Sunday 29 April 2012

The Block 2012 Week 1

So, I'm obsessed with The Block! It's funny, I was not interested in the first few series from years ago and last year I was very skeptical but it sucked me in, and this year I've been waiting with bated breathe for it to begin.

So week one is done and dusted and the first room has been judged and Dan and Dani's Bedroom/Study reined supreme. However it was a week of low numbers all around and I am with the judges, they all need to step it up and buy some DECENT CURTAINS! So here's my personal judgement on the rooms.

Dan and Dani's - Bedroom/Study 

Walls - Colour! Yay, often the 'blockheads' are so safe sticking to white but I feel it's much more relaxing and luxurious to be in a bedroom with some colour. A subtle grey like this is neutral and calm.
Floors - This dark grey carpet works very well with the softer grey on the walls and white skirting.
Furniture - The bedspread is very busy and looks fuzzy here. It's actually a fine grey chevron but a larger pattern would have looked better as well a throw and a few bigger cushions would have creating the 'display bed' look. I love their use of colour. Bright splashes seem to be their style. The desk is great although the shelves are a bit sparse and I like the mirrored wardrobe but to me the desk is too small to call this room an "office" as such. I LOVE the ghost chair, it has such a lesser impact than a clunky office chair would have. I like the upholstered bedhead but the checkered pattern is a bit much. I do like the Bally poster buuuuut the idea is a bit 'been there, done that' on the block..........

My vote 6.5/10
This couple have a strong style. If you have seen all the episodes you would have seen this style of theirs in both their elimination room and their own apartment. I like it but I don't think they are thinking of the area they're in or the buyers they're looking at. This room is very coherent, smooth and streamline.

Mike and Andrew's - Office/Guest Room

Walls - I can see why they went a stark white when they've chosen such a dark floor but white is so plain.
Floors - They are extremely dark and to me maybe a little overpowering in such a small room.
Furniture - I'm a massive fan of the restored fireplace and love the desk and the chair, this is really an office to me. Also loving that they actually filled the shelves, as the room looks much more lived in. I would have hung the mirror, but I also agree with the judges that the shelf (not seen in this photo) and the mirror should have been reversed. I liked the little reading nook (again not seen in this photo) but the lamp was way too high! The tilt away bed rocks, and they've got great shelving around it. But I agree with the judges the artwork/pull lever looks really out of place. And to finish, cow hide rug......... urgh!!!

My vote 6/10
The guys are seeming to go for the bachelor pad look and it could work in this area. I'm wondering if they will extend this flooring and wall colour throughout the house, I'm thinking yes, I believe though it will be very overpowering without some more colour....

Brad and Lara's - Sitting Room

Walls - White has worked well here as they're keeping the period features and are going for neutral colours in the furnishings.
Floors - Loving, Loving, Loving the red wood polished floor!! I'm assuming they'll extend it throughout the house and it will fit the house perfectly and future buyers will be able to add any style they want to the room.
Furniture - I love and blue chair and ottoman and am so so about the white couch. I love the modern coffee table and modern entertainment features. However the rug does not work for me! White rug, with a white couch and white walls, too much white. A navy and cream stripe or grey chevron would have worked much better. The mirror looks a little odd until you realize it matches the flooring but it took me a minute to find that connection...... The shelving looks cheap with all the resizing holes so visible and I agree with the judges, put the mantle back!!

My vote 6.5/10
I think this couple have done the right thing taking the real estate agents advice. This is a million dollar area and a formal sitting area works much better and I think will match the buyers needs the best. I'm so happy that they're focusing on keeping the period features of the house. I love their frames and skirting!!


Sophie and Dale's - Dining Room

Walls - Again stark white...... Imagine how much cosier this room would have felt in a grey, navy or taupe!! I love the skirting but the contrast they're going for with the coloured skirting has not worked for me and shrinks the room a little... I'm not a fan of the exposed brick work, usually I would like it but in this housing market it looks cheap. I love that they punched through the wall and created a stream line between this and the rest of the living areas.
Floors - Perfect flooring choice to me :-)
Furniture - The table is stunning!!! I love it and the clean and simple look it gives with the steel legs. The light fitting is gorgeous and a brilliant touch. The sign..... OKaaayyyy, but would have looked better on a coloured wall. The chairs are a massive disappointment! This is a terrace house in a multimillion dollar area, not a student share house furnished with op shop finds! And the same goes with the hutch/dresser, there are so many better shelving options or even a side board would have worked better. The mirror collage is a bit amateurish, photos would have fitted much better, or a single large mirror.

My vote 5/10
The table and light fitting are the heroes of this room, everything else is rather disappointing. Where has all the imagination they showed in elimination gone? A rug on the floor would have centred the furniture much better and a set of formal dining chairs would save this room. And just like the judges I say "invest in better curtains!!" Especially in a room with so little furniture in it. Floor length curtains are a must! I'm torn about keeping the second door, I think I'd need to see the house to make a better assumption, however taking it out would have given the room a bit more space.


Ok, so here comes week two. Two rooms! Wow, intense for the second week but I think they can do it. Some people need to think about their health and sleeping patterns a bit better if they want to get through the 10 weeks without a mental breakdown. But I'll be watching every second! (sometimes a day late though as some days I work evenings)

Are you as addicted as I am? xxoo
Roxanne

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