The Block 2018 ensuites have been unveiled, decorating junkies, and now we must critique them. Well, I’m going to anyway – and I encourage you to get involved. Because there were some moments this week I just have to vent about, and I reckon you probably feel the same way.
In life you gotta take a stand sometimes. You know, fight against injustice. Say no to terrible crimes. And speak out against harrowing atrocities. So in the interest of rallying together to fight this war, chant it with me: SAY NO TO TERRAZZO!
I simply cannot with terrazzo. It wasn’t cute originally, and it’s not cute now. It is the design equivalent of Snooki and Jwow (and everyone else on Jersey Shore): it was unsightly years ago, and its comeback is even more off-putting. This season someone is determined to make terrazzo a thing, and to that person I say: please stop.
Before we jump into critiquing each room, don’t forget that at the bottom of this post I will be announcing the winner of last week’s Block Shop giveaway. And giving you the chance to WIN another $100 voucher.
Hans and Courtney did not say No to Terrazzo
I’m pretty sure you already know my feelings on this space given that I hate terrazzo. And given that so much of this ensuite is covered in it, we’re not off to a good start.
The thing is, the white terrazzo in their master bathroom I could almost handle, but this darker version is a no-go. It reminds me of contact my mum used to cover my exercise books in when I was in primary school. The floor just needs a sticker put on it that reads “this book belongs to – ” and my year 2 flashback will be complete.
The terrazzo is even in the recesses and behind the bath. I guess you gotta give it to Hans and Courtney, they certainly committed to the material. And with that, I have to try and put my hatred for terrazzo aside for a moment to examine the other elements of this ensuite.
I do like the layout and floor plan. I like that the freestanding tub is the star moment in the space. I love that there’s a crisp and clean colour palette at play. And I do enjoy the plantation shutters. I’m also smitten with the indoor plant pots, and adore the wooden stool near the bath. Every bathroom needs a mini stool by the bath, don’t you think?
All in all though, I feel this room is a little understated and boring. If you took out that terrazzo (which I would do immediately) you don’t have much going on in here.
Norm and Jess said Yes to Marble
Norm and Jess had a smaller footprint to work with here, relatively speaking. I mean, this is an ensuite that’s still larger than most main bathrooms across the country. But for The Block, it was the smaller of the five.
Being a small room, I would have liked this ensuite to feel dark and moody. Instead, they went all out to make it feel light and bright. Not what I would have done with the design, and it doesn’t speak to the style of their main bathroom either (see what it looked like here).
It’s a bit of an odd choice really, to have the ensuite not resemble the look and feel of the master. Some continuity would have been good, don’t you think? Especially considering their master bathroom felt quite raw and organic. This ensuite is worlds apart from it in look and feel, and I’m not keen on that contrast.
The choice of marble is a fail for me. Sorry guys. It’s just far too intense. The marble vein is too dark, and there’s too much of it. To then take that marble and add it into the recess and the vanity top feels far too overwhelming in such a tight room.
To add insult to injury, the timber used in the cabinetry feels out of place against the marble and the vibe it’s creating. I’d have gone with black cabinetry to allow the marble to take centre stage. As it stands there are too many things fighting for your attention. Kinda like when the kids are in the swimming pool doing handstands and wanting you to watch (PS you always look away once they go underwater).
What I will say though, is that the black toilet paper is kinda everything and I need some in my life right now. Sometimes it’s the little things, isn’t it?
Kerri and Spence Delivered the Goods
There will never be a time in my life where I won’t flood my basement over marble herringbone tiles. In fact, I’m in the midst of trying to convince one of my clients to let me install them in her kitchen. Trust me, they are hot now and they’ll be just as divine in 20 years. They are the Cher of tiles; they just don’t date.
This bathroom was by far the best of the bunch. It felt chic and sophisticated. It had a focal point. It didn’t overwhelm the eye. They pulled back when they needed to in terms of material choices and placement. And they didn’t stuff it with too many bells and whistles on the decorative front either.
