The Block stars set to help Queensland open homes shine
Michael and Carlene Duffy are set to host Open Homes Australia’s fifth season in Queensland from Saturday March 12, at 4.30pm on 9Life.
Several Queensland homes star in Season 5 of Open Homes Australia which starts this weekend, hosted by The Block stars Michael and Carlene Duffy and former winner Jimmy Wilkins.
Several Queensland homes will feature on the show this season, including properties in Everton Park, Cleveland, Deception Bay, Stradbroke Island, Miami, Moorooka, Tarragindi, Paddington, Enoggera, South Brisbane, Hawthorne, Coorparoo, and Tallebudgera.
“It feels like over the years homes are getting more impressive,” Ms Duffy said. “They’re definitely getting bigger, and just get more impressive. I don’t know if that’s due to access to more home design imagery, Pinterest, Instagram and The Block’s role in that, but there’s more attention to detail, higher tech in homes and the scale of them is huge.”
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The view from the Stradbroke home that is one of the favourites of the Duffys.
Home design trends had swung during the pandemic lockdown period, she added, saying there was now more attention paid to home offices, even down to desk built into kids’ bedrooms.
“There are a lot more ensuited bedrooms,” she said. “Kids used to have to share a bathroom with siblings, now a lot have ensuited bedrooms in not just the master.”
Mr Duffy said his favourite property on the show was on Stradbroke Island, which transformed depending on who was using it.
This Stradbroke Island home features on episode 1 of Open Homes Australia that starts Saturday March 12.
“We go over to Straddie every year, and Paul Butterworth – an architect we worked with on Renovate or Rebuild – has a home over there where he’s been very considered about everything he’s done.”
The modern beach house was multi functional, he said.
“He was really clever creating rooms where you can put mattresses everywhere and house the whole family or close everything away and it could be a retreat for two. He designed a new multi tasking house.”
Jimmy Wilkins is on the hosting team for Season 5 of Open Homes Australia which begins March 12.
Sneak peek at the Cleveland house that features in the first episode of Open Homes Australia – which is one of Jimmy Wilkins’ favourites.
Mr Wilkins said it was amazing to see the level of architecture across Queensland homes.
“The best thing about Open Homes Australia is you get to meet the people behind the home – the architects, homeowners – and feel the passion for what they created.”
His favourite property was a Cleveland home sitting on a point with views over the bay and a rooftop pool, gym and entertaining area.
Views for miles at this stunning Brisbane home.
“The owners had 110 per cent input in the design of house, they drew the house then passed it to architect and the house has actually turned out beyond what they thought was going to happen.”
“It was amazing,” he said.
Mr Wilkins said Covid had taught people to think of their homes as retreats.
“A lot of people due to Covid have realised the need to build their home for living in a lot more, designing their properties to be like a resort basically. One hundred per cent you can create an oasis in any size home.”