Brighton Beach in Melbourne is known for its brightly-coloured beach boxes. So it was only fitting The Block 2020’s first challenge saw contestants build and style their very own!
As well as being a test of their talents, the first task served two other purposes: to provide somewhere for the teams to sleep on-site and also act to determine who got which house.
In other words – the winner gets to choose which house they would like to renovate.
The stakes were high.
The Beach Box challenge wasn’t an easy one to get right. Picture: Channel Nine
“It’s a huge challenge because it’s a huge reward,” said WA contestant Jasmine, who is competing with husband Luke. “It could actually determine the winner, come auction day.”
Judge Neale Whitaker said he and fellow judges Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer knew just how much was at stake in this first challenge – and that the pressure was on.
“What we are always looking for with those challenges right at the beginning is the promise of things to come,” Neale said. “It doesn’t matter whether they’re doing beach boxes or bedrooms, you want to get a sense of what the couple might be capable of in the weeks to come.”
Results of the first challenge will be announced on Monday’s show. In the meantime, let’s take a look at what was produced:
Jimmy and Tam, Queensland
The judges loved Jimmy and Tam’s yellow and white ‘beehive’ beach box – styled to match Tam’s bouffant hair!
“I was not expecting this,” said Shaynna, upon sighting their bright, happy box, complete with timber furniture, white panelled walls, yellow towels, a gorgeous modern rattan pendant light and two strategically-placed blanket boxes astride the front entrance.
“I always think of Hollywood when I see those colours together,” said Neale.
“We are from the Sunshine State,” Tam explained. “Yellow – sunshine!”
Jimmy and Tan’s yellow and white box charmed the judges. Picture: Channel Nine
The couple from Queensland is hoping to secure House 5 from the 1950s. They’re in with a great chance to take pole position thanks to the emotional connection the judges had with their “friendly”, welcoming room.
“We really love House Number Five because it really is our style,” says Jimmy. “We are hoping to be able to bring the 1950s into it, but with more of a modern twist.”
Sarah and George, NSW
Sarah and George chose not to play it safe with their Greek-coloured blue and white bathing box, opting to add an extra truss to their frame, creating more room. They also chose to include built-in storage in the roof.
The judges were not convinced. And while they liked the muted greys and whites used in the interior furnishings, the photographic print and the inclusion of the clear-panelled laser light “skylights” above the bed, they thought by lowering the roof made the room feel small and cramped.
“It just feels really really claustrophobic,” Neale remarked.
“Why wouldn’t you work to the fact you’ve got trusses to show off?” Darren queried.
Sarah and George, who are hoping to score the house from the 1910s, were disappointed.
“What we thought was going to be a punt, they didn’t like,” Sarah conceded. “It is what it is.”
The judges weren’t convinced on Sarah and George’s box. Picture: Channel Nine
Luke and Jasmine, WA
It was back to simpler times for WA contestants Luke and Jasmine, who gave their beach box a retro feel, paying homage to the beach boxes of yesteryear.
“I went for a 1970s beach shack [feel],” said Jasmine, who styled their space in bright colours outside, while filling it with rattan furniture, a gorgeous shell light and the muted colours of peach, blue and white within. They also included a bespoke breakfast hatch and a deck out the front – both a hit with the judges.
Luke and Jasmine’s retro box. Picture: Channel Nine
“It’s actually a really cute idea to have a bar here, functionally, to entertain on either side – you can serve drinks,” said Darren.
“I love it,” said Neale. “It’s the little touches, like, you’re greeted with the sand outside. And then you come in here and you have these beautiful touches, like the shell pendant, the rattan bedhead and the VJ panelling.”
The couple from WA was pleased that the judges thought their box was “romantic”, and are eager to find out whether they will be first to secure their choice of House 5.
Daniel and Jade, SA
Daniel and Jade made an instant impact with their sweet gelato-coloured bathing box.
“The plan from the start was to make an impact with the rainbow colourful outside, because we get excited about rain, being farmers,” said Jade, who lives on a rural property with husband Daniel.
The judges were instantly smitten, especially Darren, who remarked, “I love ice cream on the beach!”
Daniel and Jade’s box was a hit. Picture: Channel Nine
They all particularly liked the double doors, the hooks for beach towels, the bright, white interior and the use of the port-hole-sized skylight. “It’s a really wise, and also a really nautical, little touch,” said Darren.
“[It feels like] we are by the beach,” said Shaynna.
And while they didn’t particularly like the ultra-modern pendant the couple used, overall they were impressed with their styling and execution.
“They are going to be an interesting couple to watch,” Shaynna remarked.
Harry and Tash, Victoria
Father/Daughter duo Harry and Tash gave a nod to their Greek heritage, choosing to decorate their beach box in a solid Mediterranean blue, with white trim. While their paint job left a lot to be desired, the judges were more complementary of their interior, which included a rattan pendant light, abstract artwork, wall-mounted bedside tables and a simple white and pale-pink colour palette.
“It’s very relaxed. I really like this colour-scheme,” said Darren upon stepping inside. “The bedhead is really nice and calming and the linen definitely says ‘beach’ to me.”
The Block’s first father-daughter duo embraced their Greek heritage. Picture: Channel Nine
Neale agreed though he questioned the couple’s decision to mount their bedsides on brackets.
Harry and Tash, keen to secure House 1 from the 1920s, were keen to maximise the light within their box, something the judges also appreciated.
“We are the only team to include two windows,” said Harry.
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