The Block 2020 backyard and pools reveal recap: Sarah and George take top marks

Well, we made it. The Block 2020’s final room reveal is here and while I am a little emotional at the thought of no tools down beyond this evening, nothing will compare to the The OC finale when Marissa died. 

I certainly will not be sad to see the back of Shaynna, Darren and Neale dancing in those intro videos. Save it for Chasers, please.  

The final week for the Blockheads has been no mean feat either. They are delivering back yards, side yards and a “pewle” as our resident Queenslanders Jimmy and Tam say.

For the final time, Harry and Tash are up first at judging time and, with about $15,000 less than the other couples to spend due to their budget woes, I doubt there will be a win on the cards for them this week. 

Walking in, it seems the judges are struggling to notice the backyard and a more in awe of the giant oak tree. They are throwing around a few words like “paradise”, “wow” and “grand finale”. 

Neale says, on actually moving into the yard, it is “very simple, pared-back and spacious”. 

Darren is disappointed with the average barbecue, I think he was expecting a full outdoor kitchen. 

Shaynna then notices a wall separating the front garden to the back. “Why would you do that?”

Scotty asks Harry and Tash the same thing and they say it’s for “privacy” but, as Shaynna points out, they have a tall front garden fence so that is not necessary. 

“On every level, it’s wrong,” adds Neale. 

All the judges are very upset that this wall exists and say they are the only house with the benefit of a beautiful, long joined front and backyard. 

“That wall has got to go,” says Darren. “I feel like doing it now,” responds Neale. Ouch. 

Scotty then says, “It wouldn’t be a house one reveal without some missing paint” as the judges spot some around the pool. 

All three judges agree that it is obvious our father-daughter team ran out of cash this week with the styling around the pool and lack of furniture. 

Neale finishes the judging with congratulating the team for completing the build. “Let’s be honest, this house is going to sell.” 

Sarah and George are up for the final roasting, I mean judging, and they are hoping to get a hat-trick to see out The Block on a high and nab that snappy Ford Puma. 

“You’re kidding me,” says Shaynna, walking into their side courtyard. 

All three judges are in awe of the Japanese maple tree at the entrance to the courtyard and Darren thinks it is the perfect privacy feature. 

Then they move out the back and Darren immediately says, “My mind is blown.” 

“I would like to use an expletive that I probably cannot use on national television,” says Neale. 

Shaynna heads over to the built-in pizza oven and barbecue space and is loving that it is all gas-integrated, saying that is a real luxury for the buyers. 

They then take a seat at the dining table that Shaynna says is the best looking outdoor table she has ever seen. Neale adds, “This is the best looking pizza joint I have been to.” 

Over to the pool area, Darren cannot believe his eyes and says, “That’s a magazine cover.” 

“It certainly is,” says Neale. “It really is an oasis.”

And with that the judges literally dance their way out of Sarah and George’s yard. 

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

Now it’s House 3’s turn with Daniel and Jade, and the judges start by heading into their side courtyard. 

The judges are enjoying the space created and think the artwork the couple have chosen is amazing.

They note that there is a lack of privacy in this courtyard to the neighbours’ second-storey windows and a more established tree would have solved that issue. 

“I cannot imagine wanting to sit here for very long,” says Neale. 

Moving into the backyard, “This is more like it,” says Shaynna. 

“Pretty much everything I wanted,” adds Darren. 

Shaynna says the yard is romantic with the curved grass and olive trees. Neale thinks there are lots of beautiful features like the sculpture. 

Darren then begins his compliment reel but Shaynna interrupts his fondness for the outdoor shower to point out some, ah, logistical issues with it. 

“You don’t need to get nudie here,” Darren says, thinking that is her issue with it. 

She says no, “You have to shower in the dirt,” pointing out the lack of flooring under the shower head. 

Once she is finished with her demonstration, they head into the pool area and Darren says, “This is what I have been looking for all day” about the built-in lounge seat. 

Neale thinks it is lovely but there is a lack of atmosphere in the pool area. “I am staring at a black wall there, a concrete wall there.” 

He finishes the judging by adding, “Yes it’s a cake, but it just needed a bit more icing.” 

Now we are off to Luke and Jasmin’s place and in the courtyard all of the judges are shocked to find the huge curved day bed. 

Shaynna looks at Darren and says, “You know how you had your mind blown, now my mind’s blown.”

“It really is so comfy, like I was born to be here,” she says while grabbing one of the glasses of rose. 

Neale thinks this is the ticket to make this house memorable for buyers but Darren says this couple, like their neighbours, should have used a tree for privacy along the fence. 

Over to the backyard and walking in, each of the judges says some version of “wow”. 

“We have never seen anything to this level delivered on The Block before,” says Neale, referring to the couple’s “pizza-party-pit” as they like to refer to it. 

The only negative Darren can come up with is the awkwardly placed barbecue on the decking and I think from now on, all new Block contestants must know that a built-in barbie is a must for a perfect score. Darren simply cannot cope with the visible wheels.

“Now, that is how you do a pool,” says Neale on entering the cabana area.

The judges think the styling has created the perfect resort mood by the pool. 

“It’s everything you could possibly want, in your own backyard,” says Darren. 

And now the last home ever to be judged on The Block 2020, Jimmy and Tam’s House 5. 

Straight into the courtyard and the judges immediately know this is Jimmy and Tam’s work with the coral-painted breeze-block wall. 

“This is beyond good,” says Neale. “I absolutely love it.” 

Shaynna says this pinky wall is “even making me OK with the colours in the upstairs bathroom”. 

Darren cannot believe she has said this and neither can I. Pretty sure she called it the “Trump of bathrooms” and no one should be OK with that. 

Walking into the backyard, all of the judges are enjoying the simplicity of the design and the feel of the zones. 

The built-in barbecue and fridge get points from Darren, too. 

The pool area prompts mixed feelings from the judges. They think the colours, artwork and styling are beautiful, but the bench lounge at the side is awkward. 

“Are you waiting for a bus?” Shaynna asks Neale as he sits down. 

“They have given us a changing room with glass, see-through doors,” adds Darren. 

Neale shuts the door and looks absolutely hilarious in there. I cannot stop laughing looking at his little face in there.

“You look like you’re in a store window,” says Darren. 

“They just so missed a beat, it’s not funny,” Shaynna says, looking really disappointed for the usually on-the-ball couple. 

“To see them finish so beautifully, the effort, the creativity and the resilience. We have probably seen the best contestants ever,” says Darren to all the couples.

Scoring time and it’s an extremely close one between the pizza ovens, but Sarah and George have secured their hat-trick and new wheels. 

Scotty then reveals the total point scores to determine the winner of the coveted Domain cover and the auction order, with Jimmy and Tam narrowly taking the win by half a point. 

I cannot wait until auction day to see which lucky ducks snap up these amazing homes next week. 

Final scores:

Sarah & George 30 

Luke & Jasmin 29.5

Jimmy & Tam 27.5

Daniel & Jade 24 

Harry & Tash 22.5

Total points for the season, winning the Domain cover, and the power to select the all important auction order:

Jimmy & Tam 324 

Sarah & George 323.5

Luke & Jasmin 320 

Daniel and Jade 314

Harry & Tash 302