With only four days until the house-decider reveal, the guest bedrooms are taking shape and the pressure is rising. This first room is about far more than design, the winning team will earn first pick of the houses, a choice that could shape their entire Block journey and their result on auction day.
With the houses still unallocated, opinions are split between the premium views of the uptown properties and the larger downtown floorplans, but every team must first deliver Darren’s brief of light, bright and luxurious under intense time pressure.
As the competition intensifies, the challenge is becoming as much about resilience as styling. Secret Site Manager Courtney and Interior Designer Sev are worried their builders are overwhelmed, with delays and budget pressure making criticism feel personal. Their guest bedroom plan includes a beige micro-cement finish, a light timber ceiling feature, custom bedhead, sconces and a marble cap. Sev is using CAD software to communicate their design clearly, and the pair are already focused on securing House 4, believing its floorplan and rooftop terrace potential could unlock the same views as the uptown homes.
Adam and Jolene, self-confessed “Bushies”, arrive without a fully defined style but lean into Darren’s quiet-luxury brief with a light, white palette suited to Mount Eliza. Jolene’s guest bedroom features a padded bedhead, neutral bedding, travertine pendants and sconces, and an oak wardrobe with open shelving at one end. Adam keeps the build moving by passing insulation inspection, impressing Dan with their progress.
Chantel and Wyatt feel Darren’s brief already aligns with their plans, though they are leaning more into an old luxury feel with plush carpet, traditional moulding, beige wardrobes and layered cushions. Just over 24 hours after arriving on his first renovation site, Wyatt is fitting in well, flooring is going down, walls and ceiling are up, air-conditioning is in, and wardrobes are being installed, with Dan saying they are leading the race.
Downtown in House 5, Rick and Tayla are sticking to the quiet-luxury brief with a cocoon-like bed, bedside tables, travertine sconces, a swivel chair and artwork. Builder Rick believes they are ahead on both build and budget thanks to his Melbourne-based trades. In House 3, Lisa and Rosco are still finding their feet and feeling the pressure. Despite Darren advising against timber panelling, they keep a toned-down version with a clean palette and an egg-shaped niche, but their progress stalls when they run short of ceiling batts before passing insulation inspection.
Dan suggests Lisa and Rosco cut a deal with their neighbours, and although Rick and Tayla are also short on batts, Rick generously agrees to help while the next delivery is still hours away. As the 6pm lockout approaches, teams race to get plaster on the walls: House 1 is almost fully plastered, House 2 is complete, House 3 needs more coats, House 4 has nearly caught up thanks to Rick’s help, and House 5 is still slightly behind. At lockout, Courtney and Sev are still packing their car when Dan closes the gates, leaving them to find a lift back to the share house.
Away from the build, the emotional toll is also becoming clear. Lisa and Rosco are deeply missing their son Lando, with Lisa breaking down and Rosco admitting he feels broken without him. As the final 48 hours approach, the competition heats up, with first pick of the houses, budget strategy, design execution and personal resilience all on the line, Sunday’s reveal could set the winning team up for the season ahead — and possibly a major result on auction day.
