THE BLOCK IN REVIEW : WE FINALLY HAVE RESULTS

I could not believe that they didn't want to showcase the results of the winners on Sunday night as usual... bold move by the nine network and The Block producers if you ask me. Everyone was so annoyed that they didn't know share the news on Sunday... it really left us all hanging, but I really did have a feeling that Brad and Dale were going to take out the win this week. The boys really do deserve a lot of credit for their hard work, relaxed nature and bright ideas. I really do think they crowned the win as they really thought outside the box, I don't think the aesthetic was as elegant and wow as some of the other rooms, even though their bathroom finishes were exceptional. The thing is... it really is all subjective which makes the judges role very difficult. They really do need to consider many other factors when deciding on the winner other than just "look" and "feel" which is why I feel the boys overall risk, concept and finishes brought them over the line. Hat off to Chantell and Steve though, they really have come a long way and refined their wacky style.

My favourite this week, was not really any particular room but the void in the twins apartment, as well as all the textural wall finishes and hardware. How amazing are the sleek black taps and vanities? They really win me over including the perforated metal spiral stairs!

What are your thoughts? Would love to hear from you below! Use the little pencil in the bar below to fill in a comment.

Everything can be found from The Block Website as well all the cool homewares, artwork and accessories can be found on The Block Shop

MONDAY IN REVIEW: SC HAVE DONE IT

The rookie couple have finally done it! They have secured a winning room, which was so heart warming to see. Honestly though and I am going to be very honest with you hear, I was SO surprised and the judges comments regarding their styling- I didn't like the cushion at all, well not in that context anyway. In saying that though, there space was very well considered and that seating for their dining room and living room was a huge winner, especially the under seating lighting! 

My favourite of the week though is a tie between the FAVS... how amazing were both their rooms. I love the girls different layout and real loft feel, the fire and the set out really reminded me of a 1950s feel living room but with a modern twist and same goes for the boys. I don't think that it is too different from their kitchen at all, I actually think they did a great job combing the two together and all the colours work. 

What did you think? What did you think about Super K's? -- I do think they needed a lot more colour... it was looking very grey... and I love grey, it was just a little too much. 

You can find all the photos and info at The Block website as well as all the products at The Block Shop. 

THE BLOCK IN REVIEW - SUPER K'S FIRST WIN

I haven't even had a chance to catch up on last nights episode so writing this post today feels completely weird as I am itching to watch it. I promise I will get to catch up on it tonight, but that doesn't stop me from having an opinion! Even though I haven't seen all the drama behind last nights episode and second bedroom reveal, I know that the Super K's took home the first win for the Fans. They all delivered great rooms again this week and I really think the judges job is so tough ( did you hear I got to chat to Darren Palmer again on Friday night? More on that later in the week ) which is why I think they are being a lot tougher this year. The super K's did really well producing a show stopping, high standard room. My two favourites this week are the super K's and the twins without a doubt. To me the difference between what makes a winning room is the details as details can really take a room to the next level. I cannot however, go past a large scale mirror standing against a wall, I am a sucker for it as well as glass/mirror and black metal, which the twins nailed in their room.

What do you think?! Are you happy the super K's won? Do you agree that the judges are being very harsh this season? Let's us know all your thoughts below!

Remember you can find all the furniture pieces, homewares and artwork from The Block Shop

and find all the images that you see here on The Block website. 

FEATURE FRIDAY : AL COLLECTIONS IS A HIT

I know it is Monday, but I didn't get a chance to post this on Friday so today is the perfect day to share all the great posts.

Alisa and Lysandra were a big hit on The Block Sky High last year and are continuing to prove how talented they are on Fans vs Favs this year. At the end of last year they finally turned in their badges to make their dreams come true with the beginning of AL Collections.

AL Collections is their online store that allows them to bring and make their style accessible by all their fans. It is consistently updated with new products and things that they have and are using on both series of The Block.

Make sure you check it out and get your fix of AL style! You can find out more about their online adventure by visiting their website.

FLASH BLACK (FRIDAY) EVEN THOUGH IT'S MONDAY

I didn't get a chance to post all of my Friday posts, so today I will be posting them all along with our Monday Block in review post, which I know you all look forward to. What is great about posting them all today is that they actually all relate very well to one another as they are about the Twins who were last series winners as well as part of the Fans team this year. They are such a great time, have really great ideas and execute them very well. After our flash back post today featuring an interview I did with the twins, will be all about what they have been up to after turning in their police badges and embracing their newly developed creative sides. 

Have you seen the interview that I did with the Twins last year? Well if you haven't seen it yet, here it is! 

