The Block 2023 Studio Bathrooms Reveal: Style Wins, Design Sins, and Scoring Shockers

The Block 2023 studio bathrooms have been revealed, along with my dependency on Bex and a good lie down. It happens every year, you guys; the Sunday reveals drive me to any remedy that’ll calm my nerves when Sauvignon Blanc just won’t cut it.

This week, one bathroom had me in a bit of a conniption. One bathroom had me drooling like a hens party at Thunder From Down Under. The others… were a bit of a mixed bag.

Scroll on for the designer deep dive, and drop a comment at the end of the post to let me know what you thought of The Block studio bathrooms reveal. I’m eager to get your take.

Kyle and Leslie Came First

I’m going to tell you when it’s good, and I’m going to tell you when it’s not. And this is definitely the former. This studio bathroom from Kyle and Leslie is head and shoulders above the rest. To score it just half a point above Leah and Ash is a crime more heinous than Sizzler shutting down its Australian operations (RIP cheese toast).

It’s hard to find fault with this room (though I did, and we’ll get to it). From the layout to tile choices, curved ceiling to VJ paneling, tapware finishes to skylights… it’s packed with so many stunning design features that feel amazing now, and yet timeless too.

Can I also point out that the vanity Kyle and Leslie used here is the same one from Sharon & Ankur’s master ensuite last season (look at it if you dare), which just goes to show that there’s no such things as bad products, just bad execution. Unless you’re talking about boomerang pillows (then all bets are off).

That Shower Screen Could Be Improved

There’s honestly not a lot you can fault in Kyle and Leslie’s studio bathroom. Even the toilet behind the door deserves a special mention.

Sure, moss in the base of a plant should be reserved strictly for doctors surgeries and 90s corporate offices, but I’m looking past that because everything else here is so phenomenal.

The only thing that bothers me is the curved shower screen. It detracts from the stunning curve in the ceiling. A square-set screen with a top that mirrors the horizontal line of the shower niche would have allowed the curve to really take centre stage.

But all in all, a very deserved studio bathroom reveal win.

Leah and Ash Came Second

This is the part where I begin to question my own sanity. But I’m comforted by the knowledge that most of you are going to agree with me when I say… what is going on here?

The judges may have gotten disco vibes from this space, but I’m getting dungeon. To call this room polarising is more of an understatement than saying Daryl Somers should retire from all forms of television.

Joking aside, I don’t see many potential buyers walking into this bathroom and feeling wowed by it. In fact, I see many being put off by it. I’m surprised something so intentionally controversial received such positive feedback.

The Luxury Feel Is Missing For Me

The judges called it sultry and luxurious, but I’m struggling to see it. Something about the dark, high-gloss finishes and shiny chrome basin make this bathroom read more like a commercial space as opposed to a residential one.

It’s something you might see in a dimly-lit, high-end restaurant. I could see it working in this realm. Maybe a hotel, at a stretch. But I don’t see many people wanting to spend time in it. It’s just all too reflective, cold and uninviting.

The feedback was to not carry this polarising feel into the rest of the home, and Leah and Ash agreed. But surely you have to carry the vibe through to the rest of the studio at least, or else the zone will feel very disjointed. So either direction they take the rest of the rooms in, I have concerns.

Eliza and Liberty Came Third

A successful layout for a studio bathroom, no doubt about it. And some gorgeous products used by Eliza and Liberty, I’ll give them that. But it must be said… this feels a little ‘been there, done that’, don’t you think?

The overall look and feel reminds me of too many other Block bathrooms from the past few years. Floor tiles aside (which are delish, let’s not deny it), everything else isn’t giving me much newness, or excitement. And God do we need The Block to excite us in 2023!

All of the warm metallics are overkill. Shaynna pointed this out and I have to agree. The floor tiles are the shining star of the bathroom, and yet the metallics are also fighting for your attention. I’ve not been this visually overstimulated since I was a teen watching lycra-clad men running the gauntlet in Gladiators (IYKYK).

A Few Unsuccessful Choices Were Made

Differing metallics aside, I also have an issue with the high-gloss white subway tiles. They’re quite jarring against the brass/copper accents and the dynamic floor. It’s too high-contrast a space, in what should feel calm and inviting. It doesn’t make for a bathroom you want to unwind in.

The shower recess being tiled the same as the floor only adds to the sense of visual disharmony, and of course (as we’re all well aware) the shower head is installed insanely high and needs to be corrected.

If the metallics were all one finish, and that finish was brushed, it would be helpful. If the wall tiles were a duller white, and matte, that would also improve the room. The shower screen hardware is also unnecessary. So, we’ve got a few things to correct.

Kristy and Brett Came Fourth

I’ve gotta come right out and say it: Kristy and Brett got a raw deal this week. I would have placed them second after Kyle and Leslie. Were there issues? Sure. But this bathroom is anything but boring and is a space a buyer will truly appreciate.

Kristy and Brett were the only team to put a ledge in the shower you can sit on. It’s one of the best future-proofing ideas for a bathroom reno and one that sets this space apart as more of an indulgent day spa for guests.

You can also see how muted matte wall tiles calm a space and make it feel more harmonious. And here, the brass accents actually work with the tiles and bring a sense of luxury. We’ll get to the issues in a second, but honestly… fourth place? Computer says no.

Only a Few Issues to Correct in This Studio Bathroom

There are only really two main design issues that should be corrected here. One is easier than the other, but both would make the space look and feel a lot better.

The first is the shower screen. A frameless option would be a game-changer, allowing you to take in the focal point of this space, which is undoubtably the arched tile recess.

The recess itself is issue two. It would look a lot more impactful if they combined the arched recess and the seat. As two separate design elements the angles and curves are fighting. Just one curved recess you could sit in would look far more resolved.

Steph and Gian Came Last

As I’m sure you’ve probably worked out by now, I feel Leah and Ash should have come last. The market you’re designing for should always be your most important consideration, and Steph and Gian designed a bathroom that (while not ideal), would still connect with a buyer more.

The layout was successful, the vanity zone looked lovely, and the skylight above the shower was a smart move. It makes for a space that feels like a relaxing retreat to unwind in. I feel pretty good about most of their selections in terms of the products themselves (we’ll get to how they used them in a sec).

They also thought about things like making the door a cavity slider so there were no congestion issues if multiple people were coming in and out of the bathroom. Some smart choices were made, so why last place?

Some Changes to Make This Bathroom Better

The judges rightly pointed out the mix of tapware materials as a bit of a blunder, and they’re right. Brushed chrome looks far better, and they’d be wise to eliminate the black accents completely. They harden what could be a zen-like bathroom. They fight the sense of earthiness.

And then we have the beams, which are too earthy. Marty Fox (can I just say how much we love the addition of a real estate agent this year?) was right to suggest they paint them out. That way you get a nod to the rustic without it screaming at you like Gordon Ramsay at, well, anyone within a kilometer of a kitchen.

Lastly, the storage cupboard above the toilet looks quite odd. It’s almost like Jub Jub from High 5 is going to pop out to wreak havoc. It looks quite DIY and cheapens the zone.

What did you make of The Block 2023 studio bathrooms reveal? Drop me a comment below and share your thoughts on how you’d score each room.

Images by David Cook Photography, courtesy of The Block Shop. For more info on The Block 2023 studio bathrooms reveal, check out NineNow.