The Block 2024 week 1 room reveal recap: Contestants deliver bathrooms and a baby

We’re back baby!

Welcome to our first weekly recap of season 20 of The Block, set against the stunning backdrop of the beloved family holiday destination, Phillip Island.

The heat was on – literally – as contestants camped out in a late summer heatwave, turning the first week into anything but smooth sailing. While Phillip Island’s waters were serene, the land-based challenges were far from it. The Blockheads dove headfirst into the chaos of renovating their main bathrooms, with pressure mounting and sweat pouring from day one.

As the clock ticked down and the heatwave raged, the Blockheads aimed to deliver bathrooms that were both functional and fabulous.

Each team brought their unique spin to bathroom week, leading to some eyebrow-raising moments and conflict between the judges. Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Marty Fox didn’t hold back with their opinions, leaving some contestants in tears.

So, how did they fare …

House 1: Jesse and Paige bathroom one reveal ($26,109 spend)

Carpenter Jesse, 29, and claims specialist Paige, 27, our engaged couple from Western Australia, were working with one of the smaller bathrooms this week, but that didn’t stop them from dreaming big.

They aimed for a sophisticated yet cosy vibe, sparing no expense on high-quality finishes and a carefully chosen colour palette. 

However, their plan fell short. A day before room reveal, the pair still had a heap of work to do – everything from painting and tiling to installing vanities and shower screens, as well as caulking, grouting and painting.

At 3am on room reveal day, Paige realised they weren’t going to finish in time, a huge blow for the ambitious couple.

Marty didn’t mince words when he saw the space: “There’s a chippy within this team, and to have a room unfinished, for me, I believe that there are no excuses.”

Shaynna did have some positives, though: “I have to say, I’m loving the materials that they’ve used here.”

House 2: Courtney and Grant bathroom reveal one ($35,016 spend)

Events account director and furniture designer Courtney, 32, and landscape business development manager Grant, 29, a married couple from NSW, aimed for a sleek, modern look with clean lines and high-end materials – an aesthetic they dub “Moditerranean”.

Despite struggles with builders – a “miscommunication” resulted in a prematurely installed shower screen and a frantic design pivot – their bathroom came together beautifully, creating an “Instagrammable” success.

However, their urban take on a holiday house bathroom didn’t win over Shaynna. She praised their efforts and didn’t dislike the room, but felt it could have used “more drama”.

Marty disagreed, declaring it to be exactly what potential buyers would want.

“Horns are going to lock on this one,” Shaynna says.

Drama and disagreements aside, they all believed it was an amazing effort for week one. 

House 3: Ricky and Haydn bathroom one reveal ($31,848)

While all teams faced their own challenges in week one – delivering a bathroom no less – the biggest challenge of the week has to go to plumber Ricky, 34, and IT worker Haydn, 37 — best mates from Victoria. Haydn had to “down tools” and fly out on a chopper when his partner, Chelsea, went into early labour, giving birth to their first child, Matilda. This left Ricky to finish their bathroom solo.

Considering they were a man down, the judges think they’ve done a stellar job. “This is a cracking bathroom,” Darren says.

Ricky and Haydn created a vibrant, eclectic space bursting with beachy colours and textures. The result? A bathroom packed with personality – perhaps a bit too much.

Shaynna thinks the colour palette is mismatched, calling it “a little bit childish”.

Overall, the judges think the boys are off to a good start, they just need to take their feedback on board, plan rooms carefully and finesse their colour palette – easy right?

House 4: Kylie and Brad bathroom one reveal ($27,739 spend)

“Woah,” says Shaynna. “This is full on,” says Marty. “It’s a lot,” says Darren, as they set foot into Kylie and Brad’s bathroom.

Kylie, 37, a hairdresser and business owner, and Brad, 32, an electrician and plumber, went all out with a bold, all-black design. They aimed for a luxurious feel  incorporating striking neon accents, herringbone patterns, and a skylight that bathed the room in natural light. If Shaynna was looking for drama, she certainly found it!

Shaynna loves the feeling of the room; Darren likes the dark palette but thought the herringbone tiling, timber battens and industrial lighting gave off “a mid-2010s nightclub vibe”.

Marty doesn’t like it much: “If they continue this theme throughout the other rooms, this is going to be, possibly, the biggest disaster we’ve seen in 20 seasons.” Ouch.

Kylie bursts into tears on hearing the brutal feedback, before Scotty reminds her that there were some positive comments from Shaynna and Darren. And hey, at least they finished the room.

House 5: Kristian and Mimi bathroom one reveal ($21,732 spend)

“This is massive,” says Marty as he walks into Kristian and Mimi’s bathroom, and he’s not wrong. At just over 10 square metres, the couple have the largest bathroom being revealed this week.

Although their plan was threatened by a slow tiler (or perhaps just a very meticulous one), electrician Kristian, 31, and restaurant manager Mimi, 28, created a space that delivered, thanks to a calming colour scheme, luxurious fixtures, and a considered layout. 

There’s no locking horns on this one, with universal praise and agreement between the judges.

“This truly is a proper family bathroom where we won’t feel like we’re on top of each other,” Marty says. Shaynna is loving “the balance of tone and texture”.

“This is really successful,” says Darren.

It’s looking good for Kristian and Mimi and this stage, and it’s over to the judges’ scores.

Week one bathroom scores

• House 1: Jesse and Paige 18.5 (5th place)
• House 2: Courtney and Grant 28 (2nd place)
• House 3: Ricky and Haydn 24 (3rd place)
• House 4: Kylie and Brad 22 (4th place)
• House 5: Kristian and Mimi 28.5 (1st place)

Kristian and Mimi kick off the season with a win, narrowly beating Courtney and Grant by half a point, and take home $10,000, a $30,000 Wolf barbecue, and $100,000 in furniture. Their spacious, well-executed bathroom secured their victory and sets them up strongly for next week.

As week one wraps up, the Blockheads have given us a taste of what’s to come – big personalities, bold designs, and even bigger stakes. With Phillip Island as the battleground, the competition is just heating up!

This article is brought to you by Snooze. It’s amazing what 50 years of Snooze can do.

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