1. First of all a big congratulations and great effort! Looking back on the experience that you have just had, if you could give yourself some advice or warning before starting this challenge, would would it be? To align yourselves with reliable and experienced tradesman (which made such a difference as our amazing tradies were able to turn our visions into a reality.) 2. You both developed such great design style and skill. Week to week what inspired you design wise and helped you make certain style choices to create the overall look? I think once we established that we wanted the apartment to have a natural, earthy feel, it became a lot easier for us to make the right styling choices. In every room we designed, we aimed to create a point of interest such as including timber features, using different textured wallpaper like concrete and grass cloth, the inclusion of a herb garden, plus a green wall and rendered wall. It was really important that each room flowed into the other and that all the rooms didn't compete with one another. 3. It would be so tough making such important design and space decisions very quickly, I know first hand the questioning and doubt you can feel once you make a decision or trying to make sure it is the right one. How did you both work on not doubting the design choices you made and finishes you picked? We literally had one night to come up with the design for the entire room. After we had finished judging at Scotty's warehouse and found out what room was being revealed the next week, Lysandra and I would go home that night (after being awake for 48hr + ) and have to come up with a design for whatever room was being revealed next. Our builder Shiran wanted a plan from us the next morning so he could get started that very day in order to have enough time to finish before the next reveal. To be honest I actually think it was a good thing that we had to make quick decisions because it forced us to go with our gut instinct and not second guess ourselves, because there just wasn't time to. 4. It is such a great achievement for you both especially in support of women in construction and design! Do you have an inspirational message for aspiring renovating, kitchen and bathroom queens? Do not be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand. The amount of times Lysandra and I would say to Shiran "But why can't you put that thingy there and then use that thing to hide it" etc..... Even though we didn't understand a lot of the terminology or tools, we asked questions and would not stop until we understood how and why it worked. Don't be rushed into making important decisions and don't settle for the first thing you see. Research and shop around before you make your mind up on a product. Just remember, you don't have to spend a fortune on something to make a room look amazing. Shop smart and save your money for the important key features.

5. The fast paced environment and the competition does get the better of you. How did you both work on keeping your motivation and moral high?

It was extremely hard towards the end. Motivation and morale were at an all time low, but we had to keep reminding ourselves why we were there and that we hadn't come this far and been away from our boys for as long as we had, just to give up. We had an end goal in mind and we never lost sight of that. We were there to win and we played the game to the very last second.

I just want to say a very big THANK YOU to Alisa & Lysandra for taking the time to take part in this interview, it is so very nice of them and really appreciate their time despite their very busy schedules!

Make sure to visit their Facebook page to keep up to date with what the twins are up to and follow their journey.

WHO KNEW COW HIDE PATTERN COULD BE TAKEN TO A NEW LEVEL?

If you a blog fan like me, you will know that like many, one of my other most favourite interior blogs is Interior's Addict. Seeming as we showcased an interview with the Twins taking out the winning title for The Block 2013 it was only fitting I featured a product which the bathroom queens think is "hot" right now. Both twins have been guest posting on Interior's Addict over the last month and been giving some handy hints on renovating and design. Through the blog post on Interior's Addict, which you can find by clicking here, I was introduced to Parisi Bathware, which is selling the quirkiest bathroom vanities and toilets I have seen to date.  These cow inspired, four legged free standing and wall hung basins/toilets are really cool and such a great feature piece for a fun bathroom design. They are manufactured entirely in Italy by Art Cream and designed by Sandro Meneghello and Marco Paolelli of Meneghello Paolelli Associati.  Bathrooms are often underestimated especially if they are a small area, however, with so many different funky options out on the market, I think it is difficult not to be able to achieve a functional yet fun design. There are no way of getting around it, it is a very functional area of the home that is utilised for many things and should not be over looked when designed. It should be calming, practical and full of personality in my opinion... because honestly why make a space that has so much purpose boring? 

What I like about the four legged "Cow" range is it's slim lime profile that screams of classical and elegant design inspiration. It really demonstrates that inspiration is always all around us and can really assist in creating beautifully designed and functional pieces. To me Cow is a very clever design that has been interpreted through pattern and practicality in a very unique way. It is available in many different colours through selected Parisi Bathware stores. Parisi also has a great collection of bathware and door hardware, which I discovered whilst looking through their website. Cow is not the only funky bathroom range they have, they have some amazing free standing basins that can assist in creating a great bathroom for any given brief. 

All images sourced from the Parisi Blog, which you can find here as well as their website. 

If you want to see more of Alisa's tips on what is hot right now for your home, read more on Interior's Addict by clicking here. 

FEATURE FRIDAY: INTERVIEW WITH ALISA & LYSANDRA

Alisa & Lysandra winners of The Block 2013.
To connect and keep up to date with the twins
make sure to like their Facebook page. Ps: They
are wearing my favourite jewellery brand Fiel Sol!

