The Block NZ 2013: A Round Up

So The Block NZ is over for another year - Alice and Caleb's gorgeous wee cottage won by a mile in the end, were you surprised? Or was it totally deserved!

If you're anything like me I got totally emotionally invested and was devastated for the other couples to think they made such seemingly small profits considering the mammoth efforts that went into renovating their given homes.

This season has well and truly proven just how subjective design can be. Here, four very different houses appealed to four very different markets which was equally reflected in the range of prices that they sold for. A great suggestion that I saw for upcoming seasons is to revert back to the original 'Block' concept where all four houses begin as identical properties so that the playing field is fair and even. Then you know the results are an accurate reflection of just how well the contestants did.

There was so much with this season's show that I disagreed with, yet I'm sure I'll be front and centre to my tv for next years' show. What a sucker!

The Block NZ 2013 - Week 6

There were some ho-hum master bedrooms on The Block this week - all of them had some really great elements, and some that let them down as well!

A particular issue that was highlighted in both Alice and Caleb and Pete and Andy's rooms were the window treatments over their gabled windows. Both teams dressed their windows slightly differently, but I'm not sure that either was a complete success.

When you are faced with finding window treatments for existing angled windows, this can be challenging enough as it is, but when you are building new you should think very carefully at the concept stage about how the decision of including an angled window is going to affect the interior finishes - especially window treatments! Unless of course you are happy to have an exposed window - perhaps you have it double glazed with no privacy issues, in which case lucky you! For the rest of us though, we generally want to be able to keep the room dark, warm, cosy and private!

Pete and Andy opted to install a curtain track across the middle of their window creating a visual disturbance by chopping their feature window in half and leaving the top portion of the window exposed.
Alice and Caleb had the better idea of the two (see above) but as one judge mentioned, they could have bumped their curtains and tracks right to the junction of the wall and ceiling to emphasize the grandeur of the space. Even so, there is something a little clumsy looking about the way these curtains hang, caused simply by the awkward angle that they are on. The only way they could have perhaps improved was to choose a header detail that would sit flatter and with less bulk along the track so your eye isn't automatically drawn to the higgledy piggledy stacking.

I would love to be able to provide a one stop shop solution or suggestion on how these windows could have been treated better - but your best options still remain curtains or concertina/fan blinds which are definitely not for everyone, and don't create the warmth and cosiness that curtaining does. The contestants didn't have any say in the design of the windows they had to dress, but to those of us in a new build situation who have great architects with visions of angled windows; before committing, think carefully down the line as to how you are going to keep the room warm, dark and private - a straight edged, right angled window is one thing, but trying to cover triangles with products that work best perpendicular to the floor is a whole other ball game!

The Block NZ 2013 - Week 4

It was the living room and entry hall challenge on The Block this week - what did you guys think? Love them? Hate them? A little underwhelming perhaps? Some snippets of goodness? All of the above!?

I don't think there was one team that totally hit it out of the park this week - if I could pick my favourite elements from across the board they would be;

The lights and faux pressed paneling from Alice and Caleb's entry topped off with their signature black dado rail.

The gorgeous wee elephant hooks from Pete and Andy's foyer and their cosy looking sofa.

The perfectly sized rug, relaxed feel and sun soaked window seat in Alisa and Cohen's living area.

The overall sense of creativity and colour from Loz and Tom - I think the least contrived, least show-home looking living area on the block this week.

Which aspects did you like the best?

The Block NZ 2013 - Week 3

There seemed to be a running theme of black and white across the competition this week - but I would have to agree with the judges that there was something about the inclusion of the timber shelving to Loz and Tom's slick bathroom that clinched it this time round.

When used on smooth, flat, light reflective surfaces such as those in a bathroom, the combination of black with white can be quite harsh and clinical in feel - so mixing in the natural timber finish creates wonderful warmth and a touch of 'homeliness' without taking away from the overall contemporary aesthetic. If well prepped, sealed, installed and maintained, the timber should last just as well as a laminate or veneered wet room surface.

Perhaps not so hot? The choice of bath and basin! It is so easy to be seduced by the latest Italian designed products in glossy magazines or the bright shiny sanitaryware display in the local plumbing showroom - but it is so important to think really carefully about the practicality of your final choices.

The smooth, rounded lines of their uber shallow basin are great to look at, but not so practical when you're wanting to pop the plug in and fill it with water for a decent hand or face wash, and watch out for splash back from the tap in a shallow dish like this!

Freestanding baths create beautiful features in designer bathrooms - but are you keen to scramble around on all fours trying to clear the dust bunnies from down the back? Or fish out that facecloth/pair of undies/bar of soap that your child tossed onto the floor? What works for a professional couple may not work so well for a family bathroom - keep your end user or market in mind at all times!

The Block NZ 2013 - Week 2

Despite being eliminated for not following the rules or brief for the week, Alice and Caleb definitely pushed design boundaries the furthest with their bold use of dark inky walls, colour block curtaining and industrial finishing touches.

Black, dark grey, inky blues and navy's all get a bit of a bad rep as being gloomy, cold and oppressive - but the success of it comes from the other colours you put alongside it and the layering of furniture and finishes in the space.

I think they pulled the look off by teaming their dark walls with plenty of crisp white trim, bright yellow accents and clean lines on the bed linen. The weathered, aged finishes on the side tables and box crates as well as crafty placement of nick nacks become the features in the space; the black acting as a great dramatic backdrop to these more important elements in the room.

Love it or hate it, the overall look was pretty successful in our eyes (even if it was aimed at a teenager rather then a wee poppet) - check out some more great examples of dark walled kiddies rooms below!

Images via here, here, here, here, here and here

The Block NZ 2013

The Block NZ 2013 has had it's first set of room reveals - have you been sucked in to watching like we have?

All of the rooms featured great design elements, as well as some things that weren't so hot - Alisa and Cohen's sympathetic and classically styled bedroom highlighted some issues that we often find trip people up - particularly in period homes, so I thought they'd be worth a mention.

1) The window seat squabs looked plush and comfy - certainly a positive characteristic for a sunny spot that you'd want to spend a decent amount of time in! However when putting in bench/day bed or seat squabs, think really carefully about just how they will be used. Do you want to lie on them? If so, a single squab is the way to go as you won't find your rear end sinking into the gap between, or sliding around on split squabs! Are they going to be used predominantly for sitting? ie. on a bench seat round a dining table - if so, a single squab can create a banana effect when sat on in the middle, so cutting the squab down into smaller portions will create designated 'bums on seat' spaces without the ski slopes at either side.

2) It is common to be nervous about choosing large scale pieces of artwork or furniture for your home, but traditional rooms like Alisa and Cohen's bedroom cry out for items of similar large proportion. Don't be afraid to go big - a larger piece of artwork over their bed would have helped to close the gap between floor and ceiling. If all your furniture is low and your artwork small, the room will feel disjointed. Create balance with a combination of low, medium and high items that draw the eye around and up through the room, and the use of large, more solid pieces of furniture will create a visual anchor point in the space.

3) Following on from the above point on scale - when it comes to lighting, bigger is generally better!
In a room with a higher then average stud we find many clients underestimate the size of shade or fitting that works best. Just like high walls need larger furniture and artwork to fill them, a massive spatial void above your head requires a larger light fitting to balance the negative space! I think a simple, clean lined, brushed steel or antique bronze finished chandelier would have worked wonders in that room. What do you think?


Nikki