Believe it or not, The Block has been around for 20 years – yes, really. Many of us grew up watching it, including the winners of The Block 2024, 24-year-old Maddy and 22-year-old Charlotte, who were fans from a young age.
There have been so many incredible houses over the years, it’s difficult to remember them all. Who better to recall the best of The Block houses than judge and interior designer Darren Palmer who has been there for 17 of those seasons?
He’s witnessed all the design highs and has a knack for spotting a talented team. After all, he did vouch for Courtney and Grant’s boundary-pushing striped bathroom when no one else did. Below, Darren Palmer shares his six favourite The Block houses of all time and why they were so special.
6 of Darren Palmer’s favourite The Block houses ever
Let’s take a trip down memory lane…
2017: Josh and Elyse (Winners of season 13)
These two turned out to be more than just pretty faces, working wonders on their five-bedroom weatherboard house in Elsternwick, Victoria. They took out the season and went on to run their own construction company, J and E Projects. They’re now parents of two with another one on the way.
“The living space and its fireplace were scene-stealers,” says Darren. “The main bedroom needed a bit more auditory buffering and privacy, but there’s a reason it’s a winning home.”
“The backyard was a masterstroke,” recalls Darren. “Digging, pouring and completing the surrounds of an in-ground pool hadn’t been done on The Block before this. It’s clear to see why when you comprehend how much work goes into it. These works usually take weeks if not months to complete.”
2020: Harry and Tash (3rd place in season 16)
Father-and-daughter duo Harry and Tash worked on a 1920s home on The Block 2020 and surprised the judges with their level of sophistication. The win of the season went to married couple Jimmy and Tam, but Harry and Tash still walked away with $650,000.
“Harry and Tash’s home had entrance appeal, side of house appeal, backyard appeal and kitchen, living and dining appeal,” says Darren.
“It wasn’t always easy going for them and they had to weather the storm of COVID slicing through their season, but they delivered a really great home in spite of the challenge,” Darren shares.
2021: Kirsty and Jesse (4th place on season 17)
Married couple Kirsty and Jesse had been applying to be on The Block for many years before they made it onto the Fans vs Faves series in 2021. Although the win went to Block veterans Mitch and Mark, their home goes down in history as one of the best in Darren Palmer’s opinion.
Kirsty and Jesse’s house had a Hamptons-style aesthetic. “The house was just a big family home with lovely inclusions,” says Darren. “The kitchen was spectacular.”
“The backyard and rear deck was a cracker.”
Darren Palmer
It was the largest property of the season. “The sheer scale of this house hadn’t been seen on The Block before,” Darren explains
2022: Tom and Sarah-Jane (4th place in season 18)
Plumber Tom and social worker Sarah-Jane are parents from Melbourne who competed on The Block 2022. Winners Omar and Oz walked away with $1.6 million, while Tom and Sarah-Jane made just $20,000 on the series. They completed an off-grid house in Gisborne.
Their house felt like an escape from it all. “Modern country at its most approachable and desirable,” said Darren. “That kitchen… That’s a show stopper.”
“The lounge room could have been even more furnished, but the bedrooms were all so sweet and chic,” says Darren. “I love the scale, the architecture and the materials palette that Tom and Sarah-Jane crafted.”
2023: Steph and Gian (Winners of season 19)
After almost 20 seasons, The Block was no longer amateur hour. Architect Steph and accountant Gian applied a professional approach to The Block 2023 with a Japandi-style home, and walked away with a record-breaking $1.65 million profit, plus $100,000 in prize money for taking out the win.
“Another proper, aspirational family home.”
Darren Palmer
“Steph and Gian’s main bedroom suite was the type of thing you hope for when checking into a hotel, so to have it as the reward for the person paying to live there was a good move and a winning one.”
“Not a perfect house, with a bit of conjecture about the kitchen, but a beautifully considered and coherent home from a considered and educated eye,” says Darren.
“Their back terrace and backyard were magnificent.”
Darren Palmer
2024: Courtney and Grant (2nd place in season 20)
Courtney and Grant from The Block 2024 had a taste for high-end finishes. Recognising their designer eye from day one, Darren Palmer defended the couple’s daring choices during the series. The couple’s Moditerranean house ended up selling for the second highest amount, with house-flipping sisters Maddy and Charlotte securing the win.
“This home was for a designer-savvy market. It’s not for everyone,” says Darren. “I personally love the consistency, coherence and interest in the design and inclusions.”
“The main bed was stellar, the dining and living was gorgeous and inviting and the second main bedroom suite was a game-changer,” Darren continues. “The work-from-home space didn’t exactly work for purpose, but could be adapted to something useful or used from time to time.”
For more from Darren Palmer, head to his website.
This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.
