The word pretty sums up the selection of rooms on the Block 2024 bedroom reveal. Visually, I loved Ricky and Haydn's bedroom and the gorgeous room presented by Jessie and Paige, but there was appeal in each of the rooms this week. The colours were generally soft and welcoming and I love the use of some soft colour in the sheers. Past years have seen kilometers of pure white sheers, but a little more effort has been put into the selection of these this season and it is very effective.
As usual, I have all the rooms, the judges' comments and my own, together with some links to purchase my favourite pieces this week. If you do click on one of these, I may receive a small commission which in no way impacts on the price you will pay.
The Block 2024 Bedroom
First Place: Kristian and Mimi 28 points
With soft clouds as a bedhead – complete with LED lighting behind and a Grafico rainbow overhead – Kristian and Mimi’s kids room was playful but sophisticated and very, very camera friendly, Marty said. “The idea of the day!” Darren said, with Marty adding the Lunar Bed Head by Create Estate would “break the internet”. “That’s going to be a best seller on The Block Shop because it's just amazing,” he said. For Shaynna, they were just the start, saying she loved the soft palette and a play on Art Deco and Fifties style that somehow felt coastal. Not even trundle beds that struggled in the space and artworks hung too high for kids could take away from the fun, the judges agreed.
My thoughts on Kristian and Mimi's bedroom
- The colour palette in this bedroom is very successful. With bold, but muted hues, the outcome is very appealing. This palette is based on a complementary colour scheme which means that the colours are opposite on the colour wheel. Blue and orange work really well together as this is their intended partnership. Introduce different tones from very pale to very dark in both of the colours and the effect is great. When the right colours are used, you can mix up different hues.
- I love the soft colour in the sheers which maintains the harmonious feel to the bedroom.
- This is a great guest bedroom for children as it will work for a multitude of ages. I would like to have seen a desk in the wardrobes though. Remember for a holiday home you shouldn't need acres of storage as you would for a normal children's bedroom and they need somewhere to sit and play.
- Clearly to use the trundle bed you would need to completely move the light and bedside table out of the way so this could only occasionally accommodate 3 children. However, when space is limited, this is not a deal breaker.
Second Place: Kylie and Brad 27.5 points
Have Kylie and Brad been listening to the judges advice? It seemed that way when Shaynna led the house four cheer squad this week, pointing to “exactly the right” blend of black and white, perfect Kinsman wardrobes (complete with soft leather handles), the awesome Briar Ivory Jute and Wool Rug and practical floorboards. “They only needed a little shift of thinking,” Darren said, “And here it is! There’s still black – but it's soft, light and bright.” Even Marty agreed, loving the Myer Triple Bunk bed, Grafico wallpaper and the Bohteak Hapuna Hanging chair that “really says Phillip Island”. Add in the perfect artworks, a chic Porta Timber feature and it was a room they all loved… If only they’d played their Penguin, this would have taken the win!
My thoughts on Kylie and Brad's bedroom
- Kylie and Brad are developing their sense of style well and I do love the warmth and richness of the colour palette in this room. The area rug is absolutely perfect, in both its texture and colour, and it softens the timber floor nicely.
- The triple bunk bed is a perfect solution for a children's room in a holiday house and this one works well. The wallpaper works with the look of the room, as does the wall panelling, however, the artwork simply does not work in this space. It is completely overwhelming.
- I wouldn't opt for matt black wardrobes in a children's bedroom as unless you use a product that doesn't show fingerprints, black is the worst choice. I can only imagine the pain in trying to keep this looking good with little fingerprints all over it. Always double check if you are using a matt black for any joinery that it is fingerprint resistant, particularly if you have children.
- I like the look of the hanging chair, but it is very close to the window and I fear that it could be dangerous for over-excited children.
- Overall, I love the colour palette and there are some nice elements, but I don't think this room deserved second place.
