The Block Kitchens: What We Love and What We’d Change

Like many of you, we’re avid watchers of The Block. And, just like you, we’re often awed by the results these ‘renovation rookies’ produce.

Unsurprisingly, Kitchen Week is usually our favourite. We love seeing what the contestants come up with and the creativity they bring to the design process. The show also creates a few new trends each season and we like to stay up to date on what homeowners will be looking for from their own renovation projects.

This year has been particularly interesting, with the need for the designs to reflect the period of the home. This has forced most of the contestants to think beyond their personal style and led to some truly inspired choices. Unfortunately, it has also revived some trends that we’d have happily left in the past.

In recognition of this, we wanted to share some of our thoughts on this year’s kitchens and advice for anyone inspired by the show to plan their own renovation.

 

First, an important reality check

 

Before we get into our observations, there are a few things we need to address.

Many on social media have questioned how the contestants create such high-end spaces on such a small budget. The answer is, they don’t. The modest budgets mentioned on the show only cover the cost of trades and styling, with everything else (cabinetry, benchtops, appliances, tapware, and most materials) provided by sponsors and not included in the final price. For example, all of the kitchens included a Billi hot/sparkling water tap which usually costs over $5k – this was not included in the budget numbers for any of the teams.

Some also commented that the size of the kitchen areas was significantly out of sync with the average Melbourne home. This means that, if you are trying to emulate one of the looks, you will need to make some adjustments to fit it into your space. You may also need to seek out more cost-effective alternatives as features like handleless cabinetry, natural stone and timber, louvres, automatic overhead cabinets, and custom curved cabinetry can all add significant expense.

 

Our thoughts on the kitchens

 

Broadly speaking, we were really impressed by all five kitchens. There was definitely a lot to love about each of them and the overall use of different materials was impressive.

That being said, we couldn’t help but feel that the layouts were all strikingly similar. While this does make comparison much easier, we think it would have been interesting to see more variety in how each team set out the space.

 

House 1: Harry & Tash (1920s)

 

What we liked:

• The massive 4.3m island – it provides plenty of bench space and will be great for entertaining.
• The Scandi style, mixing timber with white and soft grey tones – we love the choice of stone soft oak floor.
• The sink – right placement (on the bench along the wall) and the sliding panel is a nice touch.
• The placement of the Billi tap in the main kitchen area – practical for entertaining and daily use.
• The ducted vacuum – practical feature and makes it really easy to sweep up crumbs.
• Putting the bin and dishwasher in the Butler’s Pantry – helps keep the main kitchen area cleaner.
• The design of the storage in the Butler’s Pantry – easy to see appliances and keep clutter at bay.

 

What we would change:

• The colour of the tap – this would be better if it matched the cabinetry handles.
• Add a power point to the entertaining end of the benchtop – to allow you to charge laptops, etc.
• Use drawers instead of doors in the Butler’s Pantry – to make it more functional.
• Replace the shelf in the main kitchen area with overhead cabinetry – this would look more ‘finished’ and provide much more storage.
• Replace glass shelving in Butler’s Pantry with overhead cabinetry – which would be less difficult to keep clean and is more practical for a family.
• Redesign coffee machine side to not end abruptly – so it would look more ‘finished’.
• Run cabinetry above the wall oven tower and fridge section to the ceiling or add a bulkhead – this would look more ‘finished’ and be a better use of the space.
• Reduce the number of fitted appliances – to save money without impacting functionality (who needs four ovens?).
• The minimalist geometric forms and long straight lines – to give the space more of a 1920s feel.

 Like this look?

Check out this kitchen renovation we did in East Malvern.

 

House 2: Sarah & George (1940s)

 

What we liked:

• The louvres and overhead cabinetry in the Butler’s Pantry – looked great and would be very practical.
• Classic monochrome colours – aesthetically strong and quite pleasing to the eye.
• Adding lighting inside the glass cabinetry – made it easier to see inside and brightened up the space.
• Open shelving – a nice touch at the entry to the kitchen.
• Plenty of storage space – very practical, even for a large family.
• Curved benchtop – provides a great focal point for the space.
• Bulkhead over the wall oven tower – made the area look solid and complete.

 

What we would change:

• Lower overhead cabinetry – would make it functional for the average person. Move louvres to the main kitchen area – this would be a better use of such an expensive feature.
• Replace Dolomite with Caesarstone – to be more practical (Dolomite stains easily), easier to maintain. It would also be significantly lighter, making it easier / safer to install.
• Move the double sink to the Butler’s Pantry and replace it with a single sink in the bench along the wall – this would be just as practical and allow more usable space for entertaining.
• Use only one timber – to make the space look brighter and more open.
• Move the Billi tap to the main kitchen area – much better for entertaining and daily use.
• Remove additional drawers from under the ovens – to bring the ovens down to a more practical height.
• Replace the glass doors on the overhead cabinetry with another material – to be more practical for a cooking area.i.e. Less splashes from cooking
• Choose better design options to give the area a more 1940s feel – to fit the brief better!

