The Block 2024 main ensuite week was very interesting and showed how some of the teams have developed their style and execution early into the contest. Unfortunately one room was completely unfinished, the worst in Block history, so I am not sure what is going on there. So, I only have four main ensuite bathrooms to show you. I would love to hear your thoughts on how the teams are progressing and whether or not you agreed with the judges this week.
As usual, I have my comments on all of the rooms and the judges run down on them too, together with photos and links to buy some of my favourite products this week. If you click on one of these links then I may receive a small commission which in no way increases the cost to you.
The Block 2024 main ensuite
First Place: Courtney and Grant
With an: “I love this!” from Darren, “This is beautiful!” from Shaynna and “It’s insane!” from Marty, it’s fair to say the judges were impressed by Courtney and Grant’s master (sorry, *main*) ensuite. Pointing to the Mineral Natural Travertine Tumbled Tile chequerboard tiles, the olive Nood Co Mill Basin Surface Mount basins, inspired plasterwork and “perfect” execution, loving the Angela Hawkey artwork, Shaynna said the pair had managed a room that was “brave and brilliant”. Darren loved the mixed textures, the curves around the mirror and how that was used to create a shelf… only the narrow shower entrance stopped him from a perfect ten, he said. For Marty the aesthetics and functionality “hit the room out of the ballpark” and left him wondering how the room could be beaten.
My thoughts on Courtney and Grant's main ensuite
- The colour palette in this room is perfect. The extended related scheme of warm travertine, brown marble, brass and an injection of olive green is very successful. Most of the colours are harmonious, but if they hadn't introduced olive green this could have been a little warm and too much the same. By extending the scheme to include a soft olive, the balance is just right.
- I like the chequerboard effect of the tiles which adds great tonal contrast to the scheme.
- The marble in the shower niche has been finished well.
- The marble tray is one of my favourite accent pieces and I love the towels and artwork.
- I agree that the opening to the shower is a little tight, but overall this is a very successful room and deserved first place.
Second Place: Jessie and Paige
“Sophisticated and fresh!”, Shaynna was immediately taken by Jessie and Paige’s Tetra Structured Gumleaf Satin Matt tile choice for their bathroom this week – and the fact they finished. “In terms of layout and planning, this is absolutely successful,” said Darren, pointing out the warm colour palette was the same as their first bathroom, but this time it worked so much better, mainly because of the improved layout. Add in the repetition of curves from the Equinox LED 200mm brushed chrome sconce lights to the shower screens and it’s “what good design is all about”, he said. For Marty it was all about the practicality of the Laufen “New Classic” above counter double basins and double showerheads and while he would have preferred a cavity slider, the layout and Taj Mahal stone features made for a room that would shoot beautifully.
My thoughts on Jesse and Paige's main ensuite
- This is another successful colour palette with the partnership of green square tiles, which I really like, with Taj Mahal stone and soft travertine tiles. With accents of green towels and accessories, the scheme has come together perfectly.
- I really like the curves on the vanity unit and the beautiful basins.
- Overall a very nice main ensuite that deserved second place.
Related: Using Zellige tiles in bathroom design
Third Place: Kylie and Brad
From the eye-catching Shou Sugi Ban burned timber cladding contrasting with the Blackbutt vanity to the stunning Flue 1lt pendant lights and more, Kylie and Brad’s room, Marty said, had “all the sass and pizazz that Shaynna has been looking for, but is still hugely marketable!”. The veined marble was “a bit angry” Shaynna and Darren agreed and the art deco theme still didn’t fit a beachside home, but with less black than the couple’s first room, stunning artwork by artist Guilia Di Sipio and a much-needed bathtub, Marty summed up that a lot was right about the room and if house four continued this way, they would do well at auction time.
My thoughts on Kylie and Brad's main ensuite
- Sticking with the black theme, this is a much more successful attempt from Kylie and Brad compared with their disastrous black guest bathroom from the first week.
- The judges were not keen on the marble effect tiles, but I think they work with the charred black lining boards. You need that definite black vein to partner with such a bold statement.
- The blackbutt vanity unit with its streaks of black, works perfectly to soften and balance the scheme.
- I love the large statement oval mirror.
- The double shower, beautiful bath and eye catching artwork complete the look well.
- Overall, I think this is a very successful ensuite. I agree with the judges that it is a little art deco for a classic beachside scheme, but then there will be buyers who will gravitate to something a little different so I think that it does work. They just need to work on continuing a theme rather than having a mix of styles throughout the house.
Fourth Place: Kristian and Mimi
“How big is too big?” wondered the judges when they walked in – and walked around in – Kristian and Mimi’s huge master ensuite. “I love the vanity, love the tiles, the basin, the mirror and the lights,” Darren said admiring the Kado Era Wall Hung Vanity with Double Basin and Clay Ocean Gloss from Beaumont. “Even the towel rails and colour…” But with a layout that left too much space in some areas and not enough in others, it just didn’t work. “Everything is pushed in corners!” he complained everything except a bath, Shaynna noted, which was conspicuously missing. And then they noticed the “list of excuses” which highlighted even more errors, from unfinished paint to missing downlights, silicone and grout. It all added up to a big miss, the judges agreed, and one they hope the couple learn from.
My thoughts on Kristian and Mimi's main ensuite
- The ensuite does seem to be rather large and I do think that room should have been found for a bathtub. Winters in this region are cold – in fact summer can be chilly – so a bath really would be appealing if the space allows and I think it does here. Although I don't have the dimensions or plans to confirm this it would be interesting to see if it could have been configured better.
- I like the inclusion of the seats in the shower recess as it gives a gorgeous spa feel to the space.
- I do think that the tiles are overwhelming. They are a little dark and very busy and I feel they don't really completely work.
- I love the inclusion of the navy blue in the scheme, but the feature wall doesn't work as the position of the basins and mirrors are not centred and this just draws attention to the imbalance here. By using such a definite feature tile behind the vanity unit, it is imperative that the look is completely right.
- There are some good elements in this room, but it isn't as successful as their first bathroom.
Fifth Place: Ricky and Haydn
Unpainted, unwaterproofed and untiled, the judges felt only one thing about Ricky and Haydn’s ensuite… underwhelmed. “What the???” Shaynna asked looking at a room where something had obviously gone wrong, “Does it take a week to paint a door?”. “It looks like somebody has walked off,” Darren speculated, “and if that’s the case, I feel sick for them.” The only positive, Marty offered was that although incomplete, he could see where the room was headed and liked the layout and the Velux skylight overhead. That said, it’s still one of the most unfinished rooms in Block history, he added, and fittingly landed some of the lowest scores ever seen.
I'm not sure what the issue is with these guys? Hopefully they will be able to catch up!
I hope you have enjoyed my run down of The Block 2024 main ensuite rooms – I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.
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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