Kinsman
Kitchen week has arrived on The Block 2026 – and this year, it came with a staggering $100,000 prize. After tackling their kitchens, butler’s pantries, powder rooms and lifts in one enormous week, the five teams had plenty riding on Sunday night’s reveal. And with that much money on the line, things became particularly tense before tools down.
A request from Rick and Tayla for an extra two hours sparked a fiery body corporate meeting, with the teams unable to agree on whether everyone should be given more time. Ultimately, Chantel and Wyatt called it: no extension.
So when judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Marty Fox arrived, every unfinished detail was there for them to see.
Fortunately, there was plenty to distract them. From enormous stone islands and rich walnut cabinetry to a spectacular backlit splashback, this year’s kitchens are some of the most beautiful spaces we’ve seen so far. And for one team, playing their bonus point gnome at exactly the right moment helped turn an already impressive kitchen into a $100,000 payload, including $10,000 cash, $30,000 in gold bullion, and $60,000 of Dekton stone from Cosentino to be used anywhere on the property.
Winners: Adam and Jolene
Their score: 30/30 🥇
Winning selections: Polytec Vista cabinetry in Dune Oak Woodmatt creates a warm, seamless finish across Adam and Jolene’s kitchen and butler’s pantry, paired with Cosentino Dekton Ava benchtops and splashbacks. Antique brass Momo Handles and ABI Interiors antique bronze sinks and tapware add warmth, while Hettich pull-out storage, illuminated drawers and specialised inserts maximise functionality. Häfele adjustable LED lighting throughout completes the beautifully considered design. (Credit: Kinsman)
Adam and Jolene picked the perfect week to bring out their bonus point gnome. The judges were highly impressed by the couple’s luxurious kitchen, praising its cohesion and attention to detail – with the enormous Dekton Ava stone island creating show-stopping centrepiece.
And while scale is certainly on their side, the kitchen doesn’t rely on size alone. The cabinetry, stone and finishes work together to create a polished space worthy of the multi-million-dollar Mount Eliza home surrounding it.
The powder room wasn’t quite as successful, with the judges questioning the copper tapware, but it wasn’t enough to knock them from the top spot. With a raw score of 29/30, Adam and Jolene played their bonus point gnome, taking them to a perfect 30 – and securing the enormous $100,000 prize.
Details we love…
- The huge Dekton Ava stone island
- The cohesive, luxurious kitchen palette
- Grafico wallpaper continuing through the lift and lift shaft
- The sheer amount of preparation and entertaining space
Details we’d change…
We’re with the judges on the copper tapware in the powder room. Against such a refined kitchen and surrounding spaces, it feels slightly disconnected from the rest of the design story.
Home Beautiful rating: ★★★★★
Second: Lisa and Rosco
Their score: 28.5/30 🥈
Moody moments: Polytec Vista cabinetry in Rosewood Oak Woodmatt with Canyon Oak internals brings rich warmth to Lisa and Rosco’s kitchen and butler’s pantry, while decorative arch panels soften the design. Cosentino Dekton Sabbia benchtops and splashbacks are paired with solid brass bronze Momo Handles and ABI Interiors brushed copper sinks and tapware. Hettich illuminated glass-front drawers, pull-out storage and specialised inserts add clever functionality, with Häfele Flexi LED lighting completing the look. (Credit: Kinsman)
If there was one kitchen that could have stolen Adam and Jolene’s crown, it was this one. Lisa and Rosco’s kitchen immediately impressed the judges with the sheer scale of its island, but it’s the dark walnut cabinetry that really gives the room its personality.
Warm, rich and sophisticated, the timber brings depth to the enormous space and is a welcome contrast to some of the lighter kitchens we’re seeing this season.
Their butler’s pantry was another major success, delivering the storage and functionality the judges wanted to see in a home at this level. In fact, they were so impressed by the overall result they predicted buyers could “fight” for this one at auction time.
Details we love…
- The rich dark walnut cabinetry from Kinsman
- That enormous island bench
- A genuinely functional butler’s pantry
- The arches in the kitchen cabinetry
Details we’d change…
Very little. With a kitchen of this scale, the biggest danger is allowing it to feel cavernous. Continuing those warmer materials and layers into the adjoining living spaces will be key.
