As the old saying goes: “first impressions last” and some of our contestants are going to make a fantastic impression when they open their homes for inspection, even if it did nearly break them. Which of this week’s hallways and laundries made an excellent first impression on you? Tweet me @ShaynnaBlaze or leave a comment on my Instagram @ShaynnaBlaze or here on Facebook.
Jason & Sarah
Jason and Sarah’s hallway was nothing short of majestic, really honouring the home’s heritage pedigree. The full-length front doors were stunning and the dramatic Velux skylight almost negated the need for lighting. I felt the skylights were the hero and didn’t need the extra chandeliers but Neale didn’t think so (I still think too much ceiling clutter). There were some issues with execution – the paint and plastering was obviously rushed and unfinished – and I would have balanced the space out by putting the shelf on the opposite side of the hallway, but the effort was definitely there this week.
In the laundry Jason and Sarah’s choice of charcoal coloured tiles added to the sense of opulence and sophistication. The choice of chrome handle on the door to the laundry jarred with the brass handles elsewhere, but overall Jason and Sarah’s hallway and laundry are the best rooms they’ve delivered this season.
Hannah & Clint
Next to the grandness of house one, Hannah and Clint’s entry hall seemed a little bit ordinary. Their choice of pendants worked better than in house one, and the cornicing and skirting was beautiful, but the walls would have benefitted from the panelling they used in the sitting room and, while the styling was excellent, the bones of the space lacked character and the execution (or lack of it) reflected the pressure they must have been feeling this week. The decision to have two parallel hallways form day one worried me and this week it really showed what a huge layout issue it is.
By contrast, their laundry was rather fabulous with abundant storage, lots of bench space and attractive penny round tiles (although I wasn’t a fan of the unfinished look with the absence of a capping tile at the top). There are, however, definite privacy issues with the placement of Hannah and Clint’s toilet, and again their execution left things feeling like a work in progress this week.
Ronnie & Georgia
You know it’s been a tough week when serial early-finishers Ronnie and Georgia have issues with their execution. It’s all very well being able to unlock your front door with the touch of an iPhone button, but the unfinished paintwork in their hallway soon undid that great first impression. As did the Victorian archway in their 1920s house – an odd choice after the effort Ronnie and Georgia went to with the lead lighting in their front door and windows. On the positive side, their choice of painting was beautiful and the colour palette, cornicing and skirtings also got big ticks from me – as did their addition of a powder room instead of locating the toilet in the laundry.
Ronnie and Georgia’s laundry was spacious – enhanced by the addition of a skylight. But, although I loved the airing cupboard in the hallway, there were storage issues elsewhere. Where are the eventual owners going to store their iron and ironing board??? Ronnie and Georgia’s don’t clear the door so they simply aren’t functional, and the skirting boards and architraves were missing – not something we’re used to seeing from this couple.
Sticks & Wombat
At last Sticks and Wombat got in touch with their feminine side and how their home’s hallway benefited from it! The panelling on the walls and ceiling gave their home’s entrance a much-needed Californian Bungalow vibe that, teamed with the beautiful flowers and soft artwork, and the softness of the light from their pendant lighting made it feel warm and welcoming. They sure did nail the Hygge feeling!
Moving into the laundry (with a detour to take in the self-contained WC with its lovely tiles and artwork) I got very excited about the remote control attic ladder and all that hidden storage! I’ve loved the way Sticks and Wombat have listened and learned at every stage of the way on The Block this year and this week that really paid dividends for them with their first reveal win. Their laundry was carefully planned and big on functionality with a purpose-built cupboard for the ironing board and three power points in the linen cupboard. In all, it is a beautifully (and the only) finished room from the colour palette to the tiles to the bench tops that mirror their kitchen bench tops. My only suggestion: pop in a door to hide the dirty washing from view boys!
Josh & Elyse
Josh and Elyse’s folded steel door/wood paneled entrance hall combo was nothing short of mind blowing. From the scale of the space to the beauty of the paneling they’ve created a grand introduction to their period home. That steel door is inspired, creating privacy and silence in the guest bedrooms and providing a clever division between the period and modern halves of the home. (The same solution could work well for them in the master bedroom where they need to do something about the lack of privacy.) Their styling was also top notch from the raw timber console table to the duck egg blue tiles that link with the carpet runner.
Through the magic door, Josh and Elyse gave us a sleek, modern laundry with the shaker profile cabinetry that’s become a signature for them this season. The concrete-colour floor tile, Caeserstone bench tops, and the stone penny round tiles were all beautiful and the drying room was a clever idea (although not necessarily at the expense of a separate toilet)! I’m a little concerned about the storage (or lack thereof) in Josh and Elyse’s laundry, as I was hoping they were making up for the lack of storage in the main bathroom – where are all the towels going? Stylish and beautiful but a little ‘form over function’ this week. In the laundry their window could have used an extra lick of paint, but overall another stylish reveal for this couple.
Megan Dougherty
Bravo Management Pty Ltd
Level 5, 111 Coventry Street,
Southbank VIC 3006
P: +61 (3) 8825 6641 (direct)
Blank Canvas Interiors
598-600, Burwood Road
Hawthorn East, VIC AUSTRALIA 3123