The Block Week 7: Kitchen, Pantry and Powder Room Review
Kitchen week is always one of the most anticipated weeks on The Block and for good reason.
The kitchen is rarely just another room. It becomes the operational centre of the home: the place where meals are prepared, people gather, conversations happen, and everyday routines repeatedly intersect.
A beautiful kitchen must therefore do considerably more than photograph well.
Its layout must support movement between preparation, cooking, cleaning and storage. The island needs to contribute genuine function rather than simply occupy the centre of the room. Appliances must be positioned according to the way the kitchen will be used, and storage needs to be considered for the realities of daily life, not only for reveal-day styling.
This week also underscored the pantry's growing importance.
Across the five houses, these spaces ranged from additional food storage to fully functioning secondary kitchens with sinks, ovens, appliance zones and extensive preparation space. When designed properly, a pantry can reduce visual clutter, improve workflow and allow the main kitchen to remain connected to the living area without every part of daily food preparation being on display.
The powder rooms gave each couple an opportunity to move beyond the restraint of the larger kitchen. We saw sculptural basins, richly patterned stone, handmade finishes and stronger colour choices introduced within much smaller footprints.
Across all five houses, there was an impressive level of storage, amenity and material detail. However, scale, symmetry and expensive finishes do not automatically create the most functional kitchen.
The strongest designs are those where beauty and function support one another—where the storage is accessible, the working zones feel intuitive, and every inclusion has been chosen to suit the way someone will genuinely live in the home.
Let’s look at what each house delivered, what worked and where a few refinements could make these spaces function even more successfully.
House One: A Calm, Considered Kitchen Built Around Function
House One delivers a calm and highly considered kitchen grounded in pale timber, warm stone and soft natural light.
Adam and Jolene have created a space that feels refined without relying on excessive decoration. The materials are restrained, but the kitchen avoids feeling completely flat through subtle variations in texture, the warmth of the timber cabinetry, and the darker details introduced by the handles, lighting, and surrounding furniture.
The Kitchen
The large central island establishes the kitchen as the functional heart of the home.
Its scale suits the generous proportions of the room, providing a substantial preparation surface, informal seating and an impressive amount of drawer storage. The drawers facing the working side of the kitchen make particularly good use of the island’s footprint, ensuring it contributes more than simply visual impact.
The waterfall stone ends give the island a clean, substantial finish, while the timber drawer fronts connect it to the surrounding cabinetry. Rather than appearing as a separate statement piece, it feels integrated into the broader kitchen.
The three upholstered stools introduce warmth and softness against the pale timber and stone. Their deeper burgundy-brown tone prevents the palette from becoming entirely washed out and provides a much-needed contrast against the lighter finishes.
The skylights are one of the strongest architectural features in the room. They draw natural light deep into the kitchen and help define the transition between the island, the main kitchen, and the adjoining pantry area.
This is a good example of using natural light as part of the design rather than treating it as something added after the layout has already been resolved. The long overhead opening visually follows the kitchen’s circulation path, making what is already a large space feel even more open.
The narrow black pendants provide contrast without interrupting the sightline through the skylights. However, because they are extremely minimal, they contribute relatively little decorative impact. This is not necessarily a problem in such a restrained kitchen, although slightly more substantial fittings could have introduced another layer of form and helped anchor the island beneath the expansive ceiling.
The surrounding cabinetry provides substantial concealed storage, and the full-height appliance wall has been handled particularly well. Integrating the ovens within the cabinetry creates a clean elevation, while the combination of tall cupboards and lower drawers provides practical storage across a range of heights.
The pale timber has been repeated extensively, but the subtly framed detailing prevents the cabinetry from reading as a single flat wall. The long, dark handles provide definition and make the tall cupboard doors easier to understand visually.
The main cooking zone is similarly restrained. The cooktop sits within a generous stretch of uninterrupted bench space, while the overhead cabinetry provides storage without introducing another dominant material.
The concealed or integrated approach allows the kitchen to remain visually quiet, although the success of such a pale palette depends heavily on texture. Here, the grain of the timber and softly patterned stone provide just enough variation to keep the surfaces from feeling clinical.
The Butler’s Pantry
The butler’s pantry extends the kitchen’s material palette rather than introducing an entirely separate design.
This creates continuity between the two areas and allows the pantry to feel like a genuine extension of the kitchen rather than a secondary utility space hidden behind it.