Home Beautiful rating: ★★★★½
Third: Courtney and Sev
Their score: 27.5/30 🥉
Coastal curves: Chadstone Bleached Grain Woodmatt cabinetry with curved end panels gives Courtney and Sev’s kitchen and butler’s pantry its refined coastal feel. Cosentino Eclos Landr surfaces wrap around the island’s curved waterfall ends, while dull brushed nickel Momo Handles and ABI Interiors stainless steel sinks and tapware add a sleek finish. Hettich illuminated glass-front drawers and pull-out pantry storage maximise functionality, with Häfele Flexi LED lighting adding warmth throughout. (Credit: Kinsman)
Courtney and Sev know how to make an island bench. Once again, the judges were struck by the scale of the couple’s kitchen, with its long island creating an impressive centrepiece for the room.
But there are also some clever details happening beyond its size. Curves incorporated into the cabinetry soften the expansive kitchen, while the appliances have been carefully integrated rather than treated as an afterthought.
“Our new curved end panels bring a soft, sculptural touch to the kitchen. They’re a stylish yet practical addition – creating beautiful curves while eliminating sharp edges in busy family kitchens.”
Susan Hasler, Kinsman’s Head on Experience & Design
The pair even managed to hustle a wine donation from Crittenden Wines before reveal – an appropriately Mornington Peninsula finishing touch. Their powder room was another highlight, however, their butler’s pantry was slightly more divisive, with its doors failing to win over the judges.
Details we love…
- The gorgeous Kinsman cabinetry, especially the bullnose corner cabinet
- Clever appliance integration
- Gorgeous powder room
Details we’d change…
The butler’s pantry doors. In a kitchen where so many of the larger design decisions feel considered, this is one detail we’d revisit to make the transition between the two spaces feel more seamless.
Home Beautiful rating: ★★★½
Fourth: Rick and Tayla
Their score: 25.5/30
Natural beauty: Polytec Vista cabinetry in Bleached Grain Woodmatt gives Rick and Tayla’s kitchen and butler’s pantry a warm, contemporary finish. Cosentino Eclos Tajnar benchtops are paired with a striking Sensa Cristalo backlit splashback, while dull brushed nickel Momo Handles add a sleek edge. Hettich illuminated glass-front drawers, pull-out pantry and corner storage maximise functionality, with Häfele Flexi LED lighting completing the considered design. (Credit: Kinsman)
After an incredibly stressful finish to kitchen week, Rick and Tayla still managed to deliver one of their strongest spaces yet. The hero is undoubtedly that backlit splashback.
It’s dramatic without being completely disconnected from the rest of the kitchen and gives the room an immediate focal point.
The judges also singled out Rick’s building expertise, particularly the treatment around the perimeter of the Velux skylights, while Tayla bounced back to receive praise for delivering her best styling of the competition so far.
Details we love…
- The statement backlit splashback
- Beautiful detailing around the Velux skylights
- Tayla’s strongest styling yet
Details we’d change…
We want to see this kitchen again once the adjoining living area is completed. So much of its success depends on that relationship, and the living zone could completely change how the kitchen reads.
Home Beautiful rating: ★★★
Last: Chantel and Wyatt
Their score: 23/30
Soft sophistication: Kinsman Byron cabinetry in Neutral Stone Smooth with curved ends gives Chantel and Wyatt’s kitchen and butler’s pantry a soft, sophisticated finish, complemented by Veneto Oak Woodmatt shelving and Soft Truffle Matt internals. Cosentino Eclos Wondr surfaces are paired with brushed matt brass Momo Handles and ABI Interiors tapware. Hettich illuminated drawers, pull-out pantry and corner storage maximise functionality, while Häfele LED lighting adds a warm finishing touch. (Credit: Kinsman)
There are some seriously beautiful details in Chantel and Wyatt’s kitchen – unfortunately, the judges didn’t think they quite added up. The stone treatment across the back wall was a standout and beautifully styled, giving the kitchen the high-end finish we’ve come to expect from a Mount Eliza home. Shaynna especially was stunned by the curved Kinsman cabinetry at the side of the fridge, calling it “next level.”
But while the individual materials impressed, Shaynna, Darren and Marty felt the overall space was cold. More concerning were the functionality issues they identified in the butler’s pantry. In a home of this scale – and at the price point these properties are expected to command – a butler’s pantry needs to work just as hard as the main kitchen.
The pair also faced a last-minute cabinetry headache when their handles arrived in the wrong colour, adding another complication to an already enormous week.
Details we love…
- The striking stone treatment along the back wall
- The curve Kinsman incorporated at the end of the fridge/cabinetry
- The Smeg appliances
Details we’d change…
Functionality wins every time in a kitchen. The two sinks seem messy, with one in the centre of the island probably in the wrong spot, considering you can see the sink in the butler’s pantry in the same view.
Home Beautiful rating: ★★★
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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The Block 2026 houses: Which Mount Eliza home has the biggest advantage?
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The Block 2026 contestants revealed: Meet the five renovation teams
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