The Biggest Week Yet
Week 5 of The Block Season 22 was always going to be a big one.
After tackling bedrooms, bathrooms and ensuites, the contestants were faced with their living, dining and terrace spaces, the largest areas they've had to complete so far.
With the stunning Mount Eliza coastline sitting right outside their doors, the teams were given one very clear message: the views needed to be the hero.
But with bigger spaces came bigger budgets, bigger design decisions and, unfortunately for some contestants, some very big problems.
By the time judging arrived, it was clear that getting the layout right was just as important as the finishes themselves.
A Huge Week On Site
The contestants had a lot of ground to cover this week, quite literally.
The living, dining and terrace areas are the main entertaining spaces of the homes, so the pressure was on to create rooms that felt luxurious, comfortable and functional while making the most of the spectacular outlook.
The scale of the spaces also meant that simply filling them with furniture wasn't enough. The contestants had to think carefully about how people would actually use the rooms and how the furniture would work with the views.
And that proved to be one of the biggest challenges of the week.
Several teams ended up positioning their furniture towards the television rather than the ocean, something that would come back to haunt them during judging.
A Challenge Away From The Site
The contestants also got a chance to step away from the construction site for a challenge at Freedom.
The teams were given just five minutes to style a couch, with $5,000 up for grabs.
It might sound simple, but five minutes isn't a lot of time when you're trying to create a complete look!
There was also some friendly competition between the contestants, with Lisa and Tayla both eyeing off the same setting.
It was a fun change of pace from the pressure of construction and gave the contestants a chance to show off their styling skills without worrying about plaster, tiling or trades.
Rick's Health Scare
One of the biggest moments of the week came when Rick became unwell with an infection in his knee.
Despite being told he needed to rest, Rick continued working on site, very much taking the classic dad approach of thinking he could simply push through it.
Eventually, Scott Cam stepped in and insisted that Rick leave the site and return to hospital.
With Rick unable to work, Tayla was suddenly left carrying much more of the workload herself.
The situation became so serious that The Block brought in additional contractors to help Tayla with the painting.
It was another reminder of just how physically demanding this competition can be, particularly when contestants are working long hours under enormous pressure.
Thankfully, Rick was able to return, but the setback certainly made an already difficult week even harder for the pair.
The Giant Mirror Creates Plenty Of Attention
Over at House 1, Adam and Jolene were going all out.
The couple decided to make a huge statement with a floor-to-ceiling mirror, measuring almost four metres high and costing around $3,000.
Getting the enormous mirror into the house was an event in itself, with the team watching as it was craned into position.
The decision certainly divided the contestants, with some questioning whether such a large mirror was necessary.
Adam and Jolene, however, were confident it would help make their already impressive living space feel even larger.
As it turned out, the judges were divided too, but it certainly got people talking.
Budget Pressure Starts To Bite
Budget continued to be one of the biggest storylines across the site.
After several weeks of contestants spending big to create high-end spaces, the reality of having an entire luxury home to finish was beginning to sink in.
This was particularly noticeable for Courtney and Sev.
After their strong start to the competition, the girls had already spent heavily on their previous rooms and were now finding themselves with significantly less money to work with.
They couldn't afford the dining table they originally wanted and had to make compromises with their furniture and finishes.
It's becoming an interesting part of their journey because their design ideas are clearly ambitious, but there is only so much money available to bring those ideas to life.
The Judges Want To See The Ocean
When judging finally arrived, one criticism came up again and again: the contestants weren't making enough of the views.
With some of the best outlooks The Block has ever offered, the judges expected the living areas to be designed around them.
Instead, several teams had their seating arranged so that people would be looking at the television rather than the water.
It became one of the biggest lessons of the week, sometimes the best design decision isn't about adding another feature, but simply making the most of what you already have.
Adam & Jolene Finally Take The Win
After coming close several times, Adam and Jolene finally secured their first room reveal win.
Their living, dining and terrace space scored an impressive 27/30, making it their strongest result of the competition so far.
The judges loved the scale of their dining area, particularly the enormous dining table.
Darren summed up their approach perfectly with the comment:
"Scale is luxury."
The living area also received plenty of praise for its warm and rich colour palette, while the fireplace helped create a cosy feeling within the huge space.
The judges weren't completely sold on everything. The giant mirror divided opinions, and the terrace was considered somewhat under-furnished for such a large space.
But overall, Adam and Jolene had finally delivered the room they had been working towards.
And I think the win was well deserved.
Lisa & Rosco Come Very Close
Lisa and Rosco continued their strong run with another impressive result, finishing second with 26/30.
Their living and dining space was praised for its colour palette and sense of warmth.
