In a typical The Block NZ twist this year’s teams were rocked by a bombshell.
For the first time ever we saw the arrival of a fifth team - last year’s winners Team Black Amy and Stu taking on Apartment 5 during The Block NZ’s hardest week so far - the family bathroom.
In the end the Gizzy Hard crew won a record eighth room reveal on The Block NZ with $7000 going straight into the couple’s pockets.
There’s a lot to love about this bathroom with its bold colours, gold fittings, marble tiles and abstract artwork, combined with clean and simple finishing.
Newshub speaks to experts from Mico bathroom category manager Louise Cook, Resene marketing manager Karen Warman and Tile Space Henderson branch manager Mahsa Halajpour to discuss the latest bathroom trends.
1. Art Deco and vintage theme
Amy and Stu’s winning bathroom is charming, contemporary and elegant with an Art Deco feel to it.
"The clean white tiles with marble floor contrasting against the bold red tiles and then the striking gold tapware to complement this overall look, gives it not only a feel of cleanliness but also warmth walking into the room," says Louise.
Karen agrees this bathroom borrows inspiration from both old and new, melding them together well.
"The warm hues, brickwork feature and artwork transform what could have been a very clinical white look into a welcoming space.
"The soft pink is Resene Sauvignon and the off white is Resene Eighth Rice Cake, a combination of colours rarely seen together. Coral hues are very on trend at present. Combining the warm accents with the very soft Resene Sauvignon helps to warm up and soften this bathroom," she says.
The move towards minimalism and simplicity is becoming more popular and this bathroom embraces this. From the clever wall shelving through to the glass panel this bathroom feels open and unfussy.
2. Creatively colourful tiles
All the tiling was beautifully done and we love the use of red and pink, and the colourful artwork in the bathroom.
"The marble look and the burgundy subway tiles are perfect for the Art Deco theme. Laying the subway tile vertically was a great move, a contemporary twist with the added bonus of making the walls appear taller," says Mahsa.
"Pink is definitely a big trend right now, plus greens and blues are popular as they stand the test of time but still give interest to the space."
"The marble look tile is a beautiful Italian replica of Calacatta marble which is softer and warmer than other white marbles such as Stautario. It works beautifully with the gold tapware and the warm tones of the feature tile, Artisan Burgundy. Artisan is one of our most popular new ranges, the colours are gorgeous and the variation in colour gives it a lovely handmade effect. Using contrasting light grey grout is a bold choice that really pays off and is practical too," Mahsa says.
Handmade looking tiles are a massive trend, the variation and natural imperfections make the space feel more relaxed, and are tailor-made for a chilled-out kiwi vibe.
3. Fantastic finishing and high quality styling
The white basin and vanity are both very well done, and so is the finish for the tapware.
"By adding a gorgeous gold finish to the bathroom it finished the space beautifully but not overbearing in any way," Louise says. "The benefits of experimenting with colour on your tapware allows you to do just this without completely changing the whole look of a bathroom. Plus we have so many finishes these days to choose from which is fantastic."
Louise suggests livery in the form of artwork or actual greenery is always important to ensure it cuts through any cold aspects of some bathrooms, and creates a space to relax in. She suggests ensuring your towel colour works, and to opt for different colours if you can’t choose just one.
Karen shares some top tips and tricks to achieve the high quality styling and visual impact of this room:
Pare back your accessories so those you do have make a statement.
Remember the ‘rule of three’ - aim to have three items of an accent colour to help it become part of the room. In this bathroom, the towel, artwork and feature wall work together as a trio.
Always allow for enough storage in a bathroom so everything can be easily stored out of sight.
While Amy and Stu’s eye-catching bathroom excited the judges, cool style ideas and products from Sophia and Mikaere’s bathroom also caught our attention. Check out an image gallery from the other teams’ bathrooms on the The Block NZ Fanzone.
To create The Block NZ trends featured in this article in your own home, visit, Mico Bathroom, Resene and Tile Space.
This article has been created for Mico Bathrooms, Resene and Tile Space - proud partners of The Block NZ on Three.