It is a very exciting Friday today as not only am I sharing my first blog interview with the lovely Alisa & Lysandra, winners from The Block 2013, but I have 3 separate events on today/tonight and despite my shoulder injury I will be attending.

Even though The Block is over for this year, it does not mean all the excitement is over,  the beautiful designs by these two great dynamic sisters are now more popular than ever. They were a very strong team, such great designers, very entertaining to watch and with  my own application for The Block 2014 submitted, it is such a great opportunity to get some insider perspective on their experience.

1. First of all a big congratulations and great effort! Looking back on the experience that you have just had, if you could give yourself some advice or warning before starting this challenge, would would it be? To align yourselves with reliable and experienced tradesman (which made such a difference as our amazing tradies were able to turn our visions into a reality.) 2. You both developed such great design style and skill. Week to week what inspired you design wise and helped you make certain style choices to create the overall look? I think once we established that we wanted the apartment to have a natural, earthy feel, it became a lot easier for us to make the right styling choices. In every room we designed, we aimed to create a point of interest such as including timber features, using different textured wallpaper like concrete and grass cloth, the inclusion of a herb garden, plus a green wall and rendered wall. It was really important that each room flowed into the other and that all the rooms didn't compete with one another. 3. It would be so tough making such important design and space decisions very quickly, I know first hand the questioning and doubt you can feel once you make a decision or trying to make sure it is the right one. How did you both work on not doubting the design choices you made and finishes you picked? We literally had one night to come up with the design for the entire room. After we had finished judging at Scotty's warehouse and found out what room was being revealed the next week, Lysandra and I would go home that night (after being awake for 48hr + ) and have to come up with a design for whatever room was being revealed next. Our builder Shiran wanted a plan from us the next morning so he could get started that very day in order to have enough time to finish before the next reveal. To be honest I actually think it was a good thing that we had to make quick decisions because it forced us to go with our gut instinct and not second guess ourselves, because there just wasn't time to. 4. It is such a great achievement for you both especially in support of women in construction and design! Do you have an inspirational message for aspiring renovating, kitchen and bathroom queens? Do not be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand. The amount of times Lysandra and I would say to Shiran "But why can't you put that thingy there and then use that thing to hide it" etc..... Even though we didn't understand a lot of the terminology or tools, we asked questions and would not stop until we understood how and why it worked. Don't be rushed into making important decisions and don't settle for the first thing you see. Research and shop around before you make your mind up on a product. Just remember, you don't have to spend a fortune on something to make a room look amazing. Shop smart and save your money for the important key features.

5. The fast paced environment and the competition does get the better of you. How did you both work on keeping your motivation and moral high?

It was extremely hard towards the end. Motivation and morale were at an all time low, but we had to keep reminding ourselves why we were there and that we hadn't come this far and been away from our boys for as long as we had, just to give up. We had an end goal in mind and we never lost sight of that. We were there to win and we played the game to the very last second.

I just want to say a very big THANK YOU to Alisa & Lysandra for taking the time to take part in this interview, it is so very nice of them and really appreciate their time despite their very busy schedules!

Make sure to visit their Facebook page to keep up to date with what the twins are up to and follow their journey.

Have a great Friday everyone,

JDZ x

SKY HIGH REVIEWS

It was such an exciting and anxious night in many households yesterday as we watched the five teams sell their amazing sky high apartments! I knew it though, Alisa & Lysandra just had the edge and it was really amazing that they are the first female team to ever win The Block. Totally inspirational don't you think? They really do have an amazing design skills and work very hard at achieving their goals and vision, which I think is great. Their apartment was of a very high standard and they are definitely the Kitchen & Bathroom queens, as I have to say the 30/30 bathroom was my absolute favourite!! Such an amazing combination of colours and a perfect example of making brown and black tones work. 

It is such an amazing achievement for all the couples taking home $205, 000 each off their reserves last night. I cannot even begin to image the nerves and emotions you would feel after such hard work, it would really be bitter sweet. The girls plan to put their new found skills to use by setting up their own Interior Design business, which I think is great. It is also great for young woman out there who aspire to achieve big things in their lives, it is beyond true, that if you put your mind to it and keep working hard, it will happen. None of this, woman don't know anything or can't work on site... not true at all! 

Here is a look through their entire apartment and at all the beautiful finishes and colour combinations they used. With good finishes and smart space planning you can achieve great things. 

Congratulations again to Alisa & Lysandra and I very much look forward to posting about them again in the future and staying up to date with what they are doing next.

All images apart from the 30/30 kitchen have been sourced from The Block Sky High website.
The 30/30 kitchen images were sourced from the ever so lovely Jen Bishop's blog The Interior Addict.

Stay turned for more Alisa  & Lysandra news!

Have a great Monday,

JDZ x