Luke and Jasmin were joint winners this week for The Block Master Ensuite reveal but I thought they deserved to win outright. It's interesting to see now in week 4 how the couples are progressing and developing their style, while endeavouring to adhere to the designated era brief. I'm certainly getting my firm favourites.
The Block master ensuite reveal
The judges feedback and my thoughts are below on how I thought each couple went this week, in general design terms and in their ability to meet their brief.
Luke and Jasmin | Week 4| Master Ensuite 29/30
The judges' views
The stunning curved wall, white tiles and circular skylight from Velux all came together to make what is a beautiful Master Ensuite from Luke and Jasmin. Wow. The curved wall is a trend we have started to see on The Block this year, and it is likely to continue. The black bath was a perfect compliment to the more subtle, beachy type white colour palette in the Master Ensuite. More importantly, Darren, Shaynna and Neale think this bathroom will appeal to the buyer as it has such an emotional connection.
My views
The 1910s were all about natural organic shapes. The Arts and Crafts movement led the backlash to the Industrial Revolution and the ornate over decoration of the Victorian era. This led to a simpler way of decorating with a pared back and natural colour palette. White was the order of the day for kitchens and bathrooms in keeping with hygiene ideas of the time and therefore a clean and simple white bathroom is absolutely perfect for this era. The beautiful curved walls are also a nod to the natural organic style of the time. The delicate flannel flowers are perfect for the styling as the Federation period in Australia incoporated natural flora and fauna into its designs. The reeded glass of the shower screens relates more to mid-century design, however I love it and feel that it works very well with the style of the bathroom and I can certainly forgive them this. With the inclusion of a black bath and a lighter coloured timber vanity than would have been popular at this time, this is a very nice contemporary interpretation of the era and perfect for the beachside location of Brighton. Well done to them both!
Jimmy and Tam | Week 4 | Master Ensuite 28 +1 with gnome = 29/30
The Judges' views
Once again the colour palette and the tile choice was bold by Jimmy and Tam, but it worked. The pink tiles were a real statement piece in the Master Ensuite. Their vanity and everything around it was a stunning choice, with nude coloured basins that were a hit with the judges. The vanity works perfectly with the bed and bedside tables in the Master Bedroom. Jimmy and Tam separated their Master Ensuite to their Walk In Robe, which was great news for the judges – they listened to the feedback after last week’s disaster. A return to form for the Brisbane married couple.
My views
The colour scheme and the choice of tiles was perfect for the 1950s era. Pastel colours were in vogue. This was an exciting decade for change and creativity as the 50s dawned as a bright new era. This master ensuite evokes that mood perfectly. Australia was embracing the West Coast look from the US with an emphasis on the use of timber, stone and glass. The reeded glass in the window is perfect for this era and the pink works perfectly. I do believe though that the vanity unit should have flowed from the master bedroom but that it shouldn't have been exactly the same. This is simply too matchy matchy. I thought that the entire bed, bedhead and bedside tables were too much last week and continuing with the vanity too is just too much of a good thing.
Harry and Tash | Week 4 | Master Ensuite 28 ½ /30
The judges' views
The three tile choices of dark green, terrazzo and white from Beaumont Tiles were praised by the judges. Harry and Tash’s bath they named Deliah was also a huge hit. Just stunning. Darren Palmer believed Harry and Tash got just the right mix of luxury and nod to the 1920s period this week. Shaynna loved Tash’s styling, including the rose pink towel and flowers. Lovely touches in what was a very successful week for the Melbourne father and daughter. The Master Ensuite complimented their winning Master Bedroom from last week just perfectly.
My views
The early Art Deco period of the 1920s was far more glitzy and dynamic than the Art Nouveau period that preceded it. This was a time of international travel, glamour and luxury. The lines were more streamlined with expressive zig zag lines and geometric designs. The colours were stronger and I therefore love the use of the rich glossy green tiles in this master bedroom ensuite. Overall I think this is quite a pleasing bathroom but for me there are two things that let this room down. The use of the standard white 300 x 600 white wall tiles was uninspired. This isn't either a glamorous or luxurious look that befits the era. The vanity should have been more glitzy too. A simple black and white vanity doesn't suit the style and again is a bit pedestrian. Something with some geometric styling with some gold accessories would have suited the look better than the modern day black. This is still a nice bathroom but it could have really been a great 1920s Art Deco ensuite with a little bit of extra thought.
Sarah and George | Week 4 Master Ensuite 28 ½ / 30
The judges' views
The Western Sydney married couple had a tough week on The Block, after Sarah’s grandmother passed away. With the help of their trades, they rallied together to deliver a beautiful and spacious Master Ensuite bathroom. The tile choices from Beaumont Tiles, including the soft pink and grey, were praised by the judges. In total there were four tile choices by Sarah and George, which Shaynna generally hates. But it works. Full points to Sarah and George for installing a smart toilet, the way of the future. They nearly got the win, perhaps it will be next week when things really start to turn around.
My views
Sarah and George have introduced sentimental pink into their master ensuite, continuing the theme from their guest ensuite. This colour was perfect for the era of the 1940s as sweetness was the word for the post war period. I like bathrooms in a house to relate well to each other and the flow created with this successful colour scheme is great. Getting the colour right has allowed the couple to introduce some more contemporary elements to the room with the introduction of black. However, I do feel that the vanity unit is a little plain. They pulled this colour off with the vanity in their guest ensuite as it had some beautiful detailing but this was clearly an emotionally challenging and difficult week for the couple so I think that under the circumstances, they did extremely well.
Daniel and Jade | Week 4| Master Ensuite 28 /30
The judges' views
Bathrooms on The Block are all about tile choices, and Daniel and Jade got it right this week with their beautiful fish scale tiles. A prefect nod to the 1930s. The glamorous bath was also a huge plus for Daniel and Jade. In a sentimental touch, Jade added some slippers as part of her styling, however Darren Palmer wasn’t that impressed. The huge Velux skylights were also amazing. Daniel and Jade had a massive Master Ensuite this week, and with 28/30 any other week it could have taken the win, but they finished at the bottom of the leader board.
My views
I really like the glitz and the glamour that the tiles introduce into this bathroom as they fit the feel of the 1930s Art Deco period perfectly. However, the bath is simply too small and looks like an afterthought. The vanity is completely wrong for the period as this is a classic Shaker style. This was the religious movement from the 19th century that shunned any kind of ornamentation which is completely at odds with the glamorous styles of the fast paced Art Deco period. The Shaker styling is extremely popular now and absolutely great for contemporary Hamptons style homes but it doesn't belong with this look at all. For me this bathroom only met the brief halfway and the Shaker detailing was completely wrong.
Many of the items on display here can be found at The Block Shop and more information about the show and the contestants can be found at Nine Now.
See how these ensuites relate to their master bedrooms in The Block Master Bedroom room reveal
I would love to hear your feedback on what you thought of the master ensuite room reveal. Do you agree with my choice for the winner or do you have another favourite? Don't forget to join in the conversation below.