Images: The Block/Channel 9
It was supposed to be all about the backyards and garages this week on The Block. Instead, two wine cellars have stolen the spotlight, a controversial loophole has raised eyebrows and a tie for first place has left some contestants questioning whether everyone played by the same rules.
While some teams were counting every dollar, others found a way to think outside the cellar. And with Courtney and Sev sharing the top spot with Adam and Jolene, the question of what each team paid for their showpiece is proving harder to ignore.
The task at hand for all five teams was to transform their barren outdoor areas into lush, inviting spaces, with garages that would add bang for the buyers’ bucks. But with budgets stretched, any bucks at all were proving hard to come by.
For teams feeling the financial pinch, the rules meant some tough calls. Lisa and Rosco, for instance, turned down offers of novelty inclusions, mindful that contestants must pay 50 per cent of a product’s recommended retail price unless the supplier is a sponsor of The Block.
Courtney and Sev, however, appeared to find another way.
Following Adam and Jolene’s lead, they installed a wine cellar of their own. But while Adam and Jolene diligently paid around $20,000, Courtney and Sev declined to disclose how much they had spent. Their explanation? The cellar fell under the category of art, allowing the artist to determine its value.
The explanation hasn’t convinced everyone. Jolene suspected Courtney and Sev paid closer to 10 per cent of the cellar’s retail value, rather than the 50 per cent paid by her and Adam.
When Lisa and Rosco challenged Courtney and Sev over the apparent discrepancy, Sev’s response was simple: they were being smart about how they played the game.
And here’s where things get interesting. Despite the questions surrounding their cellar, Courtney and Sev tied with Adam and Jolene for first place. Both teams’ wine cellars were singled out by the judges as standout features likely to stick in buyers’ minds.
“It looks like an installation from an art gallery,” Darren Palmer said of Adam and Jolene’s wine storage, while guest judge Dave Franklin declared Courtney and Sev’s curved design “one of the best wine cellars I’ve seen”. A mirror doubled the impact of their statement-making creation.
It was a particularly sweet result for the two teams, but perhaps a little harder to swallow for those watching their budgets.
Adam and Jolene’s courtyard also impressed real estate guru Marty Fox, who thought it was worthy of a magazine cover. “That is like the Home Beautiful shot right there,” added Dave. We couldn’t agree more!
Meanwhile, Chantel and Wyatt made the most of a tight budget, delivering an impressive backyard despite having little left for their garage. “We’re broke,” Wyatt admitted, with the empty space making the financial reality apparent.
Outdoors, they got creative, putting their talented tilers, the Cursio brothers, to work on the landscaping. The result was a backyard Darren described as having “nicely-put-together results”.
At Lisa and Rosco’s, a fireplace and seating made the most of the nearby ocean views. The judges would have liked more grass across the expansive block, but Shaynna was particularly impressed by their privacy strategy, including olive trees that will help shield pool users from neighbouring houses. It’s a practical consideration for a property where the pool is otherwise exposed to the cul-de-sac on the high side of The Block.
The biggest surprise came from Tayla and Rick, who hit a six with tiered landscaping that transformed their sloping block into a series of natural zones, including a cricket strip. A few unfinished details held the space back, but the overall design was well suited to family living, with Dave calling it a strong outdoor space.
Now comes the awkward part.
Adam and Jolene and Courtney and Sev are heading to the winners’ getaway together, where they’ll break bread, share a wine and have plenty of time to revisit the cellar controversy with Scotty Cam.
Will the bubbles flow freely, or will wine cellar-gate leave a bitter aftertaste? Either way, dinner could be more interesting than the landscaping challenge itself.
In case you missed it…
Week 3: Main bedroom & walk-in wardrobe
Week 5: Living,dining & alfresco terrace
Week 6: Guest suite (bedroom & ensuite)
Week 7: Kitchen, pantry, WC & lift
Week 9: Kids’ bedrooms & redo room
Week 10: Outdoor terrace & pool
Week 11: Backyard & garage
Week 12: Front yard & facade
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