Mike and Andrew's kitchen
This week's winner by a hair! The brothers swapped the locations of the living room and kitchens, and it has worked to their benefit in a big way. A galley kitchen is perfect for a long narrow space, allowing for loads of overhead cupboards, and a long long benchtop. The boys have continued their love of all things reflective, by installing a mirrored back splash. It doubles the space in that room, but gee it would be hard to keep clean! I seriously wouldn't want to cook anything.
Mike and Andrew have made this space feel even larger by using a glass dining table, complimented by gorgeous white chairs. I love the contrast of the dark timber floors with the blonde timber legs of the dining table and chairs.
Now, this was a serious surprise...timber floor boards on the ceiling! It looks fantastic, and really adds serious designer detail to this space. A timber planter box containing herbs is a really nice feature too. Overall, this is a great kitchen, and perfect for the home entertainer. Fling back those glass bi-fold doors and enjoy!
Dani and Dan's kitchen
I love this space...so lovely and light filled. Dani and Dan took full advantage of not sharing an external wall by installing a low-lined window the full length of the kitchen bench. It would be lovely to look out over something while cooking your evening meal. The dark timber overhead cupboards and island bench wall give this white space loads of warmth, as do the stunning pendant lamps.
The island bench has been positioned so that the person standing at the sink can see what is going on right through to the back yard. From this view, the dark overhead cupboards and living room blinds seem like a continuous feature.
This is a fantastic idea! A herb garden right outside the window! Just reach out and grab a handful while you're cooking. I also love the drop down bench. Instead of blocking part of the window, or cutting the bench short, Dani and Dan created a little working area and maximised their space.
Brad and Lara's kitchen
Once again, Brad and Lara have delivered my favourite space for the week. Choosing the largest house at the beginning of The Block has certainly worked to their advantage. This kitchen is so spacious with loads of cupboards, floor space and bench space. I love a kitchen that is large enough for the whole family to be in at once.
The large island bench takes centre stage, housing the microwave, dual draw dishwashers and sinks. Framing the island are two oversized vintage pendant lights that have been refinished in gloss black and white. Stunning!
The stand out feature of this kitchen though, is the map of Melbourne gracing the side of the island bench. Maps are hot stuff in interior design right now, and Brad and Lara have knocked it out of the park with this inclusion. I wish I had a bench that I could do this in my own home...but what map would I choose?
Sophie and Dale's kitchen
I was actually curious to see how Sophie and Dale would inject their quirky style into a kitchen, and they didn't disappoint. Lovely pendant lamps, retro bench stools and retro style freestanding oven. The exposed brick adds real warmth to this space and gives a nod to this home's heritage.
The dark benchtops make this kitchen stand out from the rest of The Block and ties in the dark balustrade to the rest of the space. Sophie and Dale have delivered a compact kitchen that works for this home and doesn't compromise their design ethos at all.
Another nod to the home's heritage comes in the form of the pressed tin splash back. This beautiful feature really compliments the space, as does the retro styling.
Which is your favourite kitchen? Does it make you want to try anything different in your home?
Catch up on my weekly round up of The Block:
Week 1 - Free choice
Week 2 - Master bedroom and ensuite
Week 3 - Second bedroom
Week 4 - Master bathroom and laundry
Week 5 - Guest bedroom and hallway
Week 6 - Rooftop terrace and utility room
Week 7 - Living room
Week 8 - Room makeover
