Judges evaluating the contestants of the 2018 edition of the popular renovation show, The Block, scored South Australian couple Spence and Kerrie Thomson a perfect 10/10 for the kitchen in their sophisticated and highly detailed apartment.

The site for The Block project was the former Gatwick Hotel in St Kilda, a 3-storey Art Deco structure built in 1936. Selected from 45,000 applicants to take part in season 14 of The Block, the Thomsons along with the other contestants were given a choice of three older apartments and two modern penthouses. Spence and Kerrie selected one of the older apartments, intending to renovate the 300-square-metre space to appeal to the 50+ market.

“Fixtures, fittings, cabinetry, artwork and – most of all – the construction, had to be spot on,” Spence said. With his experience as a prestige builder, he and Kerrie were highly tuned in from the beginning to reach for the highest level of detail throughout the project.

Opting for a simple palette, the couple chose oak timber floors, white walls and ceilings, black timber furniture, cabinetry and fixtures, white marble tiles and grey benches to set a sophisticated vibe.

The kitchen won the judges’ approval thanks to the use of several practical elements that made it appealing on many levels.

“It had to look sophisticated, expensive and, most of all, be functional,” Spence said. The luxurious space – about twice that of a normal kitchen – featured an abundance of storage that ultimately added to its value at auction time.

“After living with a Zip HydroTap with sparkling water in our last house, it was a must in the apartment,” Spence explained.

They selected the Matte Black Celsius All-In-One Arc for its flexibility and great design, and positioned it on the smaller sink at the front of the kitchen for easy access. The matte finish was chosen to seamlessly combine with the other fixtures and fittings in the kitchen as well as for its timeless design.

Based on their positive experience with the Zip HydroTap sparkling, chilled and boiling water tap, the Thomsons are confident that the future residents of their apartment, which sold for $2.85m and took out second place in the competition, will enjoy the same.

Architecture & Design Team

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