The Block 2025: Bathroom Reveals

Emma and Ben opened the reveals with a bathroom designed to reflect Daylesford’s undulating terrain. Texture took centre stage, and while the judges agreed that the execution wasn’t quite there, Darren did end things on a high, calling it “a cracker of a room”. 

This bathroom had clear intentions, even if the execution drew a mixed response from the judges. The lighting, though, did exactly what it needed to do - draw attention to tactile detail, add warmth, and offset the harder lines of the tilework. 

Using MFL strip lighting under their vanity, they introduced depth and subtlety. Our favourite in this space, however, was the MFL Artisan wall bracket in bronze with round Spanish alabaster shade placed at the vanity mirror. It completely elevated the mood: soft, organic, and grounded. 

A quieter, gentler space came from House 2. The judges were immediately taken with the curvature - “Wow curvy,” said Marty when he stepped in. With their arched cabinetry and curved vanity forms, this bathroom felt soft. Unfortunately, the judges were concerned this trend to roundness is at complete odds with the home’s architecture and doesn’t match the vibe. Still, the space is undoubtedly beautiful. 

Lighting here was key to maintaining balance. The team also used MFL Artisan fittings, placing brass wall plates with the alabaster round shade either side of the mirror to warm up an otherwise cool palette of stone and glass. 

A detail we loved? The MFL strip lighting, again used thoughtfully - not to shout, but to gently illuminate cabinetry and vanity lines, guiding the eye. These small decisions speak volumes about the team's intent, even if the room didn’t quite hit its architectural stride. There’s a clear sense of restraint in the lighting plan, and that’s no small thing. 

Sonny and Alicia stole the show with warmth - and not just in their palette. Their space radiated an almost Mediterranean calm. The decision to forgo a shower screen and let lighting and spatial design do the zoning work was brave - and it worked. This is where we start to see a real design direction emerge. 

Alicia admitted she felt overwhelmed by the lighting decisions. “I thought you just walked in and picked some lights, but there’s a lot more to it than that,” she said. She’s absolutely right - which is why we made sure every team had a lighting designer on hand to guide them through the process and help make the right choices. 

Their bathroom featured our award-winning Chameleon tall wall sconce and tile frame, a Beacon-exclusive innovation that lets the sconce integrate directly into your wall tile. It's clever, customisable, and the first of its kind - and it looked exceptional in their space. Paired with Flare gimbal downlights, the scheme delivered both practicality and presence. 

From the moment the judges walked into Robby and Matt’s bathroom, they felt the confidence. The team understood the brief - contemporary country, rooted in the Daylesford landscape - and translated it beautifully. Everything was functional, tactile, and well-balanced. The result? A bathroom that didn’t just work - it sang.  

Their lighting selections were spot on: the Kings LED wall bracket provided both form and serious function, casting a warm, even glow up across their ceiling. Downlights were handled with equal care, using Custom tri-colour downlights for tailored control and even distribution. Lighting was used with precision, not as an afterthought, but as an architectural element. As Marty said, this was some of the best work we’ve seen in a Week 1 reveal. 

It’s always fascinating to see how lighting is approached in Week 1. Contestants are still finding their feet, often overwhelmed by how technical these spaces are. And yet, it’s often the lighting - well placed, well chosen - that pulls everything together. It softens a cold palette, brings life to texture, and makes even a small bathroom feel expansive. At Beacon, we’re proud to walk this journey with the contestants each year - helping them translate their ideas into beautiful, liveable, and considered spaces. 

With kids’ rooms on the horizon, we’re expecting colour, character, and maybe just a little chaos. But if Week 1 is anything to go by, it’s going to be one brilliant season.