Nine
Another season of The Block has wrapped up and auction day is done and dusted, which means all of the houses are complete, from the front yards down to the backyards. Charming Street in Hampton East will never be the same again, because in the span of just 12 weeks, The Block contestants completely transformed five daggy brick houses into luxurious family homes with open-plan living and dining areas, entertainer’s kitchens, work from home office spaces, architectural extensions and swimming pools.
But only one team could come out on top, and this year Sydney couple Steph and Gian took out the win, selling their home to entrepreneur Adrian Portelli for $5,000,000. That means they walked away with a record-breaking profit of $1,650,000 plus prize money of $100,000.
Let’s celebrate the end of yet another inspiring season by taking a look back at all five houses created by the contestants: Kyle and Leslie in House 1, Leah and Ash in House 2, Kristy and Brett in House 3, Steph and Gian in House 4 and Eliza and Liberty in House 5.
So how much are The Block houses expected to sell for? It’s hard to say, but Eliza and Liberty’s home has the highest price guide of $2.5 million to $2.75 million, and Steph and Gians home has the lowest price guide of $2.2 million to $2.4 million. So why the price difference? According to Domain’s national managing editor Alice Stolz, the price guides are based on the land size being offered.
Tour The Block homes
01
Kyle and Leslie
3rd Place
WA couple Kyle and Leslie’s studio bathroom won the season’s very first room reveal. Despite starting strong, the couple struggled to hit the right notes with the judges, becoming this year’s bonafide underdogs. But their eye for simple styling as well as their home’s gentle curves and timber accent pieces photograph beautifully, which have made it a huge fan favourite.
Reserve: $2,970,000
Winning bid: $3,100,00
Profit: $130,000
02
Leah and Ash
Fifth place
Since day one, experienced renovators Leah and Ash have imbued their Charming Street home with colour, personality and pattern in a unique style they’ve dubbed “psycho-deco” which is a portmanteau of psychedelic and art deco. When judge Shaynna Blaze entered their winning living and dining area, she described it as “effing phenomenal.” While their style may be polarising, the judges agreed with Shaynna that “people will come to see this house.”
Reserve: $2,970,000
Winning bid: Passsed in
Profit: $0
03
Kristy and Brett
Fourth place
Despite the drama that unfolded this season, Kristy and Brett’s minimalist luxe home was designed to appeal to a broad market of buyers. “There’s nothing in this house that’s really going to put off buyers,” said Marty Fox of the couple’s home. Memorable design moments in Kristy and Brett’s home include the pared-back kitchen with that stone benchtop that Darren Palmer claimed he wanted to “meld” with, and their warm and inviting main bedroom and adjoining ensuite.
Reserve: $2,970,000
Winning bid: $3,035,000
Profit: $65,000
04
Steph and Gian
WINNERS!
Steph is the first architect ever to compete as a contestant on The Block, and alongside husband Gian, the pair have created a sophisticated, Japandi style home luxury buyers will love. The couple won four room reveals this season (more than any other team) and, as a result, had a healthy budget for front and backyard landscaping. The couple’s main bedroom also features a large walk-in wardrobe with a custom $20,000 Hafele upgrade.
Reserve: $3,350,000
Winning bid: $5,000,000
Profit: $1,650,000 (plus $100,000 prize money)
Total winnings:$1,750,000
05
Eliza and Liberty
Second place
Kitchens sell houses and Eliza and Liberty’s picture perfect entertainer’s kitchen was a hit with all three judges who gave it a score of 29 out of 30 (not including an extra point from a secret gnome). “This is the correct way to do an island bench,” said Darren of the island bench, while Neale Whitaker praised the “logical” flow from the kitchen to butlers pantry and laundry. Eliza and Liberty’s home is one of the largest on The Block this year, so it’s “welcoming and joyful” aura is sure to sweep buyers right off their feet.
Reserve: $3,250,000
Winning bid:$4,300,000
Profit: $1,050,000
