The Block 2018 challenge apartment week one reveal recap: Every bit of prize money counts

Put a bunch of people who don’t really like each other together, ask them to work cohesively with little sleep and make them renovate half an apartment together. Yep, it’s The Block’s challenge apartment week. What could go wrong?!

Plus, the contestants are playing to take money off their all-important auction reserve prices, so the stakes have never been higher. (That’s stakes, not steaks; steaks come from cows which are probably what the judges will be having when they see some of the efforts today.) Remember, the winner of The Block is the couple who sells their apartment the highest above reserve, and all the couples take home any money above the reserve price.

Apart from the questionable decision by Kerrie and Spence to cover one of their room’s walls with a mural of a graffitied laneway (yep, we get it Barossa twins, you’re still thrilled to be in Melbourne), nothing too out of the ordinary happens as everyone awaits the arrival of the judges.

Amid the promise of an emotional rollercoaster, the judges’ feedback begins. And it’s straight to the bottom of said amusement park ride for Kerrie and Spence. The judges are not enamoured with the colourful mural.

“I feel like I’m falling down a rabbit hole,” says Darren Palmer, to which the others agree. “And it’s a psychedelic rabbit hole at that. It’s giving me vertigo. It’s really messing with my head.”

Shaynna Blaze wants to give the Barossa twins credit for finally not playing safe, but their bedhead is worse than the mural because of its likely ability to give anyone sleeping under it to hit their head. The twins are not thrilled that the judges did not appreciate them letting their hair down.

Related: View the five Gatwick apartments for sale

• Kerrie and Spence: 1/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
• Hans and Courtney: 2/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
• Sara and Hayden: 3/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
• Norm and Jess: 4/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
• Bianca and Carla: 5/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

The rollercoaster tracks up over at Courtney and Hans’, impact wallpaper is much more successful, with Blaze in raptures. Neale Whitaker says their “Australiana” theme is very on trend.

While they should have chosen sheer curtains for the windows, the judges praise how well there is a sense of calm despite a colourful wallpaper.

In Hayden and Sara’s bathroom, the judges praise the choice of bathtub and fittings, given it adds to the feeling of luxury, but it’s the tile choice that divides them. Palmer does not like them but is rather measured in his criticism.

What is not measured is Blaze’s response to the vanities (she loves them) as seen below in exhibit A:

Hayden and Sara are also praised for continuing to improve from their rocky start, which seems like eons ago but was only weeks ago. Yes, it is nearly over, fellow viewers. We’re in it together.

At Jess and Norm’s master suite, where the Queenslanders only managed to finish by the sheer benevolence of their neighbours, the judges are uninspired.

“This is dull,” says Palmer upon entry. Always great to have such brutal honesty first up! “The bed is a car crash.”

“It is a weird mismatch,” says Whitaker.

The tiny couch and the tiny bedside tables are also roundly criticised but Jess really puts her foot in it when she confesses that the room is actually her ultimate master suite. Oops.

“I hate it,” says Blaze, particularly condemning the choice of wall panelling. All three also hate the electric fireplace, with Palmer even reciting the times that it has failed for Block contestants in the past. (Hey Suzi and Vonni.)

“Norm and Jess have lost the plot,” says Whitaker, to which Blaze firmly agrees.

Finally, in Bianca and Carla’s ensuite, the judges declare they love the choice of wallpaper (Palmer has something similar at home) and the position of the bath, right under the window.

Things get a bit steamy when the shower is turned on, the lights go down (all with Alexa’s help, natch) and the music comes on. I almost felt like I was interrupting.

But the bad lighting plan, the bad setting of tiles and poor finishes are criticised, but not to Jess and Norm’s level. In fact, it’s hard to think of much that has been.

Final scores

1. Courtney and Hans: 28.5

2. Hayden and Sara: 27.5

3. Bianca and Carla: 23.5

4. Kerrie and Spence: 20.5

5. Norm and Jess: 20