The Block 2020: Experts critique the guest bedroom and bathroom reveal

As if designing and building a bathroom quickly isn’t stressful enough, this week, The Block couples had to create a guest bedroom as well. 

Did they succeed? Industry experts weigh in and give us their verdict.

Luke and Jasmin – winners

Bedroom

Design 

“How were they awarded a perfect score?” wonders designer Camilla Molders. “This bedroom is boring. And a swing chair in a kid’s room – isn’t that asking for trouble?” 

Materials 

While the timber bed railing and ladder are spot-on, a darker tone would have balanced the heaviness of the window frames. “I would have preferred a built-in wardrobe in white that blends into the space,” she adds. “It’s very ‘look at me’ with its timber look-laminate.” 

Colours

A neutral colour scheme may be a sensible choice for a home designed to sell, but it looks bland. “The window design overpowers the space, but at least the black and white wallpaper assists in balancing those heavy frames,” she says. 

Bathroom

Design 

“They’ve been consistent with their vanity mirrors, and I’m consistent in my dislike of their choices!” Molders says. “Although I’m happy to see an exhaust fan this week!”  

Materials

The couple win points for their timber vanity, which adds warmth. “The large-scale terrazzo tiles look smart,” she says. “The white tiles weren’t necessary, though. Adding a feature tile to the longest wall throws the room’s balance.”  

Lighting 

Molders wonders if the couple have lit the space adequately enough. “They have positioned the downlights into functional zones but I don’t see any other lighting.” 

Styling

“I detest the dried flower arrangement,” she says. “But at least, colour-wise, they’re in tune with the towels.”

View The Block properties for sale

House 1, Harry and Tash: 364 New Street, Brighton

House 2, Sarah and George: 362B New Street, Brighton

House 3, Daniel and Jade: 362A New Street, Brighton

House 4, Luke and Jasmin: 360B New Street, Brighton

House 5, Jimmy and Tam: 360A New Street, Brighton

Jimmy and Tam

Bedroom

Design 

“Neither the desk or window seat look functional,” says Molders. “The desk is narrow and the window seat hasn’t much support. They are more ‘look, don’t touch!’” 

Colours

Molders commends the couple’s choice of warm hue for the bedspread. “It ties in well with the era of the house.” 

Styling

“The dried flower arrangements should be binned,” she says. “Although I guess it’s a nod to the period of the house.” 

Bathroom

Materials

Despite the bold wall colour, Molders’ eye is drawn to the cold grey tiles. “I find it overbearing when used on this scale,” she says. “Functional mirror lighting is great to see, though, and the overhead lighting placement enhances the ceiling detail well.” 

Colours

“I like their bravery here,” she says. “But the cold grey tiles with the warm wall colour don’t work.  I just see ‘shopping centre bathroom’.”  

Styling

While Molders appreciates the 1950s touch via the plant stand base, the couple lose points for their “dead flowers”.  “I do like that the shampoo bottles work so nicely with the paint colour!” she says.

Harry and Tash

Bedroom

Design
“This looks like a generic chain-hotel bedroom,” designer Nickolas Gurtler says. “It’s a good idea to have a desk in a kid’s bedroom, but the bed placement means its occupant is looking directly at it when in bed.” 

Colour and materials
Gurtler applauds the couple’s choice of “plush” carpet and sheer drapes, but says the door handles and wardrobe doors are “uninspiring”.  “The colour palette is well put together, but the combination of black timber and white veneers makes the desk look very ‘Ikea’ instead of custom-made.”

Styling
While Gurtler believes Harry and Tash are improving every week, they still have a way to go.  “You can’t emulate good styling just looking at Pinterest or Instagram,” he says. “It takes practise and a dedicated eye.” 

Bathroom

Design
While not a bold design, Gurtler concedes the space is well thought-out. “It’s lacking personality, but that could fixed with a few changes,” he says. “The layout works well in a practical sense.”

Materials and lighting
Gurtler approves of their tile selection but dislikes the vanity. “It feels mass-market,” he says. “Some wall lights for functionality and personality would have been a nice addition too.”  

Styling
“They always shove everything into corners,” says Gurtler. “Allowing objects to breathe with negative space around them makes all the difference.” 

Daniel and Jade

Bedroom

Design
Gurtler is happy with Daniel and Jade’s efforts this week. “The timber headboard is lovely and the carpet plush,” he says. “I love the sheer drapery and the wallpaper, although it would have been incredible if it fully wrapped the room.” 

Colours
The couple are well ahead of the curve with their colour choices. “The pink room is a lovely palette,” he says. “It’s a scheme we will see more of in 2021.” 

Styling
Gurtler likes the artwork, but says the couple lose points for their bed styling. “They have achieved that slightly over-styled effect you see in linen store catalogues,” he says. 

Bathroom

Design
“The window is a real eyesore!” exclaims Gurtler. “The vanity looks mass market, the profile on the door is wrong, and the mint sinks were a cute idea, but the colour choice doesn’t work.”

Materials
The glossy marble tiles let this room down. “They don’t make sense with the other tiles,” he says. “A white handmade tile on the walls would have been a better choice.”

Styling
“If they wanted to be bold with the mint sinks, they should have also introduced a different green, albeit one that blends with the basins and adds personality,” he says.  

Sarah and George

Bedroom

Design 

 “A bedroom should feel cocooning, not like you’re in a baby change-room in a shopping centre,” says Lauren Li from Sisalla Design. “There’s no reason for an extremely high ceiling in a bedroom.  They should have painted a picture rail in a darker colour, or used an over-scale pendant light to visually lower it.”

Materials

The couple score points for their choice of wallpaper. “It adds personality to a dull room,” she says. “It would have been magical to see it on all the walls.” 

Styling

Li says the couple need to consider scale when selecting furniture. “The room is out of proportion and isn’t cohesive,” she says. “With a ceiling that high, the furnishings look too small.” 

Bathroom

Design

“This bathroom looks like it was built in 2010,” says Li. “It’s already dated and having a personality crisis – is it industrial, traditional or contemporary? It’s a very dull space.” 

Materials

Li applauds the choice of quilted tiles for their subtle texture. “They should have applied them to the back wall too,” she says.

Lighting

“What’s with the obsession with lighting the shower niche?” Li says. “And where’s the lighting for the mirror? The downlights on the ceiling behind the vanity cause too many shadows on the face and are not good for shaving or make-up application.”