September 18th 2017

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and if tonight’s kitchen reveals were anything to go by, this season’s homes on The Block have BIG hearts! It’s not all about the touchy-feely when it comes to kitchens though, and I was very keen to make sure our couples’ power was on point this week. There’s nothing worse than Block kitchens without enough power points to run all the fabulous appliances the contestants have selected! Great to see Jason and Sarah back in the game after a phenomenal week’s effort, and interesting to see all the contestants’ homes really starting to take shape with the installation of their kitchens.

Jason & Sarah
Jason and Sarah worked their guts out, had to do some stiff negotiating at the body corporate and gave up participating in this week’s challenge to complete both their master bedrooms and their kitchens this week so it was great to see their return to form. With its concrete bench, metallic cabinetry and multitude of appliances, Jason and Sarah’s gave us a well-appointed, high-end and timeless kitchen, and an extremely functional study nook, that buyers are going to love when this couple opens their house for inspection. It does make the mind boggle that last week was so overwhelming but the fear of not being in The Block anymore spurred them to not only finish the kitchen, but the upstairs level. As Scotty always says, a lot can happen on The Block in a week.

Hannah & Clint

Hannah and Clint’s kitchen simply oozed style from the layering and texturing of the materials they selected to the elegant appliances, to the inviting lemon arrangement on the bench top. And, the  kitchen wasn’t all style, no substance, either. That super-sized island bench had power points, a sink, dishwasher and bins in all the right places (and it’s going to be the hub of every party this home hosts). And, an additional sink, dishwasher, two wine fridges (?) and ample storage make the space extremely functional (although the size of that integrated fridge isn’t going to fly with families)! Overall, though, it’s a contemporary, sophisticated entertainer’s area that is set to impress buyers.

Ronnie & Georgia

Rugged concrete, light concrete cupboards, and a stunning porcelain splash back – Ronnie and Georgia gave us 50 shades of grey this week and almost as many textures. On many levels their kitchen was super-functional. The size and layout of the sink, the ovens, the downdraft cooktop ventilation, and the giant double integrated fridge are perfect for the family market, as was the power point under the island bench. And the styling inside the fridge was a lovely touch that spoke volumes about Ronnie and Georgia’s signature attention to detail. Their pantry did lack power, and it worries me that they’ve chosen to plaster all the way to the floor which isn’t going to be very durable, but Ronnie and Georgia again showed themselves to be frontrunners in the competition this week. Their neutral palettes in the major areas have worked well individually, but it was interesting this week to see the living/dining and kitchen as a whole did lack some ‘oomph’ and needs an injection of colour to bring it all together. It’ll be interesting to see if that appears later down the track.

Sticks & Wombat

Some hits and some misses for the boys this week. That chunky, impactful Ceaserstone island bench with its twin sinks and contrasting wood grain breakfast bar was a big hit. (The latter would have been even more functional if the height had been adjustable.) I also liked the Caeserstone splash back and the dark concrete cabinetry, but I felt there needed to be some relief from all the different textured surfaces between the range hood and adjoining cabinetry to really make the kitchen feel a little calmer. The boys got big ticks for their double fridge freezer, and two dishwashers, but where were the power points on the island bench and in the butler’s pantry and, more importantly, where were the rubbish bins??? Neale coined it when he coined ‘raw luxury’ to describe the boys’ rustic, industrial style and I think it suits their house perfectly, it just needs some finessing. Loved the clever hidden area and the introduction of some white wall paneling, I hope they get the feedback we loved it and use this approach a bit more in the house.

Josh & Elyse

Josh and Elyse were the only couple to flip their Ceaserstone island bench 90 degrees and their gamble paid dividends this week. It was a clever move, opening up all four sides of their island for people to sit, stand, work or just hang out, and connecting the kitchen to the living area and garden – perfect for entertaining. Their butler’s pantry was like a dream. So much storage and SIX power points! I was in culinary heaven. Concealed rubbish bins, perfect paintwork and a copper kettle ready and waiting on the stove – Josh and Elyse’s cozy, cohesive kitchen hit the mark time and time again. Another week, another win. Josh and Elyse are going from strength to strength and I’m excited to find out how their well-planned house performs on auction day.