Is Rachel and Ryan’s newly renovated Contemporary Lodge the best house on The Block 2022? We intend to find out with a deep dive into this modern take on a charming country home. This is not the first house from The Block I have been able to review and I must admit upon first look, I was quite taken with the sheer scale of the project. Comprising of both a renovation and addition including a shed and significant landscaping, this house embraced the space on offer to create a considered layout and functional flow. Let’s take a look…
Architecture by Julian Brenchley, construction by Elevate building group and interior design & styling by The Block contestants Rachel and Ryan. Set on 10 acres in Gisborne, the home is comprised of multiple entry points including a practical mud room. A relocated weatherboard was the starting point for the new addition, with the challenge being to create a contemporary home that was sympathetic to the original features in the existing Queensland weatherboard.
The central point of the home is undoubtedly the living, kitchen and dining. Comprising of split level ceilings including a soaring slope up to 6.5m high. Blackbutt timber flooring lines the ceiling helping to bring warmth to the large lofty space whilst the natural stone fireplace is the hero continually demanding your attention. Connecting the living with the kitchen are exposed timber beams that bring a slightly industrial flavour, with the lower ceiling height adding more of an intimate feel to the kitchen and dining. A separate butlers pantry is positioned in between, with two bedrooms, bathroom, mud room and laundry also enclosed in the new addition.
Within the existing weatherboard, lower ceilings and original features add country charm whilst contemporary finishes run throughout. A colour palette of natural materials has been celebrated, with timber a consistent element whilst the use of stone adds further warmth. What sets this home apart is its very own vineyard and to make use of this, a comprehensive multi-use wine cellar exists within the shed.
The Block 2022 ‘House 2’ Rachel and Ryan
Architecture: Julian Brenchley
Build: Elevate Building Group
Interior Design & Styling: Rachel and Ryan, The Block 2022
Photography: Jonno Rodd
Location: Gisborne, Victoria / Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