The additional cabinetry and bench space provide room for small appliances, food preparation and everyday items that may otherwise clutter the main kitchen. The window also introduces valuable natural light, making the pantry feel comfortable enough to use regularly rather than like a narrow internal storage room.
The circulation appears generous, and the combination of upper and lower cabinetry provides useful storage without completely enclosing the space.
The Integrated Bar
The integrated bar is a particularly successful inclusion because it responds to the way this open-plan area is likely to be used.
Positioned between full-height cupboards, it provides dedicated storage for bottles, glassware and serving pieces while remaining visually connected to the kitchen. The lighting beneath the shelves gives the nook a warmer atmosphere and helps distinguish it from the more practical food-preparation zones.
Unlike some highly specific built-in nooks, this one earns the cabinetry it occupies. Its position beside the kitchen and dining area means it can support entertaining without interrupting the main cooking zone.
The surrounding cupboards also ensure the wall retains substantial concealed storage. This prevents the open section from becoming an isolated styling feature at the expense of functionality.
The Adjoining Powder Room
The burgundy pedestal basin introduces a much stronger moment of colour than anything used within the kitchen.
Its sculptural shape and deep earthy tone create an immediate focal point against the warm, lightly textured stone. The colour also subtly relates to the upholstered kitchen stools, helping the powder room feel connected to the wider palette without exactly repeating the kitchen finishes.
The wall-mounted tapware keeps the small basin area visually clean, while the slim stone shelf provides a practical surface without the need for a conventional vanity.
This is a bold choice, but it works because the surrounding materials remain quiet. The basin has been allowed to be the hero rather than forced to compete with patterned tiles, decorative tapware, or excessive styling.
Overall
House One feels calm, functional and highly marketable.
The kitchen provides substantial storage, expansive preparation space and a clear connection to the surrounding living and dining areas. The butler’s pantry genuinely expands the space's everyday functionality, while the integrated bar supports entertaining without feeling like an unnecessary addition.
The palette is extremely restrained, and some people may want greater colour or contrast within the main kitchen. However, the room’s warmth comes through its timber grain, upholstered seating, natural light and subtle stone texture rather than through overt decoration.
The burgundy basin in the adjoining powder room demonstrates that the design can make a stronger statement where the smaller footprint allows.
There is very little here that requires a substantial conceptual redesign. Any changes would be matters of personal preference such as introducing more impactful pendant lighting or another subtle layer of colour—rather than corrections to the fundamental layout or functionality.
House One succeeds because its design decisions do not fight for attention. The kitchen, pantry, and bar work together as a cohesive, highly practical entertaining space.
House Two: Symmetry, Stone and a Softer Interpretation of Luxury
House Two takes a more polished and decorative approach to kitchen design.
Chantel and Wyatt have created an exceptionally symmetrical kitchen using softly coloured cabinetry, heavily veined stone and warm brushed-brass details. The result is elegant and cohesive, with a sense of luxury that comes primarily from repetition, scale and material consistency.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is dominated by its stone.
The heavily veined surface has been used across the expansive island, splashback, benchtops and rangehood ledge, creating a continuous material story throughout the room.
The large waterfall island immediately establishes the scale of the kitchen. It provides an extensive preparation surface, seating for four and enough visual weight to suit the proportions of the open-plan space.
The stone is undoubtedly the hero. Because it has been repeated so extensively, the quieter cabinetry becomes particularly important. The soft grey-green finish allows the veining to remain prominent without introducing another competing pattern or strong colour.
Warm brass tapware and handles soften the stone's cooler undertones and add definition against the muted cabinetry. The timber stools introduce another natural finish and prevent the room from feeling too formal or showroom-like.
The island appears clean and generously proportioned, although a surface this large must be supported by a carefully planned working layout. Scale alone does not make an island functional; the position of the sink, preparation areas, appliances, and surrounding walkways determines whether it genuinely improves how the kitchen operates.
Here, the island creates a strong central preparation and gathering zone while retaining clear circulation around its perimeter.
The rear wall has been designed around symmetry.
The rangehood sits centrally, with matching sections of benchtop, cabinetry, stone and wall lighting extending on either side. This creates a highly controlled elevation that will photograph beautifully.
The small wall sconces introduce a warmer and more decorative layer of light, while the continuous lighting beneath the stone ledge emphasises the horizontal line of the splashback.
However, symmetry should always support function rather than become the only priority. Kitchens are working environments, and the most important relationship is ultimately between the main preparation surface, cooking zone, sink, refrigeration and storage.
