The popular reality renovation show, The Block, has returned for its 21st season, showcasing contestants in the scenic town of Daylesford, Victoria. This year, five teams of Blockheads are challenged with creating new builds within a shared housing estate, featuring identical floorplans and a weekly budget prize of $10,000.
Returning host Scott Cam helms the competition for his 19th season, alongside judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer, and Marty Fox, who are ready to provide feedback and critiques on the contestants’ designs.
Week One: Bathroom Reveals
In the first week, contestants faced the daunting task of designing bathrooms, with results that varied significantly among the teams. The scores highlighted both creativity and areas needing improvement.
Team Scores:
– House 1: Emma and Ben – 24/30
– House 2: Han and Can – 19.5/30
– House 3: Britt and Taz – 24/30
– House 4: Sonny and Alicia – 25.5/30
– House 5: Robby and Mat – 26.5/30
Detailed Room Reveals
In House 1, Emma and Ben presented a bathroom that drew immediate praise from the judges for its texture choices, which they noted reflected Daylesford’s natural landscape. Shaynna commended the inspiration drawn from the area’s “undulating hills and dirt,” while Darren appreciated the use of natural light. However, the judges pointed out issues with rough tiling.
House 2’s Han and Can struggled with an incomplete project, where Darren highlighted a vanity that was positioned too high for a shared children’s bathroom. He expressed concern that it would pose challenges for younger users. The industrial fittings, particularly the shower screen, did not resonate well with Marty, who urged the team to draw inspiration from their home’s exterior.
Britt and Taz from House 3 received mixed feedback. While the judges praised their use of wallpaper, they noted that the incorrect vanity height detracted from the overall design. Shaynna and Marty raised concerns about the tapware and shower screen size, with Marty emphasizing the need for a stronger connection to the Daylesford aesthetic.
In House 4, Sonny and Alicia impressed Darren, who said he was “besotted” with their design, though he pointed out that the vanity was again too high. Despite some tiling critiques, the judges acknowledged the pair’s strong planning and execution, which earned them the second-best score of the week.
The top score of the week went to House 5, where Robby and Mat’s design was dubbed the “Goldilocks’ room” by Darren. He lauded their attention to detail and style, noting that everything worked harmoniously together. Their design not only won them the week but also the coveted $10,000 budget prize.
As the competition progresses, contestants will continue to showcase their creativity and adaptability in the face of rigorous challenges, all while aiming for the ultimate prize of transforming their builds into market-ready homes. The excitement of The Block 2025 has just begun, with much more to come in the weeks ahead.
