It’s safe to say last night’s guest room reveal did not go as expected for The Block contestants Dan and Carleen.
The seasoned renovators were convinced their art-deco inspired room had winning potential.
The judges wholly disagreed.
Image: Screenshot/Channel 9
"It's a mish mash, just a total mess," was Neale Whitaker's final remark about the room, which scored the lowest of the evening, garnering just 17 points out of a possible 30.
"I’ve never had so much criticism in all my life. Basically at the end of the day they don’t like my taste at all. What am I supposed to do? I’m seriously ready to go home," Carleen said, while Dan likened it to "A kick in the guts."
While the pair's immediate reaction to their feedback didn't exactly hide their surprise, it's their meltdown after the show that has really caused a stir.
They judges are not impressed. Image: Screenshot/Channel 9
In the car ride home, Carleen was recorded letting loose on the judges, with interior designer Shaynna Blaze copping most of the heat after she described the couple's room as "Nana fifties".
"To call this a mishmash and the stuff they've said is terribly insulting. I will find it very hard to meet them," Carleen can be heard saying.
"Shaynna Blaze you absolute bogan from nowhere... who's done good."
Ouch.
Not happy. Image: Channel 9/The Block
The recording was played at the start of last night's episode, before viewers were shown the room and score reveals.
Blaze is yet to to respond to the comment, which bears striking resemblance to the "bogan from Wantirna" jab made by 2014 contestant Deane Jolly.
"Shaynna is not commenting," a Nine spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph.
Discussing the outburst on The Today Show this morning, The Block host Scotty Cam made light of the "insult".
"She's a great bogan... I'm a bogan, we're all bogans," he joked, with hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger agreeing.
Dan and Carleen's room drew criticism for its overpowering art deco wall paper, "drab" throw, "$2 shop accessories" and "poorly styled" walk-in wardrobe.
"It's just a mess, it's a complete mess. It makes me want to start renovating," said Whitaker.
Will and Karlie took out the top spot and $10,000 with their 27 out of 30-worthy industrial take on the art deco brief, or "in-deco" as they dubbed it.
Image: Screenshot/Channel 9
Top Comments
Taking criticism can be hard but it can also be very self empowering. Listening to advice and learning from your mistakes can be a very powerful attribute for oneself. There is nothing wrong with making mistakes, it's what we do about those mistakes that makes a difference. It's a shame that Dan and Carleen don't realise that because in the end they are the only ones who will suffer because of their choices.
What i have a problem with is there were three judges that voiced their dislike of the room; Neill Whittaker, Darren Palmer and Shaynna Blaze but, when it came to the contestants retaliating against the opinion of the styling etc Shaynna is the only one who is 'personally' attacked as she was on the season of the Block with Darren and Dea. And on that season they sent her in to solve the problem caused by Darren & Dea knowing that they had said all these horrible, awful things about her. When she goes into judge she is judging the room, the fixtures etc not the person. Not once does she personally attack their heritage, their age, their clothes, hairstyles etc. It's a joke that Channel 9 firstly, airs it and secondly, does nothing to counsel the competitors about the personal attack. They are on a renovation show they must know after what, 10 seasons their interior style is going to be judged but to turn around and personally attack her upbringing is not on!
I admit I don't much like Shaynna, and the first time she was called a bogan I did find it kind of funny. From what I'd seen she did often seem to be the odd judge out and she did seem to score harshly for little reason.
However I think I was a bit unfair to her (I only ever caught occasional episodes of The Block so I really didn't know enough of her history to make this assumption fairly) and I have noticed there seems to be a trend of insulting her and her background. As you said, none of the judges much liked it, why is she the one taking the brunt of it? The contestants do have to remember that not liking the way a room is styled isn't really an insult, calling someone a bogan in a negative fashion is.