The Block contestants have a fresh challenge this season, tasked with creating stylish, functional spaces, in an octagonal-shaped building. In last night’s laundry reveals, we saw contestants embrace bold contrasts within the odd-shaped spaces to create unique, modern designs.

Kingi and Caro took out this week’s laundry renovation challenge, with their space showcasing the beautiful tones of Silestone® Blanco Maple Orna and providing the ultimate storage needs and functionality for their future buyers.

As seen in The Good Guys Kitchens on The Block, quartz surface specialists, Cosentino worked with couples to create fresh, functional laundries that reflected each team’s personal style.

Neale Whitaker, judge on The Block and Cosentino ambassador, shares some key tips for consumers to take on when renovating their laundry.

Laundries should take stylistic cues from the kitchen or bathroom

 If you’re looking to mix things up in the laundry, be sure to use your kitchen or bathroom for inspiration in terms of tile choice, surfaces and colour palette.

Functionality is king

With so much always happening in the laundry, functionality needs to be at the centre of your design plan. Aesthetics are important but purpose is the primary consideration. Nobody says it shouldn’t look good but the laundry is a hard-working room! Dean and Shay have done this perfectly in their laundry, through the strategic positioning of their sink and in-built cabinetry over their bench space.

Think of your storage needs

When designing your laundry it’s important to be realistic about your storage needs. Kingi and Caro have definitely thought about this in their design with both short and long cupboards in their space.

Neutral palettes are the safest option

Your laundry needs longevity and durability, so neutral palettes are generally the best option to keep your laundry looking great for years to come Ebony and Luke have paired crisp white tones of Silestone Ariel with stylish navy blue tiling for a modern take on the neutral palette.

 Non-porous surfaces are your best friend in the laundry

As the laundry is a high traffic and wet space, non-porous surfaces are a must. Four out of the five teams have used Cosentino’s Silestone range as it offers durability against water damage, stains, heat, even knocks and scratches.

Products used in each apartment on The Block:

• Apartment 1 features the speckled white of Silestone® Blanco Maple Orna in 20mm.
• Apartment 2 selected the grey-toned Silestone® Steel in a slimline 20mm edge.
• Apartment 4 used the stunning Silestone® Ariel with a 20mm edge.
• Apartment 5 chose the modern shade of Silestone® Bianco Rivers with a 20mm edge.