Third Place: Courtney and Grant 27 points
For Marty, the instant attraction for House 2 came from the curves. “It’s incredible!” he said as he walked in the room, with Darren adding “my heart just jumped out of my chest!”. For Shaynna it was the inclusions such as the Kinsman wardrobes, the Bailey Dining Chair and Solstice Cairo bedsides that caught her eye… but unlike her colleagues, she wasn’t completely sold. The pendants, she said, were too big and looked strange, and the desk area had a power point underneath with no way to access it from the top. Details, details, Marty replied as he took in the curved skirting boards and expert finish. This room, he declared, showed why he thought Courtney and Grant were front runners to win the Block. “This house is an auctioneers dream!”
My thoughts on Courtney and Grant's bedroom here
- The soft pink and green colour palette works well in this room. Again, this is a complementary colour palette with the colours opposite on the colour wheel. It's also a very natural colour palette which works well with the natural oak in the joinery. The look is fresh and welcoming, but also soft and comfortable.
- I too love the curves in the room which are a welcome design element. However, the bedside tables don't work with these soft curves at all. The design of them is jarring and completely at odds with the rest of the room.
- I love the lighting in the desk nook, but I agree with the judges on the placement of the power point, without access from the benchtop, it is useless.
- Overall, it is a visually appealing and welcoming room, completed by the soft colour in the sheers.
Equal Fourth Place: Ricky and Haydn 26.5 points
After a disaster the week before, Ricky and Haydn needed a confidence boost this week and they certainly got it from judges who loved everything from the Arlo bed and matching bedside, the stylish off-centre feature wall, contemporary P50 shadow line around the door and skirts, stylish Amanda Hinkelmann artwork, textures galore with the boucle, linen, carpet and sheers all working in harmony and a high-standard finish winning praise. “”I love it. I love it. I LOVE it a lot!” Darren said. “You crushed it!” Scotty added. Only the wardrobe laminate gave them pause – both Marty and Shaynna would have preferred a timber look – but with a new energy, new builder and new style (“Holiday Resort!” Scotty decided), the boys are back!
My thoughts on Ricky and Haydn's bedroom
- Visually, I love the look of this room, although I do agree with the judges that the wardrobes should have been in oak. This is my only sticking point however.
- I really like the A-symmetrical curve on the back wall and the wallpaper is sublime. With the soft dusky pinks used judiciously in the bedding and the lovely artwork in its oak frame to match the very nice bed and bedside tables, the look is perfect.
- Some lovely different textures have been introduced in a very successful simple colour palette. This bedroom is perfect. If only the wardrobes were in oak!
Equal Fourth place: Jessie and Paige 26.5 points
A versatile room – aimed at kids but easily converted to adults, a King bed could fit in easily, Marty said – Jessie and Paige’s room impressed the judges at first glance. With its Kave Home Boucle chair and, twin Velux skylights, Rattan pendant and Iconiko artwork, it was: “So on trend,” Darren said, “and fits in well with the rest of the house!” But looking closer the judges soon found faults. From unfinished paintwork and raw plaster in the step-in wardrobe, to the pink scalloped-edge desk that was too low to sit at and incomplete caulking, it was a room where time had simply run out, they felt. A few catch-up days would fix things, but as it was presented, this was far from a winning space.
My thoughts on Jessie and Paige's bedroom
This is a very fresh and visually appealing room. I love the gingham wallpaper with the white panelling and the complementary colour scheme of pink and green works really well for a fresh holiday environment.
Although I love the look of the timber joinery for the small walk in wardrobe, I fear that in reality this will look messy and will spoil the look of the room. This small nook should have been used for a cosy desk space, while the desk area should have housed built in wardrobes. Although the look of the curvy desk is pretty and suits the room, in practice I think it should have been the other way around. With the desk being too low, this only compounds the error.
The artworks are lovely and I really like the hanging rattan pendants which add interest and texture to the room. Overall, a lovely holiday home bedroom, that I agree is versatile, just not as practical as I would like to see.
You can find out more about The Block and the contestants at Channel 9. Did you know that many of the beautiful items used on the show can be purchased through The Block Shop?
All photography credits to David Cook Photography
You can see all the rooms and my thoughts on them from previous years of The Block here.
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