Glistening stainless steel surrounded a Portofino stone island benchtop in Rod and Tania's thoroughly functional kitchen.
Reaching down beneath the bench top by the patio doors, Rod was more pleased with the practical aspects of their design: "My favourite thing has to be this wine fridge. It's out of the way and right next to the servery to the outside deck. A masterpiece of forward planning, if I do say so myself."
Tania didn't want to step into a gender stereotype but she was equally impressed with the cooking installation: "It's a five-burner gas hob and it's perfect if you're into cooking. Anybody with a family, or someone who likes to cook for guests will love it."
Because the available space was so limited the couple had to be very clever with their dining arrangement. Tania liked the use of a mirrored front under the island bench: "It increases the feeling of space, pretty important here. And we've used stools on this side of the bench to create a neat dining area. It's ideal for small groups, or cosy breakfasts."
They certainly delivered another very distinctive and well finished room combination.
When the judges walked down the hallway into the kitchen-dining area they were both impressed by the amount of work that had been put in. John seemed astonished: "It's remarkable to me that they achieved all this in a single week. What's more impressive is that they've maintained their high standard of finish."
Neale wondered if they might be setting their focus too narrow: "I love the gas cook top. It's certainly a foodie's kitchen. But I wonder if it isn't also a bit too old looking."
But he did give full credit to the excellent colour balance: "I do like the use of stainless steel and it's refreshing to see they've not overdone the black over stainless steel. It's a nice balance."
Both judges thought the wine fridge was a very clever addition.
John summed it up: "This is a very stylish and well-crafted room. The only real negative is the absence of a proper, defined dining area, and that may restrict its appeal a bit."
Design: 8 Execution: 8
