Another Big Week On The Block
Week 4 of The Block Season 22 was all about creating the main ensuites, and after the highs and lows of the main bedroom and walk-in robe reveals, the contestants were back on site and ready for another seven-day sprint.
The main ensuite is one of the biggest bathrooms in each home, giving the contestants plenty of room to create something luxurious. But with bigger spaces came bigger challenges, and this week quickly became less about choosing the perfect finishes and more about simply getting the rooms finished.
There were tiling dramas, trade shortages, budget concerns and plenty of tension between the teams. By the end of the week, one team finally secured their first room reveal win, while another found themselves once again dealing with an unfinished space.
The Battle For The Cursios
One of the biggest storylines of the week was the race for the Cursio brothers, the highly sought-after tilers who quickly became one of the most valuable resources on site.
With multiple teams needing experienced tilers to get their bathrooms completed, the Cursios were in extremely high demand.
Chantel and Wyatt had already secured the brothers for their ensuite, and Wyatt was understandably reluctant to let another team take them away. But as the week progressed, Adam and Jolene found themselves desperately needing help.
After falling behind with their own tiling team, Adam approached Wyatt with a deal. If Adam and Jolene won the week, they would split the $10,000 prize money with Chantel and Wyatt in exchange for access to the Cursios once their own bathroom was finished.
It was a clever move from Adam, particularly after Jolene had become increasingly frustrated with how slowly their build was progressing.
Courtney & Sev Find Themselves At The Centre Of The Drama
There was also plenty of controversy surrounding Courtney and Sev.
After their tiling team's work had to be ripped out twice because of poor workmanship, the site managers stepped in and ordered the girls to get rid of the team.
With the quality of the work potentially putting the site's building licence at risk, the Cursios were brought in to help get Courtney and Sev's ensuite back on track.
The decision didn't go down particularly well with the other contestants.
Rick was particularly frustrated by the amount of assistance the girls were receiving, especially after Courtney and Sev had already benefited from the Cursios during an earlier bathroom challenge.
From Courtney and Sev's perspective, the additional help wasn't something they had specifically organised. The site managers had made the decision because of the quality issues with their original tilers.
It certainly created one of the biggest talking points of the week, with the contestants questioning whether everyone was being given the same opportunities.
Scott Cam Has Had Enough Of the Spending
If there was one message Scott Cam has been trying to get across this season, it's watch the budget.
And this week, he had some particularly strong words for Courtney and Sev.
Despite previous warnings, the girls continued to spend big on their ensuite, including a heated and tiled bench seat in the shower and expensive microcement finishes across the walls and ceiling.
Scott was visibly shocked by the amount being spent and warned that they could potentially become the first team in The Block history to fail to finish their house because they had run out of money.
Even Shelley Craft joined in, telling the girls they needed to rein in their spending.
It's an interesting storyline to watch because Courtney and Sev clearly have a strong design vision, but they're also one of the biggest-spending teams in the competition.
At some point, they'll need to decide which design elements are worth the splurge and which ones they can achieve in a more budget-friendly way.
Adam & Jolene Hit A Breaking Point
Meanwhile, things weren't going smoothly for Adam and Jolene either.
Their tiling team was moving too slowly, leaving the couple increasingly worried about whether they would finish their ensuite in time.
Jolene became emotional during the week, frustrated by the lack of progress and feeling the pressure of having so much still to do.
It seemed to be the wake-up call Adam needed.
After spending much of the competition taking a more relaxed approach to managing the trades, Adam realised that he needed to become more hands-on with the build.
The couple eventually managed to negotiate access to the Cursios once they had finished at Chantel and Wyatt's house, giving them some hope that they could get their bathroom back on track.
A Tough Week For Rick & Tayla
There was also plenty happening between Rick and Tayla.
Dan continued encouraging Tayla to get more involved on site and take on more responsibility, but there were some difficult moments between her and her dad.
When Tayla tried to help with painting, Rick was reluctant to let her take over the job because he was worried she might make a mistake.
Tayla became upset, feeling that her dad was underestimating her abilities.
It was another reminder that competing on The Block with a family member can come with its own challenges. You're not only trying to finish a renovation under enormous pressure, you're also trying to navigate a relationship while being filmed and judged along the way.
Thankfully for Rick and Tayla, their week would end on a much happier note.
Main Ensuite Reveal
After seven days of tiling, plumbing, cabinetry, styling and plenty of last-minute scrambling, it was finally time for the judges to see the five main ensuites.
And this week produced a very close result.
Rick & Tayla - 26/30
Rick and Tayla finally got their first room reveal win!
The father-daughter team scored 26/30, narrowly taking the win after using their bonus-point gnome.
Their ensuite featured natural stone-look tiles, a large shower, plenty of storage, a stone vanity top and a smart toilet.
Darren particularly loved the consistency of the tiling throughout the space, saying it created a coastal, beach-inspired feeling that suited the Mount Eliza location.
Marty also described the room as luxurious and classy.
There were a couple of criticisms, including some generic artwork and an issue with the positioning of the taps, but overall the judges were very impressed.
After finishing fifth in Week 1 and fourth in Week 3, this was a huge turnaround for Rick and Tayla.