The central appliance bank creates another highly ordered architectural moment. Positioning the black ovens within pale cabinetry gives the wall a clear focal point and provides contrast within an otherwise tonal room.
The skylight above this area brings natural light into the centre of the kitchen and prevents the tall appliance cabinetry from feeling overly heavy.
Overall, the main kitchen is exceptionally cohesive. Every visible material has been repeated, the finishes relate clearly to one another and there are no isolated design decisions competing for attention.
My only consideration is whether the room relies slightly too heavily on symmetry and stone for its impact. It is visually beautiful, but its long-term success will depend on whether the placement of every appliance and storage zone feels as intuitive in daily use as the room appears in photographs.
The Pantry
The pantry continues the same cabinetry, stone and brass details used within the kitchen, allowing the two spaces to feel completely connected.
There is substantial bench space for small appliances, food preparation and everyday items that do not need to remain visible within the main kitchen. Lower drawers provide accessible storage, while the full-height cabinetry opposite can accommodate pantry goods and bulkier household items.
The open shelving is practical because frequently used items remain visible and easy to access. It also prevents the relatively narrow room from feeling completely enclosed by cabinetry on both sides.
However, open pantry shelves require discipline. Plates, jars and baskets can look beautiful when carefully styled for reveal day, but a working household will accumulate packets, appliances and miscellaneous items very quickly.
A combination of open shelves and concealed cabinetry is therefore important. House Two achieves that balance reasonably well by providing tall cupboards opposite the display shelving.
The generous width through the centre allows the pantry to function as a secondary workspace rather than simply a storage corridor. This is particularly valuable in a home designed for entertaining, as appliances and food preparation can be moved away from the main kitchen while guests gather around the island.
The WC
The WC shifts away from the kitchen’s grey-green palette and introduces a warmer combination of blush, peach, natural stone and brushed brass.
The handmade pink basin is the focal point. Its textured finish and softly rounded form introduce an organic quality against the cleaner surrounding surfaces.
The wall-mounted tapware keeps the small vanity area uncluttered and allows the basin to remain visually prominent. The soft brass finish also relates back to the kitchen, establishing continuity between the spaces without repeating the kitchen’s entire palette.
The peach-toned splashback is warm and understated, while the natural stone vanity introduces movement and variation beneath it.
This is a particularly successful example of allowing a WC to carry its own personality while still relating to the remainder of the home.
A small room can support a more expressive material or colour choice because it is experienced separately from the larger open-plan areas. The blush basin adds character without dictating the entire interior palette.
Overall
House Two is highly resolved and visually cohesive.
The kitchen uses symmetry, repetition and a restrained palette to create a polished sense of luxury. The heavily veined stone is carried consistently across the principal surfaces, while soft cabinetry, brass details and timber stools prevent it from feeling entirely cold.
The pantry provides meaningful additional storage and preparation space, although the open shelving will require more maintenance and organisation than fully concealed cabinetry.
The WC is warm, sculptural and quietly expressive. Its blush basin and natural stone provide a softer counterpoint to the highly controlled kitchen.
There is little here that requires a complete conceptual redesign. Any refinement would focus on testing the kitchen’s functionality beyond its perfect symmetry and ensuring the open pantry shelving remains practical once the home is lived in.
House Two demonstrates how repetition can create cohesion—but also why a successful kitchen must ultimately be judged by how intuitively it functions, not only by how beautifully it photographs.
House Three: Rich Timber, Strong Function and Architectural Detail
House Three moves away from the pale kitchens seen in the first two homes and introduces a much richer, moodier material palette.
Lisa and Rosco have paired dark timber cabinetry with warm white stone, aged brass details, and sculptural arched openings. The contrast gives the kitchen depth and character while still allowing it to feel connected to the light-filled open-plan interior.
This kitchen feels designed to be lived in. It offers substantial storage, generous preparation space, a highly functional pantry and dedicated zones for coffee, cooking and entertaining.
The Kitchen
The oversized island forms the centre of the room and provides an extensive uninterrupted surface for preparation, serving and gathering.
Its pale stone finish creates contrast against the dark cabinetry while connecting to the textured rangehood and splashback wall. The thick stone edge gives the island enough visual weight to suit the kitchen's scale without introducing another colour or pattern.
Seating has been positioned along the front and around one end, allowing people to sit in a more conversational arrangement than a single straight row. However, the corner seating will need enough clearance to ensure the stools do not compete for legroom when the island is being used at full capacity.
