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I’m not a huge fan of reality TV, except Masterchef. I do like watching shows likes Restoration Australia and Grand Designs but one show I will not watch is The Block. I know a lot of people watch, like and get inspired by The Block room reveals but it does not excite me, let me explain why.

A few years ago when I returned from living in London I did watch The Block.  I thought it was a good way for me to get acquainted with all things interior design in Melbourne.  See what the ‘trends’ are and what cutting edge ideas are shown.

But this is not what I found at all. What I found was a group of contestants, primarily amateur DIYers, tackling complex design and build projects.  This was a few years ago so the calibre of the contestant may have changed.

A few years ago, sometimes a contestant may demonstrate a ‘knack’ but I think it was probably luck.  Mostly, I witnessed bad design, bad behaviour and a bad representation of the interior design, architecture, build and homewares industries. Again, things might be different now.

Why I don’t like The Block

The fundamental reason why I don’t watch The Block is because you can’t renovate a bathroom (or any room) in one weekend or one week for that matter. It’s all about the room reveal. Which is simply not possible in the real world.  When a prospective client calls me and asks me how long a project actually takes, some are in disbelief.

So many prospective clients have referred to The Block saying ‘but they did in a week on The Block.’ Programs like this are only focused on the end result, on how a space looks, the wow factor, the room reveal. But there is so much more that goes into a renovation project.  While the end result is important, a good floor plan is also important.  The space needs to work.

Sticking to a budget is also important. In real life interior design or renovation projects, the budget, the space, the client’s vision, and the floor plan all contribute to a successful outcome. The Block is full of drama, it has to be because it’s entertainment but my clients don’t need this drama.

Clients need realistic expectations of what they can expect, by when and what it’s all going to cost.  The Block is completely unrealistic, and it promotes a range of products which means many people around Australia forgo individuality for what they see on The Block, this is not what interior design is for me. 

I appreciate many people love The Block room reveals but I prefer to tell my client’s design story in a unique way without the drama and with the use of unique specifications, rather than stock standard, widely viewed and used pieces.

Cover Photo by Hunter Haley on Unsplash