Watch out, fellow blockheads, because Emma and Ben know a thing or two about renovating!
And if their resumes are anything to go by, they certainly have what it takes to take it all the way on The Block.
Not only did the married couple from Victoria buy their first home when they were 24, but they’ve been flipping houses ever since!
“My aunt flipped houses her whole life; she is probably our inspiration,” Ben says.
“Our strengths are our eagerness to give anything a crack and learn from any mistakes made. This has been possible through owning our own houses,” he adds.
As to why they decided to sign up for The Block, Emma says the duo love a challenge.
“We signed up for an experience of a lifetime, wanting something that would challenge us as individuals and a couple while renovating an incredible house.”
See all of their rooms below.
Every room Emma and Ben have renovated on The Block
Week 1: Bathroom
The judges praised them for their textures and colour choices.
They, however, had issues with their curved tiling.
Darren gave Emma and Ben 8 and a ½, Marty gave Emma and Ben a 7 and a ½, and Shayna awarded them eight points. Overall, they received a score of 24.
Week 2: Kids’ Bedrooms
In their first kids’ bedroom, which was designed for a boy, Shaynna praised the depth of colour and said it was reminiscent of Daylesford.
The judges also admired the circular feature wall.
However, they didn’t love everything.
Marty wasn’t a fan of the wallpaper or the lighting, and said overall, the room wasn’t memorable, which Shaynna disagreed with.
Week 2: Kids’ Bedrooms
Their second kids’ room was designed for a girl, and all three judges liked the colour palette.
“I feel like I’m in a Daylesford home right now. It has something very special about this room, and very marketable,” Marty said.
However, they found the room impractical, especially the wardrobe, which the judges noted was too small for two children to store their belongings in.
Overall, they received scores of nine from Darren, eight from Marty and an 8 and a ½ from Shayna.
Week 3: Main Bathroom
For their ensuite bathroom, Emma and Ben were awarded an overall score of 28 – an improvement from their first bathroom renovation in week one.
The judges described the space as “magical” and noted that the couple would have no problem appealing to a wide range of buyers.
“There’s so much to love,” exclaimed Marty as he viewed the room, with both Darren and Shaynna agreeing that the ensuite was truly reflective of the Daylesford region.
The only criticism was the lack of overhead lighting, with the judges suggesting Emma and Ben install a downlight over the vanity.
Week 4: Main Bedroom and Walk-In Robe
When the judges walked into Emma and Ben’s main bedroom, they all said it was “spectacular”, praising its size and layout.
“It’s very close to perfect. They’ve done everything with purpose,” Shaynna said.
The only shortfall? The room’s pendant lights are too far forward.
“The only reason they won’t get a perfect 10 is the knocking head risk,” Marty said after bumping into the lights.
Despite this, Emma and Ben were one point away from winning! Overall, they were awarded a 9 and a ½ from Darren and Shaynna, and a 9 from Marty, leaving them with a total score of 28.
Week 5: Living and Dining Room
Despite their success in recent weeks, the expectant parents fell short in week five of The Block with a final score of 22.
While the judges praised the pitch of the roof and elevation of the room, they criticised the scaling of the room, furniture selection and lack of cohesion with the materials, colours and textures featured in the other finished parts of the house.
“The connection to the outside and your living spaces sell the dream…this is selling a chiropractic bill,” noted Darren.
Who are Emma and Ben from The Block?
Emma, 27, was once a woodwork teacher but put down her tools to focus on dancing. She is now considered one of Australia’s best pole dancers. Emma also teaches the art and owns her own clothing label.
Meanwhile, Ben, 32, studied engineering and before The Block started filming, was accepted to be a firefighter in Melbourne.
Oh, he has also tried his hand at a bit of stand-up comedy, so prepare for plenty of laugh-out-loud moments this season.
How long have Emma and Ben from The Block been together?
After meeting in high school, Emma and Ben remained friends until they finished. They started dating in 2011 and have now been married for three years.
Of purchasing their first home together, the couple say it wasn’t easy as they juggled university with full-time work in order to save enough money.
The pair agree that their wedding was the greatest day of their lives.
“The day ran perfectly with 160 of our closest friends and family,” they told us, adding that they hope to start a family one day.
So will we hear the sound of little pitter-patter feet as the season unfolds? Only time will tell.
