Week 10 Outdoor terrace and pool reveal

The teams headed outside for the first time in the season to tackle landscaping – especially the outdoor terrace and pool area. For Houses 1, 2, and 3, the terrace and pool are located at the front of the houses, while downtown in Houses 4 and 5, the area is at the back of the building.

Winner: Adam and Jolene, House 1

“This feels like a resort,” said Judge Shaynna Blaze.

SA couple Adam and Jolene chalked up another crucial win with an outdoor space designed for entertaining and celebrating.

After nine weeks being inside, Adam and Jolene were happy with the change of scenery and enjoyed being outside for landscaping week as they prepared their winning outdoor terrace and pool area.

Darren Palmer was  impressed with the lifestyle proposition the terrace offered, especially the outdoor sauna and its connection to the rumpus room inside, which included a kitchenette with sink.

However, a few steps further out into the front yard and the judges loved the large outdoor kitchen with bar fridge, barbecue and pizza oven designed for entertaining, created by the SA couple. This was complemented with a massive island bench topped with a weather-resistant surface ideal for food preparation and outdoor dining.

“Outdoor entertaining in this area is extremely important and does sell the dream,” said Darren Palmer.

Marty Fox agreed as he oversaw the pool, decking and outdoor furniture chosen by Adam and Jolene. “On a beautiful summer’s day, this is exactly where you’d want to be,” he said.

  

Not all products in these images were supplied by Bunnings. These images include various other brands and suppliers that provided product to The Block in 2026.

 

Design tip

A self-contained outdoor sauna is a popular addition to a pool area. Many can be assembled in a weekend or two as a D.I.Y. project.

House 2: Chantel and Wyatt

“All these textures, all these natural materials – this works,” said Judge Darren Palmer.

Chantel and Wyatt chose a design that emphasised the size of the deck to create a generous entertaining space around the pool.

Gold Coast couple Chantel and Wyatt created an outdoor space that Chantel described as “very peaceful, very calm, very balanced”. “I love it,” she said.

The judges were big fans of the beautiful CSR stone cladding on the outside of the home and felt it created a link between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

The judges approved of the small kitchen on the terrace, which made up for the lack of a kitchenette inside the adjoining rumpus room, but questioned the absence of a barbecue, even if they loved the outdoor heater. They also liked the unfussy styling, which kept furniture to a minimum and included a glass balustrade, which gave a clear view of the pool area.

Chantel and Wyatt were commended for the level of execution in the area and the fact that the pool area provided a generous entertaining zone, with Marty Fox commenting that the size was impressive and would photograph well. “This is good to go,” he said.

“This was done on a finite budget, but it doesn’t look cheap or stingy – it still looks luxurious,” said Darren Palmer.

  

Not all products in these images were supplied by Bunnings. These images include various other brands and suppliers that provided product to The Block in 2026.

Design tip

Australians love their barbecues – whether freestanding, portable or built-in, no backyard is complete without one.

House 3: Lisa and Rosco 

“It’s gorgeous,” said Judge Darren Palmer, of the pool choice.

WA couple Lisa and Rosco decided to create a calming sanctuary with their outdoor area and pool, with careful plant selection and elegant outdoor furniture.

Lisa and Rosco took inspiration from their surroundings and created a nature-based front yard, choosing calming materials and a dark pool. The dark base of the pool made the surface reflect the sky, trees and the house, which looks dramatic, especially in still water or at dusk. “It’s lush and everything we wanted,” said Lisa.

The terrace included  a smoker, which added an unusual touch (and on-trend functionality) without cluttering up the space. High stools featured metal legs, which allowed light through and kept the view open. The same details were echoed in the elegant daybed around the pool.

The judges loved the choice of the dark pool interior. “Against all this landscape, against all these trees, it gives a billabong feel that is gorgeous,” said Darren Palmer. Shaynna agreed, saying she loved it too, commenting that she was looking forward to the addition of greenery in the next week or so, which would frame the pool area nicely and add a sense of space.

 

Not all products in these images were supplied by Bunnings. These images include various other brands and suppliers that provided product to The Block in 2026.

Design tip

A pool with a dark interior sits quietly in the landscape rather than being the bright centrepiece of the yard. It is a more modern approach to pool design and complements contemporary architecture.

House 4: Courtney and Sev

“This is on a different level,” said Judge Marty Fox when he took in the size of the girls’ deck.

Facing a huge back yard, Courtney and Sev created a generous and well-equipped outdoor living space that celebrated the size of their block.

Best friends Courtney and Sev had the largest space to complete this week – almost double the outdoor area of the “uptown” houses. After winning a few rooms this season, the girls were cashed up and able to secure the services of superstar landscaper Troy Lovett to help them with their terrace and pool area. With four previous Block landscaping jobs behind him, Troy brought calmness, experience and know-how to their project.

The judges were amazed by the sheer size of the outdoor deck, saying it was incredible and that they now understood the reason why the girls chose this house.

“This is very hard to beat,” said Darren Palmer. “This amount of amenity and lifestyle – they have knocked it out of the ballpark.”

The outdoor terrace was designed as a multi-functional space with a dining table and spectacular outdoor kitchen fitted with high-end appliances. An outdoor heater and fan added comfort, along with outdoor speakers.

Wide timber steps led to the pool area, where Courtney and Sev created a lounge area and chill zone, surrounded by lush greenery. The main issue was that the girls were not able to complete the space in time for judging, but it was agreed that when complete, it would be a spectacular addition to their already spectacular house.

 

Not all products in these images were supplied by Bunnings. These images include various other brands and suppliers that provided product to The Block in 2026.

 

Design tip

Glass pool fencing is more expensive, but helps to keep the view to the pool area uninterrupted and seamless.

House 5: Rick and Tayla

“That’s a really lovely colour palette,” said Judge Darren Palmer, calling it “harmonious”.

Rick and Tayla felt the financial pressure this week as they struggled to match their ambitious ideas with their limited budget.

Father and daughter team Rick and Tayla also had a huge backyard to complete in just a week, which would have been more of an advantage if their budget had not been quite so tight.

The backyard included a huge timber deck – their landscaper calculated that there was 1.3km of deck to screw down in just five days. Sadly, time got away from them, with the couple failing to finish, but the completed elements still managed to wow the judges.

All three judges loved the outlook created by Rick and Tayla as well as the stone cladding, which Shaynna Blaze called beautiful. They also praised the overall colour palette chosen by the Victorian father and daughter, and pointed out the huge advantage of the massive backyard when it comes to auction day. 

A thoughtful outdoor lighting plan highlighted key features of the garden, including a sunken olive tree, which the judges felt was a standout feature.

The outdoor kitchen included a large barbecue, and featured the same marble as they used upstairs in the kitchen. Stairs led to a glass-fenced pool with travertine tiles, a lounge area with two daybeds, plus a dining zone with a concrete table.

 

Not all products in these images were supplied by Bunnings. These images include various other brands and suppliers that provided product to The Block in 2026.

Design tip

When choosing pool tiles, ensure that your choices for the pool surrounds and steps have a P4 or P5 rating under AS 4586 to ensure they are non-slip.