The Block Contestants Clash Over 'Artwork' Wine Cellar Loophole
Two contestants sparked outrage from their peers by classifying an expensive wine cellar as 'artwork' to significantly reduce its declared cost.
The latest season of the renovation reality show 'The Block' has been marked by escalating disputes among contestants, culminating in a heated argument over a custom wine cellar. The controversy erupted when participants Courtney and Sev declared their artisan wine cellar rack as 'artwork,' allowing them to price it at $14,500, significantly less than its potential market value, which other contestants estimated could be as high as $100,000.
Under the show's rules, items classified as art are valued at the vendor's discretion, a loophole that angered fellow contestants Lisa and Jolene. They accused Courtney and Sev of deliberately exploiting the system to gain an unfair advantage. "There is no retail price for it; it's up to the artist to price it how they see fit," Sev explained, defending their actions.
Lisa confronted the pair, asserting that they were bending the rules. "I know this deal is dodge," she stated, later expressing her belief that they were breaking rules with a "twist." Jolene was equally incensed, resorting to expletives and threatening to report the issue to the body corporate if Courtney and Sev were to win. "Are you joking? If they win tomorrow, I'm going to call a body corp. F*ing smug cs," she ranted.
Despite the backlash, the judges praised the wine cellar. Guest judge Dave Franklin described it as the "best wine cellar" he had ever seen, while resident judges Darren Palmer and Shaynna Blaze also lauded it as a "piece of artwork."
This is not the first instance of budget-related stress on the show. In a separate incident, Lisa faced emotional turmoil after receiving a $20,000 bill for plastering work on their garage, a cost significantly higher than Foreman Dan's estimate of around $6,000. Lisa expressed frustration over the mounting budget pressures and the larger scope of work, admitting the financial strain was taking a toll.