 Like this look?

Check out this Case Study kitchen renovation we did in Glen Waverley.

 

House 3: Daniel & Jade (1930s)

 

What we liked:

• Oyster Grey cabinetry with champagne coloured handles – classic colour scheme that will stand the test of time.
• Circular shape of the island bench – brings the space together and could seat five comfortably.
• Height of overhead cabinetry – easy to reach and starts right above the windows.
• Extra oven in the Butler’s Pantry – keeps the main kitchen area uncluttered without compromising functionality.
• The Butler’s Pantry – overall, the best on The Block as it would function more like a kitchen, making it perfect for entertaining.
• Standalone rangehood – meets safety standards.

 

What we would change:

• Replace the timber on the island bench with a more durable material – to give the space a broader appeal (some on social media said it looked like the outside of an 80s jacuzzi) and be more practical, particularly for families.
• Move the sink to the bench running along the wall – it would be just as practical and allow more usable space for entertaining.
• Move the Billi tap to the main kitchen area – better for entertaining and daily use.
• Move some of the appliances from the Butler’s Pantry to the main kitchen area – where they would be more accessible for day to day use.
• Reduce the number of lights over the bench – to save money and be less distracting.
• Add more power points, including at least one in the island – to be more practical and allow you to charge your phone or work on your laptop on the island bench.
• Add large pot drawers around the cooktop – more functional and in line with modern kitchen design trends.
• Reflect the curve of the island bench in other parts of the kitchen – to make the lines of the kitchen feel more consistent.
• Switch the oven tower with tall cabinets to the right of the cooktop – reducing the distance between the oven and the cooktop and make the space more usable.
• Add another row of cabinets or bulkhead above the window wall – to give a more ‘finished’ look.

Like this look?

Check out this kitchen renovation we did in Balaclava and this whole house renovation we did in Mount Martha.

 

House 4: Luke & Jasmin (1910s)

 

What we liked:

• Corrugated light timber curved wall – a real showstopper that perfectly matched the island.
• Sophisticated colour scheme – neutral and elegant.
• Light Pendant – worked well with the island.

 

What we would change:

• Add more power points, including at least one in the island – this would be more practical and allow you to charge your phone or work on your laptop on the island bench.
• Move the double sink to Butler’s Pantry and replace with a single sink in the bench along the wall – this would be just as practical and allow more usable space for entertaining.
• Finish wood with a wax or gloss – giving the space a broader appeal (some on social media said it looked unfinished) and be more practical, particularly for families.
• Move the ovens further into the kitchen area – which would mean less distance between the oven and a flat surface.
• Move the Billi tap to the main kitchen area as this would be better for entertaining and daily use.
• Replace open shelves with cabinetry in lighter timber – as this would be more practical, easier to clean, and provide more storage.
• Shift styling to the other end of the island – it would look better and be more practical.
• Replace Hafele touch open up with standard overhead cabinetry – to save money without really impacting functionality.
• Square off some of the curves – to prevent the space dating as quickly.

 

Like this look?

Check out this kitchen and laundry renovation we did in Middle Park.

  

House 5: Jimmy & Tam (1950s)

 

What we liked:

• The sink – right placement (on the bench along the wall).
• The placement of the Billi tap in the main kitchen area – practical for entertaining and daily use.
• Plenty of power points – practical detail that will make the space more usable
• Gas cooking – preferred by many buyers
• Suited the target market – as Shaynna said, “It’s big, it’s beautiful, it’s Brighton!” 

 

What we would change:

• Make Butler’s Pantry wider – this would make the space more usable and allow two people to work in there at the one time.
• Replace the pull out pantry unit with traditional cabinetry – more practical and allow better movement through the space.
• Add benches to the (wider) Butler’s Pantry – to make the space much more usable.
• Replace open shelves in Butler’s Pantry with traditional cabinetry – this would be more practical, easier to keep clean, and provide more storage.
• Move the cooktop away from the windows – to make clean up easier.
• The pendants – these would suit the space better if they were larger, and would also provide better light when sitting at the island bench.
• The stools – these would suit the space better if they were lower, and would also make sitting at the island bench more comfortable.
• Replace mint green with a metallic Laminex – to give the space a broader appeal (some on social media said it looked like the colour on the back of plasterboard) while still creating a glamorous 1950s feel.
• Generally simplify the colour scheme – to make the whole space more pleasing to the eye.

 

Like this look?

Check out this kitchen and laundry renovation we did in Mount Martha.