Judges choice: Living and dining

Heart of the home and the space you spend time with family and friends – Living and Dining is always a huge focus of The Block.

Neale Whitaker describes it as the “control centre” of the house. “It’s really got to have a relationship with the kitchen, the hallway and all the other elements of the home”, he explains. Darren adds that you need a focal point like a fireplace or gorgeous TV unit, and good architectural features.

“There has only ever been one Living and Dining space that has received a perfect score from you guys,” says Scott Cam. Out of 70 spaces, whose room was it?

Dean and Shay’s from the Blocktagon’s Challenge Apartment (2015)!

Shockingly, none of the judges chose it as the space they would most covet, although Scott Cam says he would add it to his selection. So which Living Dining area would the judges like in their own homes?

MICHAEL AND CARLENE – GLASSHOUSE (2014)
Neale and Shaynna Blaze agree on the selection but Neale laughingly claims it as his. “That living room had my heart,” says Carlene. “What better endorsement is that?” Michael adds. Neale loves the homeliness of the space and the unusual pieces the pair always styled with. One wall of the room was covered in stunning feature bookcases, which is what Neale says sold the space to him (and which Michael adds cost a nerve wracking amount of money!) The space also featured a raw brick wall and plush rug that all added up to create a space Neale says, “just felt right.” Shaynna loves how they extended it seamlessly from the kitchen area. Carlene finishes, “You know what I remember about that week? That we only had to paint the ceiling!”