Marty particularly loved the room, saying buyers would walk in and love it.
The terrace was another highlight, with Marty saying he could "literally not fault it".
However, Darren once again felt the furniture layout wasn't making the most of the views.
It's becoming a bit of a recurring theme this season, beautiful rooms that could potentially be even better with a simple change to the orientation.
Courtney & Sev Struggle With The Budget
After their expensive start to the competition, Courtney and Sev were facing a very different challenge this week.
They had to work with a much tighter budget, meaning some of their original plans had to be scaled back.
The judges actually liked many of the individual pieces they had selected, including the artwork, sofa, chairs and lighting.
The major problem was the layout.
Rather than encouraging people to enjoy the views, the room was largely centred around the television.
Darren was particularly frustrated, questioning why the team had been given such incredible outlooks but had designed the room around watching TV.
Their final score of 22.5/30 placed them third.
Rick & Tayla Recover After A Difficult Week
After Rick's health scare and the challenges they faced throughout the week, Rick and Tayla finished fourth with 22/30.
There were plenty of elements the judges liked, including their green sofa, artwork and shelving.
However, once again, the layout let them down.
The living furniture was pushed towards one end of the enormous room, leaving a large amount of empty space.
Their terrace received some more positive feedback, particularly the barbecue, bar and even their slushie machine, although Shaynna wasn't exactly convinced by that particular addition!
It was a difficult result after everything they had dealt with during the week, but there were still plenty of positives to take away.
A Tough Week for Chantel & Wyatt
It was another challenging reveal for Chantel and Wyatt, who finished last with 19.5/30.
Their biggest problem was the lack of personality in the enormous space.
The judges felt the room was too beige, too empty and too safe.
Shaynna was particularly harsh, describing the space as feeling "cold" and "dead", while Marty called the styling the "definition of vanilla".
The judges also questioned the layout, with seating positioned in a way that didn't take advantage of the incredible views.
The terrace received slightly more positive feedback, but the judges still felt the couple hadn't done enough with such a large outdoor space.
It was certainly a tough week for the pair.
The Week 5 Scores
The final scores were:
- Adam & Jolene - 27/30
- Lisa & Rosco - 26/30
- Courtney & Sev - 22.5/30
- Rick & Tayla - 22/30
- Chantel & Wyatt - 19.5/30
After several weeks of coming close, Adam and Jolene finally have their first win, and it came in one of the biggest and most important rooms of the competition.
My Week 5 Thoughts
This week really highlighted just how different the houses are starting to feel.
Even though the contestants are all working with similar briefs, we're beginning to see their individual personalities come through in the way they approach the spaces.
I was really happy to see Adam and Jolene get their first win. They've been consistently near the top without quite managing to take the victory, so I think this one was definitely deserved.
I also felt for Rick and Tayla after such a difficult week. Having Rick sent to hospital and then trying to keep the build moving would have been incredibly stressful, so hopefully they're able to put this week behind them and focus on what's ahead.
And then there's Courtney and Sev.
I'm still firmly backing the girls, but I think this week really showed the consequences of spending big early in the competition. They have such a strong design vision, but watching them have to compromise because of their budget was interesting.
I also completely understand the judges' frustration about the views. If I had one of those houses, I think I'd want to spend as much time as possible looking out at the water!
The biggest takeaway from this week for me is that sometimes less really can be more. The rooms don't necessarily need another expensive feature, they just need to make the most of what is already there.
The Stratco Big Shed
And, of course, I couldn't finish another Block recap without mentioning the Stratco Big Shed!
While the contestants were busy tackling some of the biggest spaces of the competition so far, the Big Shed continued to be a familiar sight around the site.
With five luxury homes being built simultaneously, there is an enormous amount of equipment, materials and tools moving around every day. Having a dedicated space for storage and organisation is an important part of keeping a project of this scale moving.
It's been great seeing the Stratco Big Shed become part of the Season 22 backdrop, and I'll continue keeping an eye out for it as the homes progress.
What's Next?
Five weeks down and the competition is starting to get very interesting.
Adam and Jolene finally have their first win, Lisa and Rosco are proving they're capable of consistently delivering strong rooms, Courtney and Sev are facing increasing budget pressure, Rick and Tayla are trying to find their rhythm, and Chantel and Wyatt have plenty of work to do after a difficult reveal.
And with the kitchens, guest suites and even more major spaces still to come, there's a long way to go.
One thing is already clear, Season 22 is certainly keeping us guessing!
I'll be back next week with another Block recap, following all the renovation drama, design decisions and, of course, keeping an eye out for the Stratco Big Shed along the way.