked to see the mirrored cabinet reaching to each end of the unit, but this is a minor point.
• Overall I think this is a beautiful bathroom which has been perfectly finished and styled well.  It is just the herringbone tile that is not quite working for me.

Second Place: Tom and Sarah Jane

With traditional cornicing and ceiling rose, a restored original light fitting and ample use of panelling, this was a bathroom, Darren said, that’s simply: “very impressive!”. And cost effective too, he added, with the panelling not only beautiful, but a budget saver by limiting the space that needed tiles. There were some issues – the open grill over the door, some mis-matched metals, a lack of vanity-storage and a mis-placed shower door, but overall it was a room, the judges agreed, that showed a high level of sophistication and one that got the judges excited to see more!

My thoughts on Tom & Sarah Jane's reveal

• Wow!  I love this bathroom – really love it and I think this deserved first place.
• It suits the heritage style of the house perfectly and the injection of rich colour on the vertical panelling is stunning.
• This feels more like a room than a bathroom which is due to the beautiful panelling on the upper walls which lines up exactly with the shower tiles.  Perfect mirrors and lights and a gorgeous artwork makes this room very relaxing and welcoming.
• The shower screen is great but should have been a little higher.
• The vanity, with its curved edges, is sublime.  This is a contemporary bathroom but in a heritage style – the perfect blending of two worlds.  I am disappointed to see that this didn't make first place.

Equal Second Place: Dylan & Jenny

Down a small hallway, through an arch and into what Neal described as a: “fresh, welcoming – and kind of timeless” as he walked into Dylan and Jenny’s light and airy bathroom, made even better, Shaynna added, by the breath-taking view outside. For Darren it was the sense of balance, with curved mirrors playing off the archway entrance, a blind at the exact height of the picture rail and skylights breaking up the ceiling. Not everything worked, they agreed, with a sloped floor just one problem, but overall, Darren continued, to make a bathroom ideal for a marketing brochure.

My thoughts on Dylan & Jenny's bathroom reveal

• I agree with Neale, this bathroom is fresh and welcoming but I also think it is rather bland and unforgettable.
• It is a large area which can be difficult to work with.  I do love the archway and the curved mirrors to flow with this.  The vanity is nice and simple and the floor tiles are pretty and suit the heritage feel.
• I do feel the tapware is a little too shiny for my taste and I don't like the feet on the bath.  I also think the shower could have been a little larger for the space.  These are not deal breakers – the bathroom is very nice, but I can't see how it could be equal second with the beautiful bathroom produced by Tom and Sarah Jane.

Fourth Place: Rachel and Ryan

From the second the judges entered this bathroom, one thing stood out for them all – the space! “This is massive!” Shaynna said as she took in the high ceilings incorporating wide skylights, double shower, floor-to ceiling tiles and storage galore. But was it too much? And most importantly, was it country? The square-set features, timber vanity, basin, “artful” lighting plan and curved glass all screamed modern luxury, the judges agreed, possibly too modern for a country home. A few heritage features might have softened the effect, Shaynna said before all asked the question: Is it appropriate in a country setting? “Just” Darren Palmer said.

My thoughts on Rachel & Ryan's bathroom reveal

• What I love about this bathroom is its simplicity and the beautiful warm toned tiles.  A room this size, in an area that is noted for its very cold winters, could be like a cavern and be extremely unwelcoming, however the choice of tiles has ensured that this will be a warm and welcoming space.
• I love the bath and the styling is gorgeous.
• I do agree with Shaynna though that it doesn't fully meet the country style brief.  It could do with some softer edges and while a square set ceiling is lovely and crisp, finishing the tiles lower with a cornice and adding a Plantation shutter could have made a lot of difference.
• Again, the timber vanity is extremely nice.  It is clearly custom made from beautiful timber but I don't feel it completely works.
• I do love the room though – the tapware, tiles and warm colour tones are very appealing.

Last place: Ankur and Sharon

It’s shiny and brassy, Neale announced, looking over the bluestone tiles, brass fittings and nib wall in Ankur and Sharon’s “theatrical” bathroom, he just didn’t think it felt authentic. And maybe a bit claustrophobic. Darren disagreed, “I like it!” he said, saying the sultry and moody feeling the team had created, the light fittings and the cornice, worked for him. But it was a controversial space, with Shaynna worrying the historic feel of House 3 – The Grand Dame of The Block as she called it –  might get lost if the team didn’t pay attention to the existing features and work to incorporate them into their build.

My thoughts on Ankur and Sharon's bathroom reveal

• Separately, there is much to like about this bathroom.  To begin with the vanity is beautiful.  I love the Walnut timber, the curves and the legs – a gorgeous piece.
• I like the addition of the plantation shutter and the nib wall is great to create a divide in the space.
• However, I really don't like the colour of the tiles.  They are too dark and unsuited to a heritage style property.  The feature tile jars with them too.  The jump in colour tone between the wall tiles and the wall paint is too great.  The feature tiles are nice but not with this arrangement.
• I agree with Shaynna, this house needs a more delicate and considered approach to suit the architecture.

What did you think of The Block 2022 Week 1 bathroom reveal?  Did you agree with the judges?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

Photography: David Cook Photography

More background information can be found at The Block Channel 9

Many of the gorgeous items seen on The Block 2022 week 1 bathroom reveal can be found at The Block Shop.

If you would like to compare The Block 2022 bathroom reveal with ones from previous years, you can see those here:

The Block 2021 Guest Ensuite reveal

The Block 2020 Guest Ensuite reveal

One of the hardest things is starting a renovation and defining your style.  It  needs to be something that you love but also is appropriate for the style of house you are building or renovating.   Ensure you do this before you start and not as you progress through the project as the end result will not be as cohesive as it could be if there is a change in direction.  Read my post on How to define your decorating style for more inspiration.

Did you know that I have a Free Resource Library?  Whether you are building a new dream home or just undertaking a weekend redecorating project, there will be something there to help and inspire you.  Included in my library is a guide on how to put together a mood board.  You can download the free checklists and e-books here.