The upholstered stool seats introduce softness, while their white frames relate to the island rather than adding another dark element. Their curved forms also connect with the repeated arches used throughout the cabinetry.
The main cooking zone is located along the rear wall, with broad drawer storage beneath the benchtop and generous preparation space on either side of the cooktop.
Using drawers rather than relying primarily on lower cupboards improves accessibility and keeps cookware, utensils, and pantry items visible when opened. This is a practical decision that supports the everyday function of the kitchen.
The rangehood has been treated as an architectural element. Its broad, stone-look surround continues upward to the ceiling, giving the cooking zone visual presence without the need for heavily patterned stone or decorative tiling.
The circular wall lights on either side soften the strong rectangular lines of the cabinetry and illuminate the large wall in a warmer, more atmospheric way. Their organic form also relates to the arches used within the coffee and bar stations.
The dark cabinetry is substantial, but the room does not feel overwhelmingly heavy because it is balanced by pale flooring, light stone and the generous natural light entering from above.
The aged-brass handles and tapware add warmth without appearing overly polished. They work particularly well against the deeper timber tone and help reinforce the kitchen’s slightly more traditional, crafted character.
The Coffee Station and Integrated Refrigeration
The full-height cabinetry surrounding the integrated refrigeration provides substantial concealed storage while creating a clean, continuous elevation.
The arched coffee station interrupts the expanse of timber and gives the practical appliance its own defined home. Open shelving provides space for cups and glassware, while the drawers below offer concealed storage for coffee, tea and accessories.
This is a successful fixed-purpose nook because it supports an established everyday routine without sacrificing the room's broader function. It is positioned alongside substantial full-height cabinetry, meaning the inclusion has not come at the expense of essential storage.
The arch prevents the nook from feeling like a simple rectangular opening cut into the cabinetry. It introduces softness and establishes a visual language that is then repeated within the nearby bar.
The Pantry
The pantry is one of the most functional spaces delivered in House Three.
Rather than operating as a narrow cupboard for dry goods, it functions as a genuine secondary kitchen. It includes extensive bench space, a large sink, appliance storage, additional ovens and a substantial combination of drawers and cupboards.
This allows food preparation, cleaning and smaller appliances to be moved away from the main kitchen when required. For a household that entertains regularly, that level of secondary function can make an enormous difference.
The double-sided galley arrangement uses the available footprint efficiently, and the uninterrupted walkway provides clear circulation through the centre.
Open shelving on both sides keeps frequently used items accessible and allows the room to feel less enclosed than it would with overhead cupboards extending across every wall.
As with any open shelving, it will require organisation once the pantry is being used by a real household. Cookbooks and carefully spaced plates are easy to style for reveal day; food packaging and everyday appliances are less visually controlled.
However, there is enough concealed storage below the benches and within the taller cabinetry for the open shelves to remain selective rather than carrying the entire storage burden.
The continued use of dark timber, pale stone and warm lighting ensures the pantry feels like an intentional extension of the kitchen rather than a purely utilitarian room hidden behind it.
The Bar
The integrated bar is another strong feature.
Its arched opening repeats the shape used within the coffee station, giving the kitchen a clear and recognisable design language. The illuminated shelves provide display space for glassware, while the two under-bench beverage fridges support the entertaining function of the surrounding living area.
Repeating an architectural form is an effective way to build cohesion, particularly in a large open-plan room with several distinct functional zones.
The bar is decorative, but it is not decorative at the expense of function. It provides refrigeration, serving space, and storage in a position accessible without entering the main cooking zone.
The Powder Room
The powder room introduces colour through green finger tiles, a softly textured blush basin and a warm timber vanity shelf.
The green tile creates movement and depth, while its vertical orientation draws the eye upward and reinforces the narrow room's height. Extending the tile from behind the vanity and around the lower section of the wall makes it feel intentional rather than like a small decorative splashback.
The cylindrical basin provides a strong organic form against the narrow linear tiles. Its muted blush tone creates a gentle contrast with the green without feeling overly sweet or disconnected from the warmer materials used elsewhere in the house.
The substantial timber shelf introduces warmth and provides generous surface space around the basin. Its open form keeps the small room from feeling crowded by cabinetry, while the lighting beneath it softens the lower section of the wall.
The large mirror reflects the window and available natural light, visually widening what is otherwise a narrow space.
The simple wall sconce complements the shape of the basin and provides warmer ambient lighting than relying solely on a ceiling light.