It not only looks phenomenal (adore those shutters), but it addresses functionality in a clever way too. Plenty of storage space in the vanity so everything is within easy reach. A basin each for whoever is lucky enough to live in this home. And those freakin’ mind-blowing mirrors. Shut up and take my money – I need them immediately!
The one thing I will say that didn’t work for me was the gap they left at the end of the vanity. They did it in the other bathroom as well. With that basket stuffed in the hole. It doesn’t work for me. I’d have preferred it taken all the way to the wall. As it is, it looks a bit unfinished.
My OCD is also flaring up over the fact that one section of wall above the vanity is wider than the other, but that’s an issue I need to workshop on my own through some journaling and meditation.
Sara and Hayden, we need to Talk
There’s no way to say it nicely: that bath is a wart on an otherwise beautiful hand. Lance it immediately and we can move forward with praising the rest of this ensuite.
I guess it all comes down to personal taste at the end of the day, doesn’t it? But considering this is my blog, I’m going to declare this tub an eyesore. I don’t like what it’s doing to this room, and I’m not sure I see it working in many bathrooms. If you’d like to fork out $7500 on it and have it in your own space, you can shop it here. Please take a photo of it once you install it in your room and send it to me though. I’d love to be proven wrong (it happens occasionally!).
It’s such a shame, because with that bath gone I think this ensuite is beautiful. I like it more than Kerrie and Spence’s space. Everyone shies away from embracing dark bathrooms and making a space feel moody and rich. But Sara and Hayden went over to the dark side and I am liiiiiiving for it. I’m officially hot to trot for all of it.
The round black basins: give them to me. The round mirrors: charge them to my account and have them delivered. The recesses in the shower: come here you! And as you’ve probably already predicted when it comes to the floor tiles: cleanup in aisle four!!! I’ve officially soiled myself.
It’s just that bloody bath that’s the fly in the ointment here. I’ve never seen a bath this bad since that salad bowl bath from The Block Glasshouse 2015. And that was quite a shocker.
Bianca and Carla, I’m Actually Unsure
I’ve gotta admit, I’m more confused about this bathroom than I was about my sexuality at 14. Do I like it, do I not? Am I just going through a phase? Do I find it attractive, or do I long for something else? I’m presenting more questions than answers here but the reality is that I genuinely feel a bit baffled.
Let’s break it down. For starters, they’re rubbing salt in the wound for me with that fiddle leaf fig. Having not been able to keep mine alive, that just plain hurts! Plant aside, I know I like the small bit of marble feature wall. Yes it’s a dark vein but they haven’t used too much of it. So we have a positive there.
That said, I don’t enjoy the two round bollocks on the wall. They feel a bit out of place. A bit random. Maybe if there was room for another set on the other side of the vanity they might feel more at home. But currently, it’s a no deal for me on the feature lighting.
The vanity I do adore. I could stare at it longingly for hours. I would wait by the phone for it to call me and get butterflies when I heard it speak. But (and here’s the but), I don’t like it in this bathroom. It feels out of place. I feel the timber is too warm a tone to work in with what the rest of this bathroom is doing. The mirrored storage above I am keen on however.
Maybe in the comments below you can let me know if this bathroom is as confusing for you, or if you love it or hate it. I am still on the fence. What I’m not on the fence about is the flowers on the vanity. Gorgeous!
WIN A $100 BLOCK SHOP VOUCHER
Every Sunday night I’ll be giving you the chance to win a $100 voucher for The Block Shop. The winner will be announced in next week’s Block recap (right here on the blog), where you can then enter again to win. Repeat each week until the end of the season. How exciting!
LAST WEEK’S WINNER: Kylie Pepper.
TO ENTER TO WIN THIS WEEK’S VOUCHER:
Simply pop a comment below telling me what you thought of The Block 2018 ensuites It’s that easy!
Comp open to Aus residents only. Comp closes 7pm Sunday September 2.
