For the first time ever The Block host Scott Cam is picking up the tools to renovate a house on the show at the same time as the contestants.
The historic home he’ll transform is a weatherboard house built in 1866 by Scottish immigrant Joseph McGeorge.
The property hasn’t been lived in for 25 years, and when Scotty arrived to start building it looked in dire need of a makeover.
So far he’s renovated the master bedroom and walk-in-robe, master ensuite, main bathroom, hallway and entrance and kitchenette and study.
He let the teams wander through the rooms during the first Winners and Grinners dinner to get some inspiration for their own spaces, and they were all very impressed.
Scotty has transformed the bathroom into a luxurious space. It is spacious with a big shower, footed bathtub, vanity, toilet and fireplace. That’s right – a fireplace in the bathroom!
The space certainly had ‘wow’ factor, which is what Jenny kept saying as she looked around the room.
You’ll never have to worry about being cold while using the bathroom in winter because the fireplace is right next to the toilet.
Now that’s something you don’t see in most homes, but is the kind of luxury feature we expect from a country retreat renovated on The Block.
In fact there are fireplaces in pretty much every room. “They were all original and they’re just so beautiful so we built around them all,” Scotty said.
When Sarah-Jane first walked into Scotty’s master ensuite, she noticed they have a very similar taste. “Scott has the same basin, the same tiles, the same [blue] colour as me. I’m gonna have to have words with him,” she joked.
She did in fact confront him about being a “copycat”, but Scotty reminded her he did his rooms first. Rather than being copycats, perhaps Scotty and Sarah-Jane both have a similar style?
The bath is positioned right under a window for a beautiful view of the landscape. “It is cool,” Dylan said of the ensuite. “There’s bits of everything,” Ryan added.
Scotty kept the wall tiles simple and added detail on the floor with a blue patterned tile.
He’s thought of functionality too with a nib wall for soap and shampoo.
Talk about a well-lit mirror! You’d have no trouble putting on your makeup at this vanity with the sconce lighting right where it should be.
The glamorous vanity just screams country style and has ample storage with baskets and drawers. “This is nice, but it’s too country for me,” Sharon admitted. Ankur responded, “It’s very country, but it’s very Scotty.”
Scotty’s even added a touch of Australiana to the bathroom with the coat of arms on the toilet roll holder.
The Blockheads were also impressed by the bedroom.
“Wowwwww, stunning,” Sarah-Jane said. The same blue panelling that Scotty used in the ensuite was used in the bedroom too.
Using a gingham pattern throw and cushions against a rattan bedhead adds a little touch of country to the room.
The bedside tables are styled to perfection with a good-sized lamp that would’ve impressed judge Neale Whitaker. There were also vintage books, a vase and a cute sheep ornament.
This bedroom has everything you want including a fireplace, fan, curtains, shutters and a cosy armchair to read before hopping into bed.
Sarah-Jane found another item Scotty had used that she was also considering for her house. It was the mirror above the fireplace. which provides a little touch of old-world charm and nod to the heritage of the property.
Some of the items used to style the room actually came from the original house including the rabbit ornament in the cabinet.
The stunning artwork in the reading nook references the beautiful Macedon Ranges that surround the property.
Scotty brought some of his own bits and pieces to style the home with, including his saddle. The saddle sits at the entrance of the walk-in-robe, which features yet another fireplace.
A cute window seat with neutral-toned cushions and a white and blue striped ottoman provide contrast to the crisp blue wardrobe doors. There’s plenty of space to keep all your clothes, luggage and so much more.
Of course, Akubra hats are as stylish as they are practical so they should be put on display on the wall.
Scotty’s go-to blue shirts are taken care of by the Refresh Butler, which steams and sanitises clothes to remove odours and creases without harsh chemicals.
With Gisborne just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, the area is the perfect spot for tree changers who now work from home all or part of the week. And when you’re working from home, it’s nice to have a separate space to do it, especially if it has a gorgeous kitchenette to use.
The kitchenette has everything you need to entertain clients for a meeting or for guests to use. There’s a microwave, toaster, kettle and fridge all contained in dreamy blue cabinetry.
“This is interesting,” Ankur said when he saw the room. “Lots of panelling,” Ryan noted.
The kitchenette has plenty of storage and features a handy plate rack to save shelf space.
Scotty also knows how to style a table, with a vase holding fresh foliage, and a platter with croissants telling a story of a cosy morning in the country.
A comfy armchair is complemented by a brown gingham cushion and striking blue artwork. There’s also a bright lamp for doing the crossword in the evenings. And here is the desk that makes this kitchenette also a study – and the perfect home office.
To add a little vintage touch to the desk, Scotty added old books, a nib pen and a magnifying glass and letter opener set.
The Blockheads weren’t the only ones delivering a bathroom in Week 1, Scotty did too and it’s a stunner.
The vanity features rattan panels, a large basin and a flora-inspired shaving cabinet. The original fireplace has been restored and looks gorgeous underneath a bush-themed artwork.
These walls also feature panels in a soft pink colour which complements the floor tiles. Another roomy shower means the family never has to wait to use a bathroom.
The pink towels are stunning against the peachy pink panels. They are hung on a huge towel rail, which means no excuses for leaving towels on the floor.
These are the floor tiles in the main bathroom, and they could take out the prize for the most country tiles we’ve seen so far on The Block 2022.
“I’d die for this tile, I need this tile in my life,” Sarah-Jane said when she saw it.
Now that you’ve seen the beautiful renovation so far, take a look at just how far the house has come. These photos show the home in the state Scotty found it in. Clearly it need a little bit of sprucing up.
The original bathroom was in an extremely dilapidated condition.
This space was in a compete shambles, you can only just tell it’s a kitchen it’s so worn down. As you can see from this image of one of the bedrooms, the house needed a lot of work.
The host arrived at the site three months earlier than the teams to get a little head start.
He started a bedroom, a kitchenette and a bathroom. Once the contestants arrived he continued renovating, working on the same room as the teams and delivering it within a week.
This article was originally published by Nine.com.au. Reproduced with permission.