Episode 17 recap: Beautiful master bedrooms blow the judges away as one team scores the first 10 of the season

The Block is familiar with the idea of getting a year long reno done in a couple of weeks, but Rachel and Ryan are pushing the limits, trying to squeeze a two-day job into 10 hours.

Their master bedroom’s star feature is a stone fireplace, but it won’t be show-stopping if it’s not finished.

“The only thing we had left to do on Saturday was clad that fireplace,” Rachel says.

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Ryan rallies up the tradies to get the job done in time, but it’s going to be a close call. “I’ll be here when you’re putting the doona on the bed,” one of the tradies says to Ryan.

“Hopefully we’ll get it done in a day.”

Ankur and Sharon in House 3 are down to the wire too. Less than 20 hours out from Room Reveals and there’s still carpet to be laid, wardrobes to be installed and painting to be done.

But all that might need to be put on the back burner after their builder Liam discovers a problem with their padded headboard.

Their floor-to-ceiling velvet padded headboard has already been cut. But the height is off because they haven’t taken into account their cornice, which has already gone up.

Sharon is “stressed” that her padded headboard might not work out, but builder Liam swoops in to save the day. “I reckon we can just cut it ourselves,” he suggests.

And that’s exactly what he does. “Thank God we have a builder who can actually build,” Sharon breathes a sigh of relief.

Things are “cruisy” for Dylan and Jenny ahead of Room Reveals. And as professional tradies they’re all about the finer details.

With just minutes left Dylan decides to sand back the fireplace wall, but it backfires when his sanding box puts a dent in the wall.

“It’s such a shame,” Dylan shakes his head.

And although the pair try to fix it the best they can, they know they’re going to get “hammered” for it at judging.

Everyone manages to finish in time for Room Reveals, even Ankur and Sharon who say they’ve had their “toughest night on The Block“, and Rachel and Ryan who thought they might not get their fireplace done in time.

The teams are off to The Block headquarters where Scott Cam will read out the judges’ feedback.

Tom and Sarah-Jane

Neale Whitaker is quite literally lost for words walking into Tom and Sarah-Jane’s master bedroom. He was just standing there “grinning like an idiot”.

Eventually he manages to spit out the words, “I love it, it’s so beautifully done.”

The judges can’t keep away from the beautiful heritage fireplace in the corner of the room.

“It feels like a contemporary traditional pot belly stove, and I think it’s a really charming choice for the room,” Darren Palmer says.

Neale struggles to find any flaws. “I’m just running my eye around the room and thinking what can I see in here that I either disapprove of or dislike, and the answer is at this stage zero,” he says.

The judges love the walk-in robe just as much, although Shaynna does have one small issue – there are no doors on the wardrobe which means any mess will be on display.

Rachel and Ryan

Darren walks into the room and immediately hugs the stone fireplace.

Neale thinks it’s a “stunning centrepiece”.

After weeks of less than desirable feedback, Rachel and Ryan stepped outside of their comfort zone this week to wow the judges. And their efforts paid off.

“If last week’s room was cold, then this is the opposite,” Scotty says reading out the judges’ feedback.

Neale thinks that Rachel and Ryan have officially “redeemed themselves”.

While there are a few things in the room that don’t work like the dried flowers or the rug size, overall the room gets “two thumbs up”.

Walking into the wardrobe, Neale thinks it’s a space Carrie Bradshaw would be envious of.

Ankur and Sharon

“Extraordinary”, “glamorous” and “eccentric” are a few of the words the judges use to describe Ankur and Sharon’s master ensuite.

The judges find something they’ve never seen before – antique furniture, and the move gets them a special congratulations from Neale.

“There’s a lot of opulence here, the grandeur and scale of the room, the furniture, the ceiling height,” Shaynna says.

Although Shaynna loves their extravagance, she worries that Ankur and Sharon aren’t spending their money wisely.

She notes that some choices – like their padded bedhead – would’ve been better kept in their budget.

Darren also notices that Ankur and Sharon’s painting skills are still a work in progress.

Despite a few small shortcomings, the judges agree it is a show-stopping space.

“This will absolutely rock the world of any buyers,” Shaynna says.

Dylan and Jenny

The judges open the doors straight into Dylan and Jenny’s walk-in robe, although Neale says it’s more like a “drive-in robe”.

Dylan and Jenny’s wardrobe “oozes quality” while Shaynna is pleased to see a chandelier and says that’s what House 3 needed.

After the judges are floored by the walk-in wardrobe, the master bedroom falls a little short.

Neale says it’s a “nice” bedroom “but it’s not super special, and it doesn’t live up to the expectations of the ensuite or the walk-in robe.”

And it’s no surprise to Dylan and Jenny when the judges comment on the wall scuff above their fireplace.

The judges feel their styling and execution are “a bit rushed”.

Omar and Oz

“This is not what I was expecting,” Neale says walking in to Omar and Oz’s master bedroom.

Although he doesn’t necessarily mean it in a good way.

He finds their library nook “visually overwhelming” and Darren agrees, saying “I don’t think it actually adds value.”

The judges think their library nook is “odd” and “cluttered”.

It’s not all bad news for the boys. All three judges think their pressed metal ceiling is “beautiful” and Darren commends them for their carpet choice.

But they’re underwhelmed again once the head into the walk-in robe.

Darren points out it only has enough storage for a secondary bedroom, not a master. He worries it will make it difficult to compete with the other teams come auction day.

“There are several good choices in here – cornicing, ceiling, lighting layout,” Darren rattles off some positives.

But he thinks Omar and Oz’s bedroom needs some more work.

Main Bedroom scores

Back at HQ, Scotty totals up the judges’ scores and reveals the week’s winners.

Tom and Sarah-Jane: 28.5

Rachel and Ryan: 27.5

Ankur and Sharon: 28

Dylan and Jenny: 25.5

Omar and Oz: 22.5

Scotty swivels the scoreboard around to reveal Tom and Sarah-Jane are the winners, and the first to score a 10 this season.

They take home $10,000 for the win, an extra $5,000 from the Catch Cow for scoring a 10, plus the walk-in wine cellar that was promised in the Grape Escape challenge earlier in the week, and a mature tree is the cherry on top of all their prizes.

“About time we got good feedback and got good results,” Tom says to the camera.

And while Tom and Sarah-Jane are on a high from their win, Scotty is quick to bring them – and the rest of the Blockheads – back down to earth.

“I thought next week we should do a double room,” Scotty announces.

Next week the teams will have to renovate a guest bedroom and ensuite.

“You’re joking,” Jenny says in disbelief.

No Jenny, Scotty isn’t joking. So strap in, Guest Bedroom and Ensuite Week is going to be a big one!

This article was originally published by Nine.com.au. Reproduced with permission.