*takes a big breath* i agree with everything what the judges said. i have mixed feelings about terrazzo the light and dark can be polarising and does resembles public toilets but i came across some amazing ones with bits of green, blue and pink. they could’ve gone with that as a point of difference. in both sara and hayden’s and hans and courtney they’ve should’ve left the ceiling uncompleted so that they can drop it down rather than putting a bulkhead. but i love everything in their room even if its unstated. agree with what you said in regards to the winner. love their bathroom although cabinetry wise they shouldve taken it to the wall with the end as it looks awkward and the whole shutter and mirrors doesnt seem centered. looks like i need to take meditation with you as well. norm and jess since their bathroom is small i do agree with you in terms of making their bathroom dark and moody and the marble veins should be smaller. also for me they take the bench to the wall and take away one of the showerhead and basin. they’ll also helps make the ensuite feel bigger than it really is. i actually like the bath in sara and hayden’s room but the rest of the ensuite doesnt do it justice. the layout all wrong especially seeing the toilet when you walk in. personally the shower should be relocated to the end where the plantation shutters is, the toilet between the shower (relocated) and the bath opposite the vanity. love the basins, taps, mirror and the herribone marble floor but the black tile walls and the big marble wall is what went wrong. marble with smaller veins shouldve been used so that its similar to the flooring and the black walls on two walls (along with marble wall) make me feel like im trapped in the dumpster crusher in star wars during the princess leia rescue. also the shutters does seems out of proportion maybe if it was double in size it may fare better. im with you about the girl’s penthouse its a good ensuite and while there’s nothing to go wow besides the marble about it im hoping its the girls strategy for saving money for big ticket plans for the rest of the apartment
OMG Salad Bowl Bath. I just followed your link. I wonder if it is still in that house
I am also obsessed with the cabinet in B&C’s bathroom. I really don’t like marble but that is just subtle enough and I would have it in my bathroom in a heartbeat. I find their bathroom instantly relaxing.
I agree the offset window and unbalanced walls throws off Kerrie and Spencer bathroom a little for me. I prehaps would have had open shelving going down that right-hand side to bring both mirrors back central. I do think that they delivered a beautiful space overall.
The dark terrazzo in Hans and Courtney’s bathroom lacked the sophistication of the other bathrooms. Though I do like that it tied into their main bathroom unlike norm and Jess’.
I liked Bianca and Carla’s the best this week. The vanity is great and I’d love something like that in my house 🙂
I felt sorry for Sara and Hayden it was so painful to watch and the judges imo were overly harsh but man…she built up that frigging bath all week, you just knew it would end in tears…who designs a multi-million dollar apartment around a tub? (Perhaps there’s a reason why it’s the only one in Australia…) Kerrie and Spence hit the mark for me. Classic but modern in style. Loved the herringbone tile.
Luxury is all about understated elegance. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get this. Loved Kerrie & Spence’s bathroom and also didn’t mind Carla and Bianca’s. Agreed with judges on all the others, they didn’t quite have it….
I’d be loving life if I came home to any of these bathrooms, but I feel like the bonus point assisted in the right outcome. I feel like Kerrie and Spence are the dark horses! I can’t wait to see their his and her walk in robes!
The herringbone and controlled colour palette is divine and timeless. I loved the girls bathroom as well. That vanity would be all you would ever need- no other over the top design features. I’m interested to see what happens next!
I adore the winning bathroom, but loath the uneven mirrors & washing basket cubby. I thought Hayden & Sarah should have come 3rd, I dont like their 3 black walls or the marble tiles behind the bath, perhaps on the floors & the herringbone behind the bath, I love the bath. I agree with you terrazzo comment regarding the dark v light, the light terrazzo I surprisingly liked, the dark is just nasty lol
While Spence and Kerrie’s bathroom was beautiful and won’t polarise buyers, I feel like I’ve seen it before. I loved Bianca and Carla’s bathroom, it’s the only one that feels fresh and new and I like that it challenges you just a little bit, it’s edgy. Hayden and Sarah are trying to do new things, but unlike the girls they just don’t have a design eye and can’t mix materials or colours.