Best-mates Omar and Oz have proved they are a force to be reckoned with on The Block after going from last place to winners in just a week.
The Western Sydney men won Main Bathroom Week with a country-meets-contemporary bathroom the judges adored.
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Omar and Oz revealed it was losing the House Decider challenge that inspired them to significantly step up their interior design game with their main bathroom.
“What made us work very strong together was the 48-hour challenge we failed in,” Oz told 9Entertainment in an exclusive video interview.
“I looked at Omar, Omar looked at me and he’s like, ‘Do you know what? Let’s get this, we gotta put our A game [in]’.”
EPISODE FIVE RECAP: Shaynna Blaze blasts one couple in first Room Reveal of 2022 while Omar and Oz make a stunning comeback
It was the perfect time to bring their “A game” because winning Main Bathroom Week didn’t just offer the usual $10,000 to add to their renovation budget. The win also came with a $250,000 kitchen upgrade from Winning Appliances, which is a huge advantage for Kitchen Week and a big incentive for buyers on auction day.
The pair had done their research before going on The Blocksending each other photos of houses they liked.
READMORE: Omar and Oz on the challenge of starting The Block during Ramadan
But after the judges told Omar and Oz their House Decider challenge bedroom was far from the country style they expected from a historic house in regional Victoria, they went harder on the country and heritage look than they had planned.
“We had so much inspiration coming in… that first bathroom, before this we probably never would have picked those tiles, we would’ve never kept the VJ paneling in the house and all these other things,” Omar explained.
“But when we realized there was going to be a massive modern extension area where we can show our true colours, [we thought] it would just be nice to let it flow through.”
When it comes to designing a room, it’s not just about style. Functionality is just as important as style, if not more so, and can be the difference between winning and losing points at Room Reveals.
Omar and Oz kept this front of mind when they started designing the bathroom and it paid off. The large shower size, hidden toilet and plentiful storage meant the pair had thought of how the space would be used, not just what it looks like.
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“We made sure that the functionality of the bathroom was spot on to choose the tiles, the floor tiles, the lighting, the color palette that goes with it and the VJ paneling to keep it that country vibe,” Oz said.
“We knew what we wanted, we just had to make it come to life.”
The friends admit they think the other teams underestimated their design skills when they first arrived on The Blockbut they won’t be making that mistake again.
READMORE: The Block judges explain what country style is and what they’re looking for in the 2022 Room reveals
“I think they did very early – it didn’t take long for them to realize we weren’t mucking around,” Omar said.
Omar and Oz have a chance to redeem themselves from their House Decider challenge bedroom this week with the guest bedroom the next space they will reveal on The Block.
In Pictures
Omar and Oz’s Main Bathroom
Judges wowed by the “beautiful” room’s features.
ViewGallery
The Block airs Sunday at 7.00pm and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 9. Catch up on all the latest episodes on 9Now.