Three’s a crowd: Meet the all-new Block NZ judges
THE first point of difference to note in the appointment of allnew judges for season nine of
The Block NZ is the fact there are three of them.
Will that make sparring difficult? Will there still be a good-cop-bad-cop situation a` la Lizzi Whaley and Jason Bonham? Will two gang up against one? Will there be three sets of marks awarded for each room reveal? Will three people fit into all the rooms?
So many questions. But first, let’s introduce the new players: They are: Interior designer AnnLouise Hyde of Hyde Inside; Lauren Mirabito, general manager Ray White Carpenter Realty; and Chris Stevens, founder and director of design studio CTRL Space.
We particularly like that
Hyde says she brings a ‘‘a practical, not snooty, approach to design’’, along with a keen eye for detail.
We think Hyde could be a colourful character. The designer has worked on stately and luxury homes around the world, played the cello in beautiful concert halls, and done lots of other interesting stuff.
While her focus is on creating lasting style rather than fashion fads, Hyde says these days she appreciates cleaner lines. But she still loves to work with a client who can handle pattern, colour and ‘‘a well-appointed bit of bling’’.
She could be perfect.
Hyde says it’s essential for The Block teams to get the practical elements right first.
The spaces must work for their intended purpose and will need to be well-thought-out ergonomically sound designs.
‘‘These are the foundations of good design and no amount of decor can fix them if they don’t get those right. I don’t want to see glass table-tops, sharp bench edges or silk velvet dining chairs in a family home, or unnecessarily sensible flooring and soft furnishings in an adultonly pad.’’
Once the practicalities are sorted they can look at turning these houses into homes people will want to buy and live in.
‘‘This will come with originality, warmth and above all, creative soul. We’ve been doing minimalism for over a hundred years now, so unless the teams can manage Corbusier
‘I am not looking for extreme design choices or out-of-the-box ideas.’ LAUREN MIRABITO
like perfection in form, function, finishes and light play, they won’t win my vote with plain white ‘simplicity’.’’
Mirabito knows the difference between a top-dollar design and one that will divide the market. So she will bring a reality check to the show.
She describes herself as a huge The Block NZ fan, having watched every previous season. A real estate addict, she even admits that she and her husband go to open homes on weekends as ‘date night’! OK...
Fiercely proud of her Nga¯ ti
Porou and Nga¯ ti
Wai heritage, she is also learning te reo
Ma¯ ori in her limited spare time. The mother of three
admits that while her own personal style leans towards clutter-free and minimalistic, when it comes to interior design, she appreciates anything that has beauty, warmth, natural light and a ‘‘great feel or energy’’.
This season on The Block NZ she will be looking for considered choices in layout and design. A space that is welcoming and inviting while serving its purpose. With her realtor hat on, she explains: ‘‘I am not looking for extreme design choices or out-of-the-box ideas. The teams’ homes and rooms need
to appeal to the widest pool of buyers possible while also creating an emotional connection with as many buyers as possible.
‘‘That is where the skill will be, in creating spaces that are neutral enough to not alienate buyers, but special/brave enough to get buyers feeling impressed and in love – like they can’t imagine themselves living anywhere else.’’
Stevens brings a lot of experience in commercial and hospitality interiors, including high-end bars, cafes and restaurants. Needless to say his
company has won many industry awards. It’s fair to say he knows his stuff.
He’s also a surfer, and loves the ocean – it’s an aesthetic that translates into a love of Californian Modernism, clean lines and a restrained material palette.
‘‘Less is definitely more in my book’’, he says.
Stevens is intrigued to see how the ideas from the teams develop into these spaces, particularly at the pace they need to deliver their rooms. ‘‘When it comes to judging, I want to see context and consideration. I will no doubt repeat myself on this, but I truly believe form follows function, so if a room doesn’t function as it is intended to, I’ll be deducting points for that.
‘‘Moreover, I want to see an overall concept thread for the whole house – again considered – not just plucked from Pinterest.’’ A stickler for detail, the space Chris is most looking forward to seeing is the teams’ kitchens.
‘‘From a design perspective, this room offers the most concept options and one can really play with how this space can function.’’
And yes, in case you were wondering. Mark Richardson and Shelly Ferguson will both be back hosting various parts of the show.
The Block NZ
Chris Stevens, Ann-Louise Hyde and Lauren Mirabito will be casting an eye over The Block NZ contestants for season nine.