The Block 2024 guest ensuite reveal certainly provided much to talk about. It was good to see a fully completed room from Maddy and Charlotte, which although very successful and a study in simplicity, didn't set the world on fire. This begs the question though with what you should include in an expensive area such as a bathroom. You do need to create a room that is classic and timeless. There is no shame in that and Maddy and Charlotte achieved this in spades.
I was encouraged by Ricky and Haydn's room reveal this week. I really liked it. The two in joint third place from Kristin and Mimi and Kylie and Brad fell flat for me and they both had big errors. Courtney and Grant's guest ensuite was amazing. Very polarising, but it worked and certainly didn't deserve last place.
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 Guest Ensuite
First Place: Maddy and Charlotte 27.5 points
Finally, a room the sisters designed and built from the ground up – and didn’t the judges love it! “This second main bathroom could trump the first one,” Marty said as the judges admired the Nood Co Mount Olive basin, bold Cosentino stone on the vanity and the high standard of workmanship. Darren loved the Beaumont tile choices, plus vanity, mirror and fixtures from Reece – simple and stylish, he said. All three wondered about the logic of having the toilet on display and Marty would have preferred a more nuanced lighting plan, wondering if the girls hadn’t perhaps played things a bit safe, but Shaynna disagreed. It might be safe, she admitted, but the style Maddy and Charlotte had found was definitely “Classic Simplicity”.
My thoughts on Maddy and Charlotte's guest ensuite
- This is a very successful guest ensuite reveal from Maddy and Charlotte. It is a perfect study in absolute simplicity.
- I really like the tile selection. The combination of the square tile and the large format limestone look tile work perfectly together and the shelf in the shower is very appealing.
- The vanity is beautiful with a very striking stone top with a large mirrored cabinet above.
- The colour palette is very appealing, warm and simple, but with olive green and brass tapware to create a very natural, organic scheme.
- A truly delightful, classic study of a simple bathroom that works perfectly. Remember that good quality items, good workmanship and a soft colour palette is a winning formula when it comes to bathroom renovation.
Second Place: Ricky and Haydn 25 points
No worries about too much space in Ricky and Haydn’s bathroom, Shaynna said: “It’s tiny!” before adding “Tiny’s not a bad thing.” Looking past the size, Darren loved the layout, the custard Nood Co basin – complete with terrazzo plug – and complementing the Beaumont Mustard Handmade Tiles, the smart use of James Hardie panelling and best of all: “Finally! A horizontal towel rail!”. Face-level storage had Shaynna smiling, but once again she wanted more from the styling, urging them to ditch the cheap robes and shampoo for something sophisticated. In all though, the judges agreed that the boys had found their groove and were presenting a house that is literally Phillip Island… and that could prove a winning formula.
My thoughts on Ricky and Haydn's guest ensuite
- This is another pretty simple bathroom, but with the added splash of rich colour, it does have more personality than Maddy and Charlotte's. This doesn't make it better, but it could have more appeal if buyers are looking for something a little different.
- The rich colour palette is very successful and the feature mustard tiles are stunning. A great complement to the oak vanity and soft yellow basin. With rich olive coloured towels used to style the room, this palette is amazing and perfect for its location.
- I love the tapware, heated towel rail and simple v groove panelling. The bathroom is small, but a perfect guest ensuite for a holiday home.
Tied Third Place: Mimi and Kristian 24.5 points
After weeks of winning praise for their trademark Porta timber features, this week it just didn’t work, Shaynna and Darren agreed. “It's an inclusion for the sake of inclusion,” Darren said, with Shaynna adding it was all a bit “formulaic”. The Kado Era vanity and Nood Co Pill Sink were beautiful, but too small, Darren continued, the mirror wasn’t level and he too thought it was a repeat of earlier rooms. Marty, on the other hand, loved what he saw, from the Sand In My Shoe artwork by Michelle Keighley to the Tyde stool, he said it was consistent, not “same again” and fit in perfectly with the rest of the house.
My thoughts on Kristin and Mimi's guest ensuite
- I have been a great fan of Kristin and Mimi's designs, but this room is not one of their success stories.
- The main large format tile used on the floors and walls is very appealing. A nice quality tile that is timeless.
- I really love the copper tapware and accessories which works perfectly with the appealing soft green vanity. The curves of the vanity make it perfect for the room. The toilet suite is tucked away behind the door, which is perfect.
- I love the artwork and I like the continuation of the use of timber in the ceiling. This continuity works well through the house.
- So, there are plenty of great elements to this room, but I can't get past the choice of feature tile and the pale blue basin. The blend of pastels in blue and green just don't work with the rest of the room and they are throwing the scheme completely. The copper tapware is perfect with the vanity, but clashes terribly with the pale blue and mint green.
- This is also a fairly reasonably sized bathroom and the shower is just too small. It should have been extended out lengthwise, at least a little, to keep it in proportion with the room.
- There are so many great elements here, but if the colour scheme isn't right, it can throw the entire look.
Tied Third Place: Brad and Kylie 24.5 points
Dark and moody once again, but this time, Darren said, it all works! “This is exactly what I thought Kylie and Brad were going for in their first bathroom,” he said. “And it's great!” The timber-look tiles to ceiling softened everything, Shaynna added and played well off the accompanying Dekton Keryla and “blush pink” Nood Co pedestal basin, with even Marty agreeing the bathroom would shoot well for their Domain listing… and will definitely appeal to a distinct market. The Night Float Premium Poster Print or Print on Canvas was a big hit, but once again, Shaynna wanted more from the styling and pointed out some missing grouting and caulking, but overall, it was a room that added much to the home.
My thoughts on Kylie and Brad's guest ensuite
- At first look, this does work better than their previous bathrooms, however there are some glaring errors.
- As nice as the pedestal pink basin is, it doesn't work in this room. This should only be used in a powder room and is completely unsuitable for a guest ensuite. Apart from some small shelving in the mirrored cabinet, there is absolutely no storage and barely anywhere to perch a wash bag. There isn't even a hand towel.
- I like the timber in the shower and I like the v groove panelling in a soft grey lavender, but I don't like them together. The Dekton flooring and wall tile is stunning and looks fabulous with the wall colour and the beautiful artwork. There is so much that is appealing here, but it is not cohesive.
- A small point about the architrave around the door too – this should have matched the walls as there is nothing else white in the room.
Fifth Place: Courtney and Grant 24 points
Striking, bold and definitely a statement, Courtney and Grant’s bathroom divided the judges as they argued the layout and hero tiles in the shower area. For Shaynna the combination of Cosentino marble, tiles and ISSY Adorn double vanity was a definite hit. For Marty it was all a lot to take in… “these tiles are going too far!” he said, adding that too much space had been “borrowed” from the rumpus and study for too little return. But while Darren agreed the space wasn’t quite right, with the toilet in the tallest part of the room and the shower in the lowest and the tiles were borderline too much, he joined Shaynna to say they’d won him over. “It's gorgeous, dramatic and impactful”.
My thoughts on Courtney and Grant's guest ensuite
- You will either love or hate this bathroom. I really love it. The design of the feature tiles is stunning.
- The colour palette is perfect with the rich terracotta and cream working perfectly with the muted floor tile, stunning rich brown marble and soft, creamy yellow basins.
- The use of the large format tile as a vanity splashback works well too as this doesn't add another feature. By using a large simple mirror set into its own space, this too doesn't detract from the stunning feature tile and marble.
- The toilet suite is tucked away, which is great design.
- This room didn't deserve last place.
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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