The Block NZ: My Room Two

The Block NZ is my sort of show. It’s DIY, it’s decorating, it’s a challenge, and it’s four 50s houses in suburban Auckland – just like mine. I think Andre and I would smoke it – sans children we’d achieve like we wouldn’t believe! We’re perfectionists by nature but work well under pressure.

Anyway, we’re not in it and so far not backing any particular couple although Rachel and Tyson do have me on tenterhooks! Kind of ironic that they won the distressing challenge.

I liked and disliked different things about each of the rooms and thought the judges were pretty harsh actually. No doubt there were rules and orders about where to buy and with time pressures of the ridiculous sort decisions will be made that will be regretted later. Like Ginny and Rhys’ boring bedroom. Sorry guys – I think you work great together but hopefully you can bring some more colour or at least texture next time?! (And note below that I picked the same duvet cover as you did..!)

I’ve set myself a challenge to whip up a moodboard of my own alongside the room of the week on The Block NZ. This week, if you’ve been watching, it’s the second bedroom. We have one of those. It’s currently Miss E’s bedroom/junk room/spare room. But this is what it could be if I had a week, some cash, vouchers and a handy husband (one of these I do have, the others I don’t):

I limited my virtual purchases to Freedom Furniture, because they were the only furnishing and decorating “sponsor” I spotted on the show (apart from Carpet Court, but I opted to polish my floorboards and throw down a rug).  I also DIY’ed a new top for my side table – it was tan, now it’s chartreuse… not quite as polished as the bought one, but at least I got a bit adventurous. The paint colours were Dulux of course – the main wall colour (duck egg blue funnily enough) is Dulux Waimauku Half.

At the end of my Week 1 (ie. an hour of online browsing and virtual painting my room red duck egg blue) I am content but not excited about my choices. I’m picking Freedom Furniture is playing it safe and only has the fairly neutral selections from its full range shown online. Let’s hope I spot some new sponsors next week and have a broader choice.

Judges (I am my own harshest critic) comments: Colour is nice but safe… try harder next time (see above). Good to see some layering of textures – almost makes up for the colour fail. Also, nice effort at DIYing a new top for the side table, but I suggest brushing up on the upholstery Photoshop skills.

5.5/10 for design, 8/10 for execution (no nasty paint job and everything fits where it’s supposed to!) = 13.5/20. Told you I would smoke it!

Note: Any references to The Block NZ (including the logo) are… ummm… without permission? Oops.