Week 9 of The Block 2022 was far quieter than the previous weeks with only one simple room to complete. The brief was for a guest bedroom, but four of the five teams opted to create a kids bedroom, while Omar and Oz bit the bullet and chose to deliver a second cosy living space.
As usual, I didn't agree with the judges' decisions at all. My favourite bedroom was delivered by Ankur and Sharon. They really did get it right this week and I don't understand how they ended up in fourth place. I actually liked the cosy sitting room that Omar and Oz delivered. It is not without its faults, but the colour palette was lovely and I like the idea of creating a cosy retreat away from the vastness of their open plan kitchen, living and dining area. As a buyer this would be appealing to me, but then I'm not in real estate!
I have all the photos, the judges' comments and my take on each space below:
The Block 2022 Kids bedroom
First place: Jenny and Dylan 29 POINTS
“Wow!” said Shaynna as she walked into Jenny and Dylan’s bedroom, taking in the whimsical festoon lighting over the bunk, a hanging chair, a zoo of stuffed toys and artwork to complement it all. It’s authentic and genuine, Neale said… and hard to fault. Aside from a scratch in the ceiling Darren spotted, this was a near-perfect finish, the judges added, with a natural palette and pops of colour all adding up to a space Darren just loved. Functionally, the Kinsman wardrobe choice works well, with the styling touches leaving the judges wishing they could all pick a piece to take home. A hard room to beat, they said.
My thoughts on Dylan & Jenny's kids bedroom
- This is a lovely space but not worth 29 points and first place.
- The glaring error for me is that the wardrobes do not reach the ceiling, or are finished with a bulkhead. Now clearly there is a vent in the way, but this is poor planning. It will be a huge job to dust up here and it looks unfinished and is the first thing I notice in the room.
- I'm not keen on a mural with a bunk bed in front of it. You lose the impact of the beautiful wall and the area just ends up looking messy. This would have been far more effective on the opposite wall.
- The bunk beds have been nicely dressed and the room is pretty, but not worth a win.
Second Place: Rachel and Ryan 28.5 POINTS
Huge, beautifully styled and in keeping with the rest of house 2’s contemporary country vibe, this was a children’s oasis, not just a bedroom, the judges announced. From the whimsical Grafico wallpaper to the complementing Kinsman wardrobes a play area – complete with kid-friendly furniture – this was a space designed to be enjoyed as much more than just sleeping in mind, the judges felt and one that showed a parent had designed it with a family in mind. Chic, cute and tugging at the heart, the room, the judges declared, that will help Rachel and Ryan sell their home.
My thoughts on Rachel & Ryan's Kids bedroom
- I love the wardrobes. The pop of blue works well for a children's room, however this won't translate as well into a standard guest bedroom. See how much better though the wardrobes look with a bulkhead.
- The wall mural is pretty and I love the corner chair for mum or dad.
- I don't think that the artworks work well. You need to be very careful when you have wallpaper or a mural with artworks. Select ones that have a generous mount so that you have a break between the busyness of the artwork and the wallpaper.
- Overall, this is a pretty good room, but not one that is memorable.
Third Place: Tom and Sarah-Jane 27.5 POINTS
“Nothing says family home like a nursery,” Shaynna announced as she walked into Tom and Sarah-Jane’s guest bedroom, stopping to take in the statement Grafico-print ceiling, Moses basket cot, pink marble table, perfect curtains and pelmet combination (Darren said) and comfy chair. Filled with architectural touches that tie into the rest of the home but softened by styling that confirms it was built for a child, Shaynna pointed out the room can easily be repurposed (maybe after a colour change on the walls) or left as it was to win over a buyer’s heart, a smart choice when appealing to a wide market.
My thoughts on Tom and Sarah-Jane's kids bedroom
- I have mixed feelings about this room. It isn't practical as when a baby is in a Moses basket, they would often be in the parent's bedroom. The room will need to be changed around to accommodate a proper cot and it would have been preferable to style it like this in the first place.
- The wardrobes are cut off, but this is acceptable here as the ceiling is so high at this point. I like the inclusion of the open shelving too.
- I'm not a fan of the wallpaper on the ceiling as I feel it is quite oppressive.
- The colour palette of pink, green and grey is very appealing and I absolutely love the curtains. The pelmet works here as it is part of the ceiling cornice. The chair looks beautifully comfy and with the side table has been styled beautifully.
- Overall, I like this room and think it deserves better than third place, but I would make some changes.
Fourth Place: Ankur and Sharon 26.5 POINTS
Cosy, less eclectic, and filled with architectural styling details such as wainscoting in a regency profile, ceiling rose and cornicing, this was a room that left Shaynna “feeling the love”. The wardrobe colour was “perfect” Neale added, for the pallet of the room, and the styling on point – right down to the menagerie of stuffed toys filling every space to tell a story any kid would love to hear. Even better, Neale argued, was the fact this room, easily one of the best resolved Ankur and Sharon had presented, could easily be repurposed as an older targeted bedroom. A great addition when it comes to sale time.
My thoughts on Ankur and Sharon's kids bedroom
- This room should have taken out first place. Pretty much everything works here.
- The colour palette of pink and blue with natural timber and rattan works really well.
- I love the wallpaper, but again would have used different artworks.
- I really like the addition of the wall panelling as this lessens the impact of the wallpaper, so that it complements rather than overwhelms the space.
- I like the combination of the wardrobes and open shelving and the styling throughout the space is pretty and paired back. Ankur and Sharon are learning the art of less is more!
Fifth Place: Omar and Oz 21 POINTS
While the other teams opted for kids’ bedrooms, Omar and Oz stamped their home as a luxury oasis for grown-ups, with their space devoted to a fireplace, television and comfy couch, a quiet escape for someone just wanting some time to themselves. But with a sofa facing a wall-mounted TV, this viewing room can’t easily be repurposed as a bedroom, and lacked a sense of self that shows what the space was intended for. Cabinetry that served its purpose, but was perhaps too busy said Shaynna… and bunnies everywhere in a space that clearly wasn’t for kids confused Neale. A future re-do room? Yes please, they all agreed.
My thoughts on Omar & Oz's living room
- I really like this space. In fact, I would have given these guys second place.
- The doors into the room are fabulous. The colour palette of white, black, brown with some earthy touches of green and terracotta, is understated and very elegant.
- I like the wallpaper, the rug is gorgeous and the wall panelling on the fireplace works beautifully.
- The room would have been far more appealing with the black display cabinets either side of the fireplace. This way the sofa could have been pushed back towards the wall and possibly a small occasional chair could have been included. The seating either side of the fireplace is superfluous and it means that the sofa is too close to the TV.
- Some proper curtains would have been really nice here to complete the cosiness of the space. These guys are great at styling, but for their window dressings they seem to feel that white sheers everywhere are acceptable. They need to rethink this one style fits all rooms approach.
- I would leave out the bunnies too, but otherwise, this room has great potential with just some small adjustments.
Related: How to choose colours for a Nursery
Related: How to decorate with pastels
What did you think of The Block 2022 Kids bedroom reveals? I would love to hear in the comments 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 Kids bedroom reveal can be found at The Block Shop.
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.
