After a huge first half of The Block Season 22, the contestants entered one of the most important weeks of the competition so far - Kitchen Week.
The kitchen is often considered the heart of a home, but this week it was much more than just a kitchen. The teams also had to complete their butler's pantry, powder room and lift, all while dealing with tight deadlines, trade issues, budget pressure and plenty of tension around the shared house.
And with more than $100,000 worth of prizes on the line, there was plenty of motivation to get it right.
By the end of the week, one team delivered a near-perfect kitchen that had the judges struggling to find anything to fault.
Kitchen Week Begins
The teams knew from the beginning that Kitchen Week was going to be one of the biggest challenges of Season 22.
Each team had to create a kitchen, butler's pantry, powder room and lift, giving them an enormous amount to complete in just one week.
There was also a huge incentive on the line. The winner would receive $10,000 from Chery, along with additional prizes from Kinsman Kitchens and Cosentino, bringing the total prize value to more than $100,000.
For Courtney & Sev, there was an added twist. Back in Week 2, the girls won the $250,000 kitchen appliance package, so they had already secured some serious kitchen inclusions before Kitchen Week even began.
With that in mind, I was particularly interested to see what they would do with their space.
And Then The Plasterboard Didn't Arrive...
As always on The Block, things didn't exactly go according to plan.
The teams were expecting their plasterboard to arrive on site, but most of the houses were left waiting, creating immediate problems for the kitchen installations.
Courtney & Sev were particularly worried as they needed their walls ready for their kitchen installation, with the team eventually having to help get the materials themselves.
Meanwhile, Rick & Tayla were also dealing with major trade and plastering issues.
Their plasterer had reportedly been charging around $15,000 per room, but after Rick questioned the cost, the price was suddenly brought much closer to a competing quote of $6,500. It was another reminder of just how quickly costs can add up on The Block.
The Pressure Builds For Rick & Tayla
Rick & Tayla once again found themselves at the centre of the drama.
Rick was still dealing with his knee infection but continued working hard on site, while Tayla was trying to keep everything moving.
As the deadline approached, Tayla became increasingly concerned that the team wouldn't have enough time to finish.
She called another body corporate meeting to ask for additional working hours, but the request was met with resistance from some of the other contestants.
Courtney & Sev and Chantel & Wyatt voted against extending the hours, meaning the teams had to stick with the existing schedule.
The situation became even more heated when Tayla accused Courtney & Sev of receiving help from a British Paints representative to paint their kitchen.
The girls denied that the representative had painted their entire kitchen and pointed out that Tayla had also received painting help earlier in the competition.
It was another example of just how much pressure the teams are under as the competition gets closer to the finish line.
A Huge Kitchen Week Challenge
Despite all the drama, the teams managed to get their spaces together for judging.
And there were some seriously impressive kitchens.
Adam & Jolene's Perfect 30
After their first win back in Living, Dining and Terrace Week, Adam & Jolene were determined to prove they could keep their momentum going.
And they absolutely delivered.
Their kitchen featured a large island bench, elegant cabinetry, bronze detailing, retractable pendant lights, a wine cabinet and a dedicated cocktail station.
The team also made a clever design decision by orienting the kitchen island to make the most of the spectacular Port Phillip Bay views.
The judges were blown away.
Marty Fox described it as potentially one of the best kitchens he'd seen in his 20 years in real estate, while Darren Palmer praised how elegant and considered the entire space felt.
Their lift also made a huge impression, with Grafico wallpaper creating a dramatic arrival into the main living level.
Even their powder room received plenty of praise.
And after all the hard work, Adam & Jolene received a perfect 30/30.
Lisa & Rosco Make A Statement
Lisa & Rosco were another standout this week.
They took a very different approach from the lighter, neutral kitchens around them, introducing rich brown cabinetry, dark timber profiles, curved details and a huge kitchen island measuring almost five metres.
The judges loved the personality and functionality of the space.
Shaynna Blaze was particularly impressed, even saying she would happily live there.
Their powder room also stood out, with a strong green colour choice and detailed cabinetry.
They finished in second place with 28.5/30, narrowly missing out on the win.
They also took home the $10,000 CommBank Better Budgeting Award, showing that their strong design result didn't come at the expense of their budget management.
