Don’t forget the big picture

Are you watching The Block this season? Have you already decided which home you think will take out the top prize? Shannon Vos, Jono Fleming and I were lucky enough to spend a couple of days poking around the recently overhauled houses and it was pretty great. They always feel very different to what you see on TV, but the biggest surprise for me was the fact that the house I loved most was not the one that wins the most rooms. Don’t worry, I won’t commit ‘plot-spoiler crime’, but remember what I said when you get to the end of the series.

The reason I was surprised was because, I’ll admit, sometimes I fall victim to the idea that our homes would always be better if we had more money. You know, “If only I had enough money to buy that [insert lust-have item here].” My visit to these homes was a great reminder that the key to a beautiful home is making sure you focus on the end goal, not just the details along the way. Sure, some of the other contestants’ homes have prize-winning rooms, but I didn’t think they held together as a home quite as well – I didn’t feel the love. Sometimes when you throw a lot of money at something, you lose sight of what really matters.

As the series progresses, head online to see our tours of the rooms and key features of The Block and have a guess at which home was my fave.

If you’re looking for a little escape from your renovation (head to page 105 for help with kitchens and bathrooms) or are dreaming of your next getaway, head to page 150 for a little slice of beach life, thanks to one of our favourite contributors, food stylist Kirsten Jenkins. Between her holiday-home style and accompanying menu, it’s all you need to offset some pretty blue ocean blues with an on-trend shade of green.