Auction Night

Believe it or not, I haven't seen the final show yet as I was on a plane coming home when it aired last night. I sorta know how it all ends. It was slightly devastating when Katrina and Amie's house was passed in at auction. I cried. I did. It sold after auction for the reserve. I cried a bit that night. It was Josh and Jenna's fault. It all started when Josh proposed to Jenna before it all started. I'm a sucker for a good proposal. I met them later on that night. They are a gorgeous couple. 

Ok so more importantly, didn't the girls look beautiful!!! Oh they shone! I spent the night with Katrina and Amie's family and friends. We played up a bit. Especially during the bidding. Every bid, there was a whoop from all of us. Our raucous behaviour was not televised I have been told (funny that).... but we made sure that Katrina and Amie's auction bidding was the most exciting!

There was some very nice scenery! Sorry about the iphone blur.

Katrina's hubby looks happy doesn't he?! 

Sorry Mr Chambo, you're fair game now that you've been on the telly.

Treens, your hair looked gorgeous.

I tried to get a photo of the back of Shelley's 'do'..... it was lovely. ... but she moves so much! She has lots of energy! I had a special photo taken with her for my boys as they are big fans. 

See, she didn't stand still!

Speaking of 'dos'... loved Katrina's too.

... and didn't Polly look gorgeous. Loved her frock.

Where I was sitting. Name the celebrity head. Hint - judge.

My boys have informed me that they freeze-framed the whole show and found me via the big flower ring I was wearing. They said they could see me clapping with my hands in the air. I got very involved in the whole thing. It was all very emotional after Josh and Jenna's house got passed in. We were all on the edge of our seats the whole night.

Apart from the disappointing outcome, I did have a fabulous time. Thanks for inviting me Treens. Loved meeting your gorgeous friends from Wagga and Albury... hi guys!....and your lovely family. They're gonna kill me but here they are at the 'after do' in their jammies. Yes, immaculate movie star hair and makeup.... and pyjamas! I think that just about sums it all up!

Girls... good things..... good things are gonna happen for you two. Congratulations!

The Party Pit

Images Courtesy Channel 9

Ok, so we still don't know who won the 'Exterior Reveal' on The Block last night but at least we got to see the finished product! As the clock was ticking down, I was thinking to myself, "you better not make us wait until tomorrow night, not after we have seen snippets of these outdoor areas all night". Phew! 

I knew the girls would 'go out with a bang'! Everyone else created the trusty deck, deck with spa, deck with BBQ, deck with a bit of lawn... but the girls?..... 'The Party Pit'.... fabulous!

Doesn't it flow perfectly from inside to outside. I think Katrina and Amie absolutely nailed it. Love the fence concept surrounding the outdoor lounge. Love the bamboo too!

Wow, it's all finished. What a ride. As my boys said last night. "what are we going to do when it's all finished Mum?"..... hmm, lets start with your homework lads.... and then we could move on to guitar and piano practice.

Katrina has invited me down to the filming of The Block Auction in Melbourne this weekend.

I had visions of live tweeting and serious behind the scenes 'sharing of goss' with my bloggy readers but it's not live. The auction is on Saturday and I have to keep my trap shut until after the show on Sunday night. Just as well it is registered bidding too. Wouldn't want to scratch my nose and come home the proud owner of a 'Party Pit' and associated house.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Happy Monday!

One Point

That's all that was in it last night, for the kitchen/dining room reveal on 'The Block', one point.
Katrina and Amie came in second but impressed the judges with their "wow factor". I tell you it was those lights that did it.

I love the whole industrial 'kick' they gave their beautiful, modern, streamlined kitchen.

The rustic accents soften the whole look and take it a step back from contemporary.

Doesn't the table work well with the floors and these fabulous lights!

Fantastic use of space. I am so glad you didn't try to squeeze in an island bench girls.

 You got it soooo right!

Happy Monday!

They Won!

Images Courtesy Channel 9

Yay, Katrina and Amie won best room for their living room and hallway, last night on 'The Block'.

Love the cabinetry, flooring and furnishings... they just ooze 'inner city Richmond'. Has anyone else noticed that Katrina and Amie are the only contestants designing with their target market in mind?.... inner city professionals. I think they are 'nailing it' frankly. I can't help myself.... but wait until you see the kitchen/dining at the end of this week. Be still heart. Nailing it.

Now I have to say, I think it was a bit rough that the retailer refused to help Katrina and Keith lug that huge, heavy log coffee table out of his store. They asked for help and he said 'no'... on national television! Didn't he know his shop was going to be on telly? Epic fail. It was tragic seeing Katrina and Keith struggle, dragging that thing all through 'Mr Retailer's' showroom! It would have cost a pretty penny, that piece. Surely a bit of 'lugging' could have been included in the price!?

And isn't she a beauty.

Sort of looks like Janet Leigh.

Memories of where they started. Great idea.

Just look at those 'TV smiles'. I can see relief in those smiles. 

C'mon Channel 9, you've gotta give them their own show.

Did you see the news last night, with Katrina unmissable in canary yellow? They had the first public open for inspection of The Block. 25,000 people! Queues for 2 km through Richmond. I am sure Katrina is going to fill you in on her crazy day yesterday over on her bloggy HERE.

Well done girls!

A Visit To The Block

Had to get a photo of 'The Cushion'. 

"Throw yourself on the bed 'Treens'.... that'll be the room reveal photo tomorrow on my blog!"

 And so it is.

Well I didn't receive any photos of the room reveal from Channel 9 last night so I guess I will just have to use my own! The lovely Julie-Ann (from the Decorating Forum, who I excitedly met for the first time yesterday) and I popped around to catch up with Katrina yesterday on The Block. She was busy working away, tidying up for the first open house that is scheduled soon.