Courtney & Sev Keep Their Momentum Going
After their incredible 29.5/30 guest suite win the previous week, all eyes were on Courtney & Sev.
And while they didn't take another win, they still delivered a very strong result.
Their kitchen received 27.5/30, putting them in third place.
The judges liked the way the kitchen would photograph for a sales campaign, particularly the backlit shelving and the overall finish.
However, there were some concerns about the practicality of having two sinks positioned in the middle of the main island.
It was also interesting seeing the girls reflect on their decision to vote against the extra working hours. After seeing how much pressure the other teams were under, they admitted they perhaps would have made a different decision.
Still, another strong score keeps Courtney & Sev firmly in the mix.
And yes - I'm still backing the girls!
Rick & Tayla Fight Their Way Through
Considering everything Rick & Tayla had to deal with this week, finishing with 25.5/30 was a solid result.
Their kitchen included plenty of colour and personality, and the judges were noticeably more positive about Tayla's styling this week.
In fact, the judges specifically acknowledged how much her styling had improved compared with previous weeks.
The team also received praise for their powder room, with Darren describing it as a simple but effective space.
After several difficult weeks, it was nice to see Rick & Tayla receive some more positive feedback.
Chantel & Wyatt Face Another Tough Week
For Chantel & Wyatt, Kitchen Week was unfortunately another difficult one.
The team had problems throughout the week and ultimately weren't able to finish everything.
Their butler's pantry and powder room were incomplete, while some of the smaller details in the kitchen weren't quite right.
The judges did like elements of the kitchen, including the symmetry, shelving and lighting, but there were concerns that the overall design was too cold and lacked personality.
They finished in fifth place with 23/30.
It was another reminder that while the quiet luxury brief encourages sophisticated and neutral spaces, the judges still want each house to have its own identity.
The Week 7 Scoreboard
Here's how the teams finished at the Kitchen Week reveal:
- Adam & Jolene - 30/30
- Lisa & Rosco - 28.5/30
- Courtney & Sev - 27.5/30
- Rick & Tayla - 25.5/30
- Chantel & Wyatt - 23/30
Adam & Jolene's perfect score secured them the Kitchen Week win and $110,000 in prize value, including $30,000 in gold bullion, $60,000 in Dekton for landscaping and $10,000 cash.
Interestingly, Adam & Jolene also used their Bonus Point Gnome - but they didn't actually need it. Their kitchen would have won without the additional point.
My Week 7 Thoughts
I think this was probably one of my favourite reveals so far.
Seeing Adam & Jolene finally get their 30/30 after coming close so many times was really satisfying. They've been consistently producing strong rooms throughout the competition, so it was great to see them finally get the recognition from all three judges.
I also really liked Lisa & Rosco's kitchen. It was quite different from what we've seen in some of the other houses, and I think the darker timber and richer colour palette gave their home a strong sense of personality.
And, of course, I'm still backing Courtney & Sev!
After their huge guest suite win last week, I was hoping they might take out another victory. While they didn't quite get there, a 27.5 is still a very strong result.
I think the biggest takeaway from Kitchen Week is just how important it is to get the balance right between design, functionality and budget. A beautiful kitchen can look incredible, but the judges are also looking at how the space works, whether it suits the house and whether buyers will actually want to live in it.
The Stratco Big Shed
And, of course, the Stratco Big Shed continues to be a familiar part of the Season 22 site.
With the teams now working through some of the biggest spaces of their homes, having a dedicated area for tools, materials and storage is becoming increasingly useful as construction continues.
It's been great seeing the Big Shed continue to feature throughout the competition and become part of the day-to-day Block environment.
What's Next?
With Kitchen Week now wrapped up, the contestants are moving into another big stage of the competition.
Next up is Rumpus and Laundry Week, where the teams will once again have two spaces to complete.
After the intensity of Kitchen Week, I think everyone will be hoping for a slightly calmer week - although if we've learnt anything from Season 22, that's probably wishful thinking!
With budgets getting tighter, the houses taking shape and the auction getting closer, every room is starting to matter more.
And after Adam & Jolene's perfect 30, Courtney & Sev's 29.5 the week before and Lisa & Rosco's strong run of results, the competition is getting very interesting.
Stay tuned for next week's recap as we follow the teams through Rumpus and Laundry Week on The Block Season 22.