Overall, the powder room feels expressive but still connected to the house. The timber relates to the kitchen cabinetry, while the green and blush introduce enough variation for the room to have its own identity.
Overall
House Three delivers one of the strongest combinations of visual character and practical function.
The dark timber cabinetry distinguishes it from the lighter kitchens while remaining warm and inviting. Repeated arches connect the coffee station and bar, aged brass adds subtle warmth, and the pale stone prevents the deeper joinery from overwhelming the room.
Most importantly, the design provides genuine working space. The main kitchen features substantial drawer storage and a generous island, while the pantry serves as a secondary kitchen rather than merely a decorative storage area.
The coffee station and bar are fixed-purpose zones, but both earn their place because they support everyday routines and entertaining without removing the storage needed elsewhere.
The powder room carries the same warmth and attention to detail while introducing a more expressive combination of colour and texture.
Any changes to House Three would be minor refinements rather than a complete redesign. The primary consideration would be ensuring that the seating around the island remains comfortable when all stools are occupied, and that the open shelving in the pantry can be maintained in a practical way.
This is a liveable, functional kitchen that still has a clear design identity.
House Four: A Chef-Led Kitchen with Serious Amenity
House Four delivers a highly polished kitchen built around scale, appliance integration and entertaining.
Courtney and Sev have used pale timber cabinetry, softly veined stone, brushed metal, and warm brass to create a kitchen that feels refined and luxurious without introducing too many competing materials.
At first glance, the room is restrained. However, the level of amenity reveals a kitchen designed for someone who cooks, entertains and expects professional-level functionality from the space.
The Kitchen
The oversized island dominates the kitchen and establishes it as the centre of the open-plan living area.
Its expansive stone surface provides ample space for food preparation, serving, and informal dining. The waterfall end and gently curved outer corner soften what could otherwise have become a very large rectangular block within the room.
This curved detail is subtle, but it makes a meaningful difference. It improves movement around the end of the island while introducing a softer form among the kitchen’s predominantly straight lines.
The pale stone contains enough movement to add interest without becoming overwhelmingly patterned. Continuing it across the island, benchtops and splashback create a cohesive material story throughout the room.
The row of white stools almost disappears against the island, allowing the stone and cabinetry to remain the focus. Their rounded frames also relate to the curved island corner and the cylindrical rangehoods.
However, with multiple stools arranged in a single long line, the island functions more like a bar than a conversational dining setting. That is not necessarily a flaw, particularly when a separate dining area is available, but it does affect how people interact while seated there.
The sink is positioned within the island, allowing the user to face the wider living area rather than the rear wall. This supports the kitchen’s entertaining function, although any island sink requires discipline because dishes, soap and drying items remain visible from the surrounding rooms.
The rear wall contains an impressive level of refrigeration, cooking and concealed storage.
The large, integrated, glass-fronted refrigeration units lend a commercial or professional quality. They provide substantial food, beverage and wine storage and clearly position this as a kitchen designed for serious entertaining.
The stainless-steel finish contrasts with the pale timber cabinetry but feels intentional because the metal is repeated across several appliances rather than appearing as one isolated element.
The twin cylindrical brass rangehoods are the strongest decorative feature in the kitchen. Their sculptural form brings warmth and shine into the otherwise pale material palette and prevents the long cooking wall from feeling completely flat.
Using two rangehoods also reinforces the kitchen's scale and chef-led identity. This is not a small domestic cooking zone disguised within cabinetry; it is intended to be seen and used as a substantial working area.
The horizontal pendant above the island echoes the benchtop's length without visually obstructing the kitchen. Its slim form provides light across a broad area while maintaining an open sightline to the cabinetry behind it.
The additional pendant introduces an asymmetrical detail over the island. While the individual fittings are elegant, the relationship between the long horizontal light and the separate hanging pendant feels slightly less resolved than the remainder of the room.
The kitchen already contains several focal points: the large island, commercial appliances and brass rangehoods, so the lighting needs to support those elements without creating another competing composition.
Storage and Appliance Integration
The full-height cabinetry provides substantial concealed storage and creates a continuous elevation across the rear of the room.
The pale timber grain introduces warmth while allowing the extensive joinery to remain visually quiet. Long handles make the tall doors practical to operate and add a subtle vertical detail against the otherwise horizontal kitchen.
The mix of large refrigeration units, ovens and cooking appliances provides exceptional amenity, although it also gives the rear wall a busier, more commercial appearance than the other kitchens.
