I’ll let you in on a little secret; I get to see the styled room shots each week just before The Blocktagon reveal episode airs. And every week, I always look through the snaps and make my own judgements as I put this post together, before I have any idea what Neale, Shaynna and Darren have to say.
I also don’t watch all the drama that happens during the week, so my opinions don’t get influenced by which personalities on the show I do and don’t like. Because trust me, once you dislike someone, it’s so hard to see the good in the work they do. Well, in most cases anyway.
This week when I looked over the room shots I had my own thoughts on who should have come first, second, third, fourth and fifth – and none of the judges seemed to agree with me because their scores were completely different to mine.
In my opinion, Luke and Ebony had the best dining room this week.
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But let’s take a look at how it all went down…
Winners: Whitney and Andy’s Dining Room
So I have to be completely upfront – without sounding negative here – and say that this room makes me feel nothing. Absolutely nothing. I don’t feel there’s any wow factor going on and the space feels very flat.
The table, on it’s own, is actually rather lovely, but the styling around it makes the space feel like a corporate boardroom. And it pains me to be so hard on these guys, because I’ve been rooting for them from the start. I think they have some great rooms in their apartment, but this one just isn’t cutting it. I honestly don’t see how they could have possibly won. Am I insane?
Total Score: 26
Click to Shop the above Pieces: Framed Artwork | Deer Print | Dining Table
Second Place: Kingi and Caro’s Dining Room
Kingi and Caro came in second by half a point, which again baffles me. I was so smitten with this couple at the start of the competition but I think they’re losing their sparkle a bit. To me, it feels like they’ve gotten worse with each room. Their bedrooms were by far the best.
What was so good about this couple – at the start – was they they brought industrial back. They stayed true to that style in their rooms, but the look always felt contemporary and new; not like something you’d see in an apartment at the peak of industrial design 10 years ago.
This dining room, however, is SO dated. I can’t even look at that sideboard or the dining table. I saw a dining table on House Rules last year that looked like that. It pains me then and it pains me now.
Total Score: 25.5
Click to Shop the above Pieces: Dog Artwork | Lumira Candle | Dining Chair
Third: Shay and Dean’s Dining Room
There are some magical moments here people. Truly magical. I would happily take every individual piece in this space and run with it. If I ever tour the Blocktagon, you’ll see me stuffing as much of this dining room under my shirt as I can and running for the car.
That said, I think they were trying way too hard with the styling. It looks like a kikki.K Christmas party in here. I thought the dining table decoration was so over the top and unnecessary. I also think the space around the table was a little bare and it make the room feel a bit soulless.
But my Lord, that pendant light, that artwork and that plant stand all need to be mine ASAP.
Total Score: 21
Click to Shop the above Pieces: Pendant | Plant Stand | Oval Platters
Fourth: Luke and Ebony’s Dining Room
So this is the space that I was most impressed by, yet it came second last. The judges were unimpressed with the wall that hadn’t been completed. Perhaps that is why they got marks deducted, but Luke and Ebony deserved a ranking closer to first place.
I love how open this space feels, and I love all the interesting lines that have been created here. I adore the way your eye glides over the dining room and into the living room; there’s such a beautiful cohesion here. The pendant light was divine, they chose amazing art (again) and the dining table and chairs were gorgeous.
This room was minimally styled, like Shay and Dean’s, but because it has such warm wood tones in it, you don’t get a clinical feel from it at all. I’m in love!
Total Score: 19
Click to Shop the above Pieces: Caribbean Dream Print | Chisel Cut Vase | Dining Chairs
Last Place: Suzi and Vonny’s Dining Room
I’ve actually disliked the majority of the rooms Suzi and Vonny have executed because I thought they were all so heavy, dark and overtly man-den in style. But I actually quite like this space. Dare I say it… but I think it’s nicer than both Whitney & Andy’s and Kingi & Caro’s rooms.
They made some great decisions in terms of colour; choosing light woods and chairs with plush, soft fabrics. I think they styled the room in a way that made sense and spoke to the other spaces, but it felt like a bit of a new direction for them.
I am SO in love with the lighting on the side table, I enjoyed the art and I think overall it’s quite successful. Am I missing something?
Total Score: 16
Click to Shop the above Pieces: Gold Bowl | Airplane Artwork | Dining Chairs
>>> Time for you to weight in on this week’s Blocktagon dining room reveals. What did you think? Which room was your fave? Drop a comment below and talk it out.
Hi Chris
Do you know what brand the wall shelf in Dean and Shays dining room is from?
I agree with you that all three who didn’t finish were better than the 2 that did. I think they are asking to much of the contestants when 3 out 5 don’t finish because we the viewers want to see lovely design, not painted rooms with furniture in them. I loved Shay & Dean myself, I love their floors and colour palette and it looked fab going through to their kitchen. Looking forward to seeing the living room done.
Overall I find the shape of the rooms so disturbing that I haven’t really enjoyed the whole series.
It may have fab views but those weird angles would never work for me. If the bones aren’t right no amount of pretty things is really going to help in my view. But maybe there are people out there who just love the place.
Interesting you should say that, Eva. I have heard a few people say that they aren’t feeling it this year. Maybe we just all Blocked out at the moment lol!
My 2 cents:
Whitney & Andrew – their room looked nicer on tv but now that you’ve said boardroom I cannot unsee :P. Get rid of the place settings on the table!! And surely they could afford more than 6 flowers for that giant vase? Even though I don’t think theirs was the best, I am kinda glad they at least got to win one room.
Kingy & Caro – Ugh, awful. A $4000 Barnacle vase with sticks- WTF? School chairs?? Whatever that thing was in the middle of the table?? The side table that reminds me of an old sewing machine table?? The styling?? Maybe now they have too much money and don’t know how to spend it.
Luke & Ebony – seemed to have been penalised (perhaps too harshly) for not completing their room. They definitely should have won. That light is am-a-zing.
Vonny & Suzi – maybe you can’t see in the pictures you receive but their finishes were terrible. They have run out of money and can no longer afford the trades that they need. There were gaps everywhere between the skirts (which were marble?!) and the wall. Not to mention it looked like they painted the room with their feet. I think they should have positioned their table the other way like everyone else and nixed that light. Also, what was that so-called art on the wall which looked like spray painted scrap metal – maybe it was, as they don’t have any money.
Shay & Dean – it was nice. I liked how light and bright it was compared to the others. A bit too much on the table for me, but Shaynna went crazy over it. Their artwork was beautiful though.
haha thanks for the laugh, Daniella. You are hilarious! Loved your comments about Kingi and Caro’s space. I was truly baffled. It reminded me of an early 90s home, and not in a good way! And hopefully you’re workshopping how to get that boardroom table wiped from your memory lol 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by. See you on Monday morning for the terrace reveal recap!
In all honesty, it seemed to come down to who managed to finish their foyer (which weren’t in your photos?). Whitney and Andy paid someone to render it so it got finished and Kingi and Caro managed to finish painting (hence 1st and 2nd). Dean and Shay had leaking issues with the rain coming through the roof of the building (top floor) so suffered issues all week and Luke and Ebony both got bouts of the spews so couldn’t put in as many hours to finish their painting. Suzi and Vonni are lower than low on money so simply didn’t have the man power to finish everything and that basically explains the whole fallout! They had to do something to gift Whitney and Andy a win :p
Haha maybe I need to watch the show throughout the week, Shell, so I can get more insight into what’s going on behind the scenes. I just can’t handle the drama. When I need a good fill of drama I watch The Real Housewives of New York lol 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and see you Monday for the terrace reveal recap!