And I think it was a well-deserved win.
Chantel & Wyatt - 25.5/30
It was incredibly close for Chantel and Wyatt, who finished just half a point behind Rick and Tayla.
Their ensuite was polished, restrained and very well executed, with champagne-gold fittings and a calm, Japanese-inspired styling approach.
Marty praised how clean and complete the room was, while Darren was impressed by the overall styling.
However, Shaynna felt they may have played it a little too safe.
Her concern was that while the bathroom would undoubtedly appeal to buyers in Mount Eliza, it didn't necessarily have the individuality you'd expect from a multimillion-dollar home.
I can see both sides of that argument. Sometimes playing it safe can be exactly what buyers want, but on The Block, the contestants also need to give the judges something memorable.
Courtney & Sev - 25/30
After their disastrous main bedroom reveal the previous week, Courtney and Sev bounced back strongly with a score of 25/30.
Their ensuite was elegant and visually impressive, with beautiful finishes and a strong overall sense of luxury.
However, once again, the judges questioned their spending.
The heated tiled bench seat became the major talking point. While Courtney and Sev saw it as their secret weapon, the judges weren't convinced.
The seat took up valuable space inside the shower, with Marty famously comparing it to a bus stop.
The bigger concern was the cost. Darren felt they weren't simply spending money on one feature - they were spending too much across too many features, which could eventually hurt them when they reach the larger rooms.
Adam & Jolene - 21/30
Adam and Jolene's ensuite was one of the biggest disappointments of the reveal because the judges could see how good it could have been.
The layout was praised, along with the tiling, skylights and inclusions.
Darren said the room essentially ticked every box when it came to features and functionality.
Unfortunately, the room wasn't finished.
The lack of completion meant they couldn't receive the score the design might otherwise have deserved.
Shaynna even suggested that, had they finished, the room could potentially have been a contender for the win.
After seeing how emotional Jolene had become during the week, I think this one would have been particularly frustrating for the couple.
Lisa & Rosco - 20.5/30
It was another difficult reveal for Lisa and Rosco.
After winning the main bedroom and walk-in robe in Week 3, the couple were hoping to continue their momentum.
Instead, they found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard again.
The biggest issue was their faux crazy-paving floor.
The judges were far from convinced, with Marty describing it as something from The Flintstones, while Shaynna felt there were simply too many competing finishes in the room.
The couple had overcome several obstacles during the week, so the criticism was understandably difficult for them to hear.
Lisa was clearly devastated after the judging, particularly because they genuinely believed the design was going to work.
It's another example of just how unpredictable The Block can be. One week you're winning, the next you're at the bottom.
The Week 4 Scores
The final scores were:
- Rick & Tayla - 26/30 + 1 bonus point
- Chantel & Wyatt - 25.5/30
- Courtney & Sev - 25/30
- Adam & Jolene - 21/30
- Lisa & Rosco - 20.5/30
Rick and Tayla's bonus point made the difference, pushing them from 25 to 26 points and securing their first room reveal win of Season 22.
My Week 4 Thoughts
I think this was probably one of the most interesting weeks so far.
There was so much happening behind the scenes that the reveal almost felt like the final chapter of a much bigger story. The competition for trades, the issues with the Cursios and the ongoing concerns about budgets all added another layer to the actual design challenge.
I'm really happy for Rick and Tayla. After a relatively slow start to the competition, they finally found their feet and delivered a room that the judges could genuinely get behind.
I also think Courtney and Sev's bounce back was impressive. After coming last the previous week, a score of 25 is a strong recovery. They're still one of my favourite teams, although I am starting to get a little nervous about their spending!
Their ensuite looked beautiful, but I completely understand the judges' concerns about whether every expensive feature is actually necessary.
And then there's Lisa and Rosco. After winning Week 3, I wasn't expecting them to finish last this week. It really shows how quickly things can change on The Block.
At this point, I'm finding myself less interested in predicting who will win and more interested in seeing how each team responds when things don't go according to plan.
The Stratco Big Shed
While the contestants were busy battling over tilers and racing to finish their ensuites, the Stratco Big Shed continued to be right in the middle of the action.
With five houses being built simultaneously, there is a huge amount of equipment, tools and materials moving around the site every day. Having practical storage and a central space to keep everything organised is an important part of keeping a project of this size moving.
It's been great seeing the Stratco Big Shed become such a familiar part of the Season 22 backdrop. Keep an eye out for it as the competition continues - I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty more of it as the homes get closer to completion.
What's Next?
Four weeks down and the leaderboard is already starting to tell an interesting story.
Rick and Tayla finally have a win under their belt, Chantel and Wyatt continue to deliver polished spaces, Courtney and Sev are bouncing back but facing serious budget questions, Adam and Jolene need to catch up, and Lisa and Rosco are looking to recover after another difficult reveal.
The houses are also starting to feel more individual as each team continues to develop their own interpretation of quiet luxury.
There's still a long way to go in Season 22, but if Week 4 has taught us anything, it's that no team is safe from a setback - and no team should be counted out after one bad reveal.
I'll be back next week with another Block recap, keeping up with all the renovation drama, design decisions and, of course, the Stratco Big Shed along the way!