Whether that feels excessive will depend on the future owner. For someone who cooks frequently, entertains extensively or values high-capacity refrigeration, these inclusions would be a genuine advantage. For a smaller household, some of that wall space may have been more valuable as concealed pantry storage.
This is why appliance planning must always begin with lifestyle rather than assumptions about luxury. More appliances do not automatically make a kitchen better, but in a house designed for large-scale entertaining, the level of amenity makes sense.
The Pantry
The pantry continues the same pale timber, softly veined stone and restrained detailing used within the kitchen.
It provides an additional sink, preparation space, small-appliance storage and another integrated oven. This allows messier tasks and appliances to move away from the main kitchen while keeping them easily accessible.
The skylight brings natural light into the space and prevents it from feeling like an enclosed utility room. The window above the secondary bench also provides light and offers a visual break in the cabinetry.
The L-shaped arrangement uses the available footprint efficiently. The longer sink wall accommodates a useful run of drawers and cupboards, while the shorter bench provides a dedicated location for the coffee machine and oven.
Full-height cabinetry along the opposite wall appears to provide the bulk of the pantry storage. This is an important inclusion because the visible workspace alone would not be sufficient for a home of this scale.
The pantry is practical and cohesive, although it is visually quieter than the main kitchen. That is appropriate. A secondary working area does not need to compete for attention; it needs to make the primary kitchen easier to use.
The Powder Room
The powder room continues the home’s restrained palette through pale stone, warm neutral finishes and brushed-metal tapware.
The cylindrical pedestal basin creates a sculptural focal point and introduces a softer shape into the narrow room. Its warm grey tone provides enough contrast against the pale floor and walls without becoming a separate colour statement.
The full-height mirror visually expands the space and reflects both the natural light from the window and the hanging pendant.
The stone ledge running along the wall provides a useful surface for styling and personal items while maintaining a cleaner appearance than a conventional vanity. Repeating the stone from the kitchen also establishes continuity between the spaces.
However, the basin sits prominently in the room and occupies considerable floor space. Its success will depend on whether there is still comfortable circulation around it, particularly between the entrance, the toilet, and the handwashing area.
The toilet is positioned openly at the end of the room. While that is expected within a powder room, the limited decorative separation means the space relies heavily on the sculptural basin, mirror and pendant for its design impact.
The overall effect is quiet, minimal and refined. It does not contain the same colour or textural contrast as some of the other powder rooms, but it remains consistent with the broader kitchen palette.
Overall
House Four has a sophisticated kitchen and an exceptional level of amenities.
The expansive island, substantial refrigeration, twin rangehoods and secondary preparation space establish it as a kitchen designed for serious cooking and entertaining.
The curved island corner, rounded stools, and cylindrical brass rangehoods soften the room's scale, while the pale timber and stone prevent the appliance-heavy wall from becoming overly dominant.
The pantry is practical, well illuminated and suitably restrained. It supports the main kitchen without attempting to become another visual focal point.
The powder room continues the same quiet material language through its sculptural basin, full-height mirror and stone ledge.
My primary considerations would be the number of competing lighting elements above the island, whether the extensive appliance package offers greater value than additional concealed storage, and whether the pedestal basin allows sufficient comfortable circulation in the powder room.
These are refinements rather than reasons to rethink the entire design. House Four delivers an impressive, well-equipped kitchen that feels appropriate to the home's scale and entertaining expectations.
House Five: Soft Curves, Extensive Storage and a Statement Powder Room
House Five returns to a pale, tonal material palette but distinguishes itself through curved forms, illuminated joinery, and extensive integrated storage.
Rick and Tayla have combined pale timber, warm stone and soft white finishes to create a kitchen that feels calm, spacious and visually connected to the rest of their home.
The kitchen is highly resolved in its overall composition, while the pantry provides an impressive amount of practical storage and secondary workspace. The powder room takes a far bolder approach through richly patterned green stone.
The Kitchen
The central island is the defining feature of the room.
Rather than using a conventional rectangular form, the island incorporates a broad curved end supported by a rounded timber base. This softens the circulation path around the island and introduces an organic shape into a kitchen otherwise dominated by long horizontal and vertical lines.
The warm stone benchtop has a quieter pattern than some of the heavily veined surfaces used elsewhere this week. This allows the shape of the island and the timber detailing to become the focus.
The island provides a generous uninterrupted surface for preparing food, serving and gathering. Its scale suits the open-plan room without appearing as heavy as a fully stone-clad rectangular block.
