Ahhh children's rooms. Bravo to The Block for incorporating this space into the houses this year. It's fun, it's clever and no doubt kids will love watching these rooms unfold.
So is this the area where you're supposed to scrimp or splurge? Let me be frank, no child, no matter how clever, will know the different from a bedroom styled by a high-end designer or a cheap and cheerful shop on the the local high street. However, a discerning buyer will indeed notice how versatile and how long-lasting a room appears to be when they're scoping out the house.
But while it's tempting to go all out in kid madness, it pays to show restraint. People underestimate how quickly kids grow and and how life changes. Babies grow into toddlers, then children and then giant lumpy teenagers - and the latter won't get much use out of an inbuilt nappy changing station.
And so here I stand, head conflicted by heart. While I absolutely applaud Sticks and Wombat for their gorgeous sense of fun and play and for the imagination they put into their kids' room, my head crowned Josh and Elyse the winners this week.
Why? Because by creating a mezzanine they gave that room a dual purpose; a fab storage area for a buyer with a young baby and all the paraphernalia that comes with that, a reading nook for young kids, or a place to practise the recorder throughout primary school (far away from any adult, please) and then a neat little study for a secondary school/uni student. And if the house lasts for the whole cycle of a family, what a great home office that could make.
Having said that, Sticks and Wombat should get bonus points for directing the room straight at kids; any parent knows how relentless and nagging offspring can be. Create a dream room specifically for kids and you've got 24/7 marketing about just why you should buy that house on an endless loop. Let's see how effective pester power is come auction day.