Katrina and Amie's main bedroom is spectacular in real life. The wallpaper just 'pops'. It's all very striking with the black and white theme. Since the show was filmed they have installed some groovy louvres on the windows which create a sense of privacy and filter the light beautifully in the room.

I was fortunate enough to also visit Katrina and Amie on The Block during filming just after the main bedroom and ensuite had been completed. I took some shots of their white ensuite bathroom tiles when I was there. I was so enamoured with them.

I was seriously in love with Katrina and Amie's front door. 

I wonder if they got to keep it for a souvenir? 

I forgot to ask.

So yesterday I got to swan around the study when it wasn't full of building junk like it was on my first visit. I love all their vignettes. It's a fabulous room..... and I also stand by their decision to do a study and not a bedroom. The ceilings are gobsmackingly high but the room is much narrower than it appears on TV. It was crying out to be a study. A bed would have looked stupid. A bedroom would not have worked. The cabinetry actually gives it all a feeling of space and height. Yep, they repainted the silver doors white. Looks good (even though I liked the silver). It's a beautiful room. If it was my place, it would be the room I lived in permanently.

We had a chuckle over the judges comments about the books being turned around the 'wrong way'.

Since Katrina's last visit, someone had turned them around again so she set about turning them back the 'right way' with the spines in. Thank you very much mystery stylists.

I took a great photo of 'Mr Chambo' on his hands and knees, cleaning paint splashes off the floor but I can't publish it as I just realised it would have been a 'spoiler' photo as you can see the hall, the front and the floors in it. I will embarrass him when the show is finished. It's a deal.

Look there's The Decorating Forum's Julie-Ann. Yes she's real, she does exist! 

And Katrina has mastered the most fabulous TV smile. She's getting lots of practice!

So we wandered down to a groovy little Melbourne-ish coffee shop for some brunch and nattered about important things like.... our boys, the best deodorant for teenage boys, blogging and bloggy friends... and life after The Block. Thanks for a lovely time girls. The planets aligned and we were all in the same city at the same time! Perth + Brisbane + Wagga = Melbourne. Who'd have thought!

Back to the school week. Rumour has it that my boys spent the whole weekend in a tree and only came down briefly to eat. .... and they have the scratches and insect bites to prove it!

Happy Monday!

PS. Katrina has just put up some great photos of the main bed and ensuite HERE

The Bathroom

Images Courtesy Channel 9

Oh boy, 'the girls' have had a week on 'The Block', haven't they? 

What was with the 'builder' and his pure delight at seeing Katrina and Amie so distressed and falling behind schedule??? 

I couldn't watch.....well I watched through my fingers..... with my mouth open in shock! A little bit too close to home for me.... memories of my builder telling me I'll "get what I'm $%#* given", when I questioned why we weren't following the 'council certified plan'? At least I didn't have a one week deadline and the whole of Australia watching my despair. Even my boys said, "you shouldn't be watching this Mum", with alarm in their eyes! Oh girls.... we felt your pain, we really did....the whole of Australia did.

But yay, they rose from the ashes and produced this beauty... with a gorgeous basin, stunning tiles... and a real sense of space. Remember who their target market is.. DINKS..and remember this doubles as a downstairs powder-room too. No need for a bath. There was a bit of stress around not being able to fit a bath in. Girls, the bath was not an issue at judging was it! Yay!

I like the black wall... it's bold and brave.

I'm sorry but those wall tiles.... stop. my. heart.

Great use of space with the overhead cupboards. Grey glass spash-back...beautiful contrast and very innovative. And I'm totally biased....love the floor tiles.... same colour as mine. Fabulous taste girls!

Head over to Katrina's blog HERE. I'm sure she will load up some 'Block goss' today.

Happy Monday!

PS. I found Bill. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

Well, I Loved It....

Image Courtesy Channel 9

... you know how I am an absolute sucker for built ins, bulkheads and blackboards...

.... like here!

I loved the silver paint. Ok, so there were fingerprints....... the challenge of time pressures.

I loved the rustic signs and the fabulous industrial desk chairs. I didn't even think that a study would have less weighting than a bedroom and would go against them in the judging. Tough.

....and Mr Real Estate judge, keep up with the program......books displayed with their spines facing inwards are all the rage. 'How embarassment' for you Sir.

Considering aesthetic appeal for the final sale, I honestly thought Katrina and Amie's room looked the least 'second hand' and the most 'polished, clean, easy on the eye, spacious' room out of all of them.

Oh and Katrina is my friend. Smother her with love and support over HERE. It would make her day. It's her birthday soon you know. Shhh!

Frankly....

Cute As Buttons! - thank you Channel 9

.... in my humble opinion, Katrina and Amie's room was the best by a 'country mile' (excuse the pun).

I am referring to the 'Room Reveal' episode of 'The Block' last night, on Channel 9.

Katrina and Amie's Room

Loved the consistency, use of repetition (vases, prints) and symmetry. Loved the 2 accent colours - very 'now' and only 2, easy on the eye, picking up the 2 colours in the prints too....  attention to detail! Loved the metallic curtains - very luxe, tied in beautifully with the bedside stools (loved the stools!). Great choice of lights - highlighting the exquisitely high ceilings (13 - 14 ft?). And I loved the exposed bricks... edgy, raw, complementing the cedar window and rustic, textured carpet.

Contemporary with an urban industrial 'kick'. Consistent, serene, inviting. Hey, and a perfect wall stripe... gotta love that painter's tape girls! Oh and the bedhead... well what can I say. A winner.

Gush, gush. Boy I was nervous for you girls last night. You did us proud!!!!

Loving this show. Creates wonderful discussion... everywhere.... even at the supermarket checkout. Can't wait to see what's in store for us next week!

Katrina and Amie's Facebook Page: HERE
And more stuff : HERE