The Block 2017 kitchen week: Inside word from Domain's Alice Stolz

 Just as The Block contestants crawl out of the pain of delivering those massive master suites last week — all, that is, except Jason and Sarah — they’ve had kitchens thrown at them this week. That’s a job that has to hurt, all the more so because it’s the most important room in these houses.

When it comes to family homes, kitchens rule. They’re the most multi-tasking rooms in the whole house; cooking, eating, homework bench, island bench dinner-party space, makeshift work station, sew-a-button-on-my jacket-please-bench, pull up a chair and tell me your problems space … it’s everything.

I was delighted to see Sarah and Jason have got the memo and have now pulled their socks up. This is The Block; it’s a competition and the point is to try your hardest to win. Suffice to say, now that they’ve pulled their finger out, their kitchen is actually looking rather smart.

The past is catching up with Hannah and Clint as they face the consequences of poor budget planning weeks ago … I will not say I told you so. My biggest gripe with their kitchen is their fridge. What were they thinking? It shows poor planning and a lack of consideration as to who their buyers probably will be. It’s all the more frustrating because they know this stuff.

Over in house four, Sticks and Wombat need to be wary of gimmicks. Whenever I hear “secret shelves and doors”, worry sets in. They will also have a tricky task of balancing their kitchen with the hardness of their living space. It’s difficult to add softness, that word these boys have oft heard repeated, to a kitchen.

Georgia and Ronnie are, as always, settings the standards high with their execution. Hello gold sink (but, please, bigger, bigger, bigger) and an absolutely stunning caesar stone bench that I’m sure will go straight to the top of kitchen wish-lists around the country.

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But watch out for Josh and Elyse. These two have gone outside the box this week and switched the orientation of their bench. The result is a kitchen that will no doubt one day soon connect the outside with the inside beautifully.

Josh and Elyse’s masterstroke – switching the orientation of their kitchen bench. Photo: Channel Nine

Their other masterstroke this week is the butler’s pantry. By adjusting their staircase to give them a bit more space, they’re on track to deliver one super-sized pantry and when it comes to kitchens, bigger normally is better.