The Block bedrooms really hit a soft spot this week, bringing up memories of the kind of novelty beds that were popular when we were kids. Car-shaped and Disney-themed visions spring to mind. This week’s episode made it clear it’s now all about novelty bedheads. They push the playfulness in the same way bed frames of yesteryear did, while being more chic and less kitsch. The ultimate example has to be the double-arched bedheads that The Block team Mimi and Kristian went with.
These went down a treat with The Block judges, Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Marty Fox. “Look how good this is. Clouds with a silver lining and a rainbow behind them. That’s the idea of the day,” said Darren, who pointed out the LED strips behind them. “That’s so effective. It’s so whimsical and wonderful.” Marty agreed that the bedheads were an excellent decision, lending an element of “magic” while keeping the room sophisticated. “This bedhead, I can see this being a bestseller because it’s so stunning,” he said of the designs that are available on The Block Shop.
It wasn’t just Mimi and Kristian – other The Block contestants proved beautiful bedheads are trending in general. Courtney and Grant’s guest bedroom featured a scalloped-edge bedhead, enhanced with arched wallpaper behind it. This clever design move made it feel as though the bedhead extended to the ceiling.
Contestants Ricky and Haydn also used wallpaper to create a pseudo bedhead. They built a bulkhead curve, lit with LEDs, and placed pink palm tree Grafico wallpaper in the space behind the bed. The stunning results really took the boys’ barefoot beach house to the next level.
Along with bedhead inspiration, The Block teams delivered ideas in spades – from Jesse and Paige’s DIY scalloped kids’ table to the curved skirting in Courtney and Grant’s Modern Mediterranean house. “I feel like everybody’s really hit their groove,” said Scott Cam. We take a look through all the room reveals below.
The Block 2024 kids’ and guest bedrooms
Here’s how the contestants scored with their bedrooms in week four.
1st place: Mimi and Kristian
“The colour palette is so sophisticated, I absolutely adore it,” said Shaynna, taking in the whimsical rainbow-themed room. The interior designer was impressed with their ability to reference rainbows, arches and circles throughout the space “without it feeling over-the-top”.
It was a turnaround from the previous reveal, when the newlyweds failed to impress. “Kristian and Mimi probably got a bit complacent last week,” Darren exclaimed excitedly when he saw it. “You can see what happens when you get a bit complacent. I don’t see complacency here. I just see expertise. I see attention to detail. High levels of finish, a beautiful layout, great decisions in design. They’re back, baby.”
Score: 28/30
2nd place: Kylie and Brad
After taking previous feedback on board, Kylie and Brad tweaked the direction they were heading in their black island escape. “I’m compromising. I’m doing a kids’ room in a slightly more coastal direction,” said Kylie. “This is it, they’ve done it!” said Darren. “It feels soft and light and bright.” Shaynna pointed out the natural timbers and earthy rug and felt they had finally got the balance right between the black and other softer elements.
Real estate agent Marty felt this was a much more marketable room by Kylie and Brad, with the bunk beds a big selling point. “This is the only bedroom that sleeps seven people so far, so they’re one person ahead of the pack,” he said. “If you’ve got that in a holiday home, you get the highest rent and you build an amazing investment opportunity.”
Score: 27.5/30
3rd place: Courtney and Grant
This couple delivered the luxe finishes and calming colours we’ve come to expect from their Mediterranean interior design style. “I can confidently say we’ve continued the aesthetic,” said Courtney. The curved skirting board got the attention of the judges in particular. “That’s a curved profile on a curved wall,” said Darren, pointing out the degree of difficulty involved in executing that. “They would have had to cut [little slots] on the back and gently mould it, then fill it and sand it.” The pendant placements didn’t appeal to Shaynna so much, as she felt the height differences were odd. “They look like space ships. It almost looks like a mistake,” she said.
The drawers were located in an inconvenient spot in the wardrobe, but otherwise this team’s attention to detail was praised. “These guys are next level. Look at the mood lighting in the study nook,” said Marty. He called their house “an auctioneer’s dream” and appreciated how Courtney and Grant have been consistent with the materials included throughout their house. “They’re tying everything back in so beautifully. It’s not in your face – it’s just enough.”
Score: 27/30
Tied 4th place: Ricky and Haydn
Bringing on former The Block contestant Duncan Miller as their builder paid off for the boys. “I’m so glad they’ve got a good builder. This is levels ahead of what was there before,” said Shaynna, who called their room stylish and sophisticated. “It’s the first time I’ve said ‘sophistication’ for the boys.” The level of detail was noticed, such as the shadow line between the ceiling and wall. “That takes effort, it takes time. You’ve got to have a good builder who knows that they’re doing,” said Darren.
The feature wall evoked a “holiday resort” feeling that Shaynna wanted them to run with. The only thing that needed improvement was the colour palette, with the warm yellow not working with the cool grey, but it was a minor criticism. “I think they’ve delivered a room that a buyer will walk through and really appreciate,” said Marty. “It will shoot well, it’s a really good effort.”
Score: 26.5/30
Tied 4th place: Jesse and Paige
Animosity between Jesse and Paige didn’t stop the engaged couple from delivering a charming kids’ bedroom. They went with a “Parisian dollhouse” feel which Paige said “really plays into the modern colonial” style they’ve been creating in their blue-and-green dream holiday house. “I think we’re the only house with a walk-in robe,” Jesse said. The judges were impressed with the “smart idea” to put in the wardrobe without doors, so it doesn’t feel closed in. “I think this works brilliantly,” said Marty.
It was only on closer inspection that they noticed there were sections inside the wardrobe that hadn’t been wallpapered, leaving the raw plaster exposed. “We’ve got a bit of an incompletion issue there,” said Darren. The sweet styling and sorbet colour palette went down a treat, though. “It doesn’t feel juvenile,” said Shaynna, who felt it was a sophisticated take on a kids’ room.
The desk was a DIY project that came up beautifully, but the functionality was questionable. “I love that desk. I just want to check if you can sit at it,” said Shaynna. It was a tight squeeze for Darren, but it would possibly be less of an issue for a child. “They could have done the scallop higher,” Shaynna suggested. Regardless, it was generally a successful room that Marty felt buyers would respond well to. “It feels very upmarket,” he said.
Score: 26.5/30
Tune into The Block 2024 on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.