The white wire stools introduce another curved element, although their detailed frames are more decorative than the rest of the kitchen. Their open construction keeps them visually light, but comfort and ease of cleaning are also worth considering when selecting seating intended for everyday use.
The long linear pendant mirrors the shape and scale of the island. Its restrained profile provides task lighting without interrupting the view across the kitchen or competing with the joinery.
The main kitchen wall is organised around a central cooking zone with extensive drawer storage below, overhead cabinetry above and tall appliance cabinetry positioned at either end.
The softly illuminated stone splashback brings warmth and subtle movement into the room. Continuing the light beneath the overhead cabinets highlights the stone while providing useful task lighting across the benchtop.
The twin appliance banks create balance across the elevation. The dark glass contrasts with the pale joinery and prevents the wall from becoming one uninterrupted expanse of timber.
There is a substantial amount of lower drawer storage, which is generally more accessible than deep cupboards. Pots, pans, plates and cooking equipment can be stored in clearly defined zones and viewed from above when the drawer is opened.
The pale cabinetry, flooring and stone sit very closely in tone. This creates a seamless and calming environment, but it also means the room relies heavily on texture, lighting and form to avoid appearing flat.
Here, the timber grain, illuminated stone and curved island provide that variation. Small amounts of greenery also help bring life into the highly neutral palette.
Refrigeration and Entertaining
The large glass-fronted refrigeration units provide extensive storage for wine and beverages.
Positioning them away from the main cooking wall allows guests to access drinks without moving through the principal preparation zone. This supports the kitchen’s entertaining function and reduces congestion around the cooktop and ovens.
Their dark frames provide contrast against the surrounding pale cabinetry, although the scale of the units gives this end of the kitchen a slightly more commercial appearance.
As with House Four, the value of such extensive refrigeration depends on the future owner’s lifestyle. For someone who regularly entertains or maintains a substantial wine collection, it is an impressive and useful addition. For another household, a portion of this space may have been more valuable as concealed food or appliance storage.
However, the kitchen and pantry already contain considerable cabinetry, so the refrigeration has not created an obvious overall shortage of storage.
The Pantry
The pantry is exceptionally generous and functions as both a storage corridor and a secondary preparation space.
A full wall of tall cabinetry provides substantial concealed storage for food, small appliances and larger household items. This is the type of cabinetry that becomes increasingly valuable once a home is occupied and everyday packaging replaces reveal-day styling.
Opposite the tall cupboards, a long benchtop creates a dedicated appliance zone. The toaster and kettle can remain accessible without occupying space in the main kitchen, while the drawers below provide additional concealed storage.
The illuminated open shelving adds warmth and visual interest to the pantry. It prevents the long room from feeling like a corridor lined entirely with cupboard doors and provides space for selected glassware, serving pieces and frequently used items.
Vertical lighting integrated into the shelving emphasises the height of the joinery and gives the pantry a more considered, furniture-like quality.
However, these shelves will need to be edited carefully in daily life. Because they are so prominently illuminated, clutter or inconsistent packaging will become more visible rather than less.
The sink and additional bench at the rear allow the pantry to support washing, food preparation and messier tasks away from the open-plan kitchen.
Overall, the combination of full-height cupboards, drawers, open display shelving, appliance space and a secondary sink makes this one of the most storage-conscious pantry designs of the week.
The Powder Room
The powder room is the boldest part of House Five.
Large-format green stone creates a dramatic envelope across the walls, introducing considerably more colour and movement than the pale kitchen.
The stone contains layers of sage, olive, charcoal, white and muted purple. It gives the room a strong identity and connects back to the greens previously used elsewhere in the house.
The white pedestal basin creates a clean visual break against the highly patterned surface. Its cylindrical form echoes the curves used in the kitchen island, establishing a subtle connection between the spaces despite their very different palettes.
The round illuminated mirror introduces another soft shape and provides light directly around the face. The wall-mounted tapware keeps the basin itself uncluttered.
Pale timber joinery has been added beside the basin, bringing the kitchen cabinetry finish into the powder room and providing valuable concealed storage.
However, the relationship between the pedestal basin and the adjacent cabinetry needs careful consideration. The basin sits prominently in front of the vanity area, and the doors or drawers must open comfortably without colliding with it or forcing the user to move around it awkwardly.
The timber ledge behind the toilet provides a surface for smaller items and helps break up the expanse of patterned stone.
The room makes a strong visual statement, although the level of movement may feel intense given its compact footprint. That intensity is largely a matter of personal preference; powder rooms are among the few areas where a bolder, more immersive material choice can be used successfully.
