With main bedroom and walk-in robe reveals only hours away, the Blockheads race to finish their rooms by tools down on Sunday morning. With a recommended budget of $20,000 uptown Houses 1, 2 and 3 each had around 40sqm to complete, while downtown Houses 4 and 5 each had around 31sqm. Across the site, teams were still painting, installing carpet, fitting off electrical, hanging curtains, sanding plaster and styling under intense time pressure.
The lead-up was especially tense for House 4 Courtney and Sev, whose fireplace wall disaster forced them to pull apart framing, repair bowed studs, replaster, dry and prepare the surface in time for wallpaper. House 1 Adam and Jolene were racing to the end, House 2 Chantel and Wyatt pushed through painting and wardrobe execution, House 5 Rick and Tayla dealt with Venetian plastering and curtain issues, and House 3 Lisa and Rosco entered reveal feeling quietly confident, with renewed motivation after sharing they were expecting another child.
At tools down, every team finished except Courtney and Sev, who were disappointed not to make Block history by taking out a trifecta of room wins. Scott then raised the stakes, announcing that the season winner would receive their auction profit and $100,000, plus a growing prize pool launched with a Plungie Pool and $50,000 cash. Courtney and Sev still secured one win for the week, taking out the CommBank Budget Challenge and $10,000.
Judging with Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Marty Fox opened strongly for House 1 Adam and Jolene, whose rendered wall, wardrobe storage and elevated palette impressed the judges, although Shaynna felt the bedroom was slightly over styled; their budget estimate was $19,985.85 and cash spend was $27,975.08. House 2 Chantel and Wyatt divided the judges, the robe was bright but under-styled and clinical, while the bedroom was praised for its simplicity, high-standard Venetian plaster and strong response to the brief; their budget estimate was $29,500.00 and cash spend was $35,933.52. House 3 Lisa and Rosco delivered the week’s standout, with a quiet luxury robe, coastal detailing, natural light, lime plaster, curves, practical bedside choices and a controlled palette that the judges considered close to perfect; their budget estimate was $27,000.00 and cash spend was $28,560.50.
House 4 Courtney and Sev’s judging was difficult, with the judges calling out unfinished work, a filthy robe, poor tiling, cold lighting, unresolved ceiling detail and an overall lack of refinement, despite some praise for the bedhead and flooring detail; their budget estimate was $21,515.00 and cash spend was $22,176.77. House 5 Rick and Tayla impressed with skylights, a soaring ceiling, herringbone flooring, architectural curves, warm Venetian plaster and strong artwork, but the judges questioned some expensive choices and felt the styling, bedside lights and tables didn’t work and they obviously had some issues with their curtain length but they gained praise for their remote-controlled block out blinds; their budget estimate was $21,950.00 and cash spend was $25,350.59.
The week ultimately belonged to Lisa and Rosco, whose main bedroom and walk-in robe delivered the most cohesive and emotionally resolved result. Adam and Jolene and Chantel and Wyatt were also strong contenders, Rick and Tayla showed architectural ambition but needed tighter styling, and Courtney and Sev’s bold vision was undermined by the late fireplace setback and poor execution with the judges describing their room as a high-end coffin.