My greater consideration is functional: whether the basin allows comfortable circulation and unrestricted access to the cabinetry beside it.
Overall
House Five delivers a calm, highly functional kitchen with extensive storage.
The curved island distinguishes the room from a conventional pale timber kitchen, while the illuminated stone, linear pendant and carefully integrated appliances maintain its restrained design language.
The pantry is a genuine strength. It offers significant concealed storage, a long appliance bench, secondary sink and enough open shelving to prevent the room from feeling completely enclosed.
The powder room provides a dramatic contrast through its richly patterned green stone. The sculptural basin, round mirror, and pale timber cabinetry connect it to the softer forms and finishes used in the kitchen, although the placement of the basin relative to the storage requires closer consideration.
House Five demonstrates that a neutral kitchen need not feel plain when form, lighting, texture, and joinery have been carefully developed.
The main kitchen and pantry require very little conceptual change. If a redesign is warranted, it would be focused on testing and refining the powder room’s circulation and access rather than replacing its distinctive material identity.
The Final Verdict: Luxury Must Still Support Everyday Life
Kitchen week delivered five highly resolved spaces, each with its own interpretation of luxury.
House One created a calm and cohesive kitchen grounded in pale timber, warm stone and natural light. Its oversized island, extensive cabinetry, practical pantry and integrated bar work together as one considered entertaining space. The burgundy basin also provides the adjoining powder room with a confident focal point without competing with the kitchen's restraint.
House Two used symmetry and heavily veined stone to create a polished, highly controlled kitchen. The muted cabinetry, brass details and timber stools soften the stronger material choices, while the pantry provides valuable secondary preparation and storage space. Its blush-toned powder room introduces warmth and personality in a much quieter way.
House Three delivered one of the strongest combinations of visual identity and practical function. The dark timber cabinetry immediately distinguishes it, while the repeated arches connect its coffee station and bar. Most importantly, the pantry operates as a genuine secondary kitchen rather than simply an attractive storage room.
House Four approached the kitchen through amenity and professional-level appliance integration. Its expansive island, substantial refrigeration and twin brass rangehoods create a space designed for serious cooking and entertaining. The pantry supports this function well, although the number of appliances and competing lighting elements will ultimately need to earn their place through regular use.
House Five returned to a softer tonal palette but introduced interest through form, illumination and joinery. The curved island gives the kitchen a distinctive identity, while the exceptionally generous pantry provides some of the week’s most considered storage. Its green stone powder room makes the boldest material statement, although the relationship among the pedestal basin, cabinetry, and circulation warrants closer consideration.
The recurring lesson from this week is that more does not automatically mean better.
A larger island is only valuable when it improves preparation, seating and circulation. Additional appliances are only an advantage when they support the household’s real routines. Open shelving must remain practical beyond reveal day, and beautiful symmetry should never be achieved at the expense of an intuitive working layout.
The same principle applies to the powder rooms.
These compact spaces can accommodate stronger colour, pattern and sculptural forms, but they still need comfortable circulation, accessible storage and a practical place to store everyday items.
All five houses delivered kitchens with considerable storage, generous proportions and impressive finishes. The differences lie in how successfully those elements have been connected to function.
Because the best kitchen is not necessarily the one with the most expensive stone, the largest island or the greatest number of appliances.
It is the one that quietly makes everyday life easier.
Ready to Create a Kitchen That Works as Beautifully as It Looks?
A beautifully designed kitchen is not defined solely by its cabinetry, appliances or finishes. It is shaped by circulation, accessible storage, intuitive working zones and the way it supports the household’s everyday routines.
The same principle applies throughout your entire home. Successful design brings architecture, function and atmosphere together to create spaces that feel as considered as they look.
✨ Explore the Signature Design Experience for personalised design guidance and a tailored plan shaped around your home, lifestyle, routines and wellbeing. Together, we will create a space that feels cohesive, functional and uniquely yours.
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📘 Or explore Design Your Space, Design Your Self to discover how intentional changes to your environment can support your habits, mindset and everyday life.
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Continue the Series
The Block Week 6: Guest Bedroom and Ensuite Review
The Block Week 5: Living, Dining and Alfresco Review
The Block Week 4: Main Ensuite Review
The Block Week 3: Main Bedroom and Walk-In Robe Review
The Block Week 2: Bathroom and Water Closet Review
The Block Week 1: Guest Bedroom Review
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