our master bedroom and entrance.

This week I assembled my new "bedside table". It's the sweetest bedside table that you ever did see. It meant that my room required some rearranging and photoshoot – obviously!

I am constantly doing things around the home: rearranging, doing up old furniture, changing things... so things don't stay the same for too long and things aren't always in their place. We are currently sanding back and potentially reupholstering the chair in our room (it was swapped out for the chair in our baby's room) so that isn't included.

I realised that I haven't shown you photos of my home, so now is a good opportunity. Who knows what it will look like when you come to visit...

And because our room is just by the front door, I've included some parts of our entrance. Because I'd love to show you around my home.

This is my new bedside table. My mum thinks it will be good for holding lots of books but mightn't be stable enough for a cup of tea. Luckily I have a cloth (aka muslin wrap) to wipe up any spills!

Pillowcase by Gorman x Walala, Doona by Kip & Co, Organic Muslin Wrap by Pure Baby, Cradle by Seed Organic, Flower Crown by Floristik.

Our entrance has a few features: 

As you walk in the front door you can see an original artwork I painted at the Belinda Marshall workshop. Keep your eyes peeled for a review on the workshop soon, but if you want to see some of her work and learn about the artist, check out this post.

We also have our very scary guard deer, which I made from a flat pack, given to me as a housewarming gift. I love him.

Opposite these is an old writing desk, full of character, and topped with an Australian made wooden bowl (used to store our keys), an ampersand, and a bit of greenery – because I NEED greenery throughout my home!

Pot by Jones & Co.

If you then peek into our room, this is what you'll see.

Yes, a beautiful screen printed artwork. This amazing Rachel Castle Tree tea towel (intended as art) was a combined housewarming and birthday gift from a very special friend. I love it in my room – it's often the first thing I see when I wake up. It has such beautiful colours.

It is now surrounded by my old and way-too-practical bedside table and lamp (not within arms reach of my bed) with beautiful cards, a photo of me and my husband and a natural candle on it.

Artwork by Castle and Things, Heart Card by Blacklist, Bunny Card by Maud n Lil, Candle by Natural Tranquility, Pewter Frame by Via Rustica.

Here are the sides of our beds.

We have matching frames above our used to be matching bedside tables: mine filled with dried flowers from my wedding bouquet backed with linen, and Rod's with an artwork we bought on our honeymoon in Hawaii.

Our Gorman pillowcases are beautiful and complement our reversible Kip and Co bedspread perfectly (when it's on its plain side!). I love the character, shapes and colours of the pillowcases, whereas Rod prefers the simplicity of the blue lines. Thankfully they're also reversible so they work well for us.

After the ultrasound of our baby, there were two stand out pictures of her. This one on Rod's bedside table was his favourite so I got it printed and framed for him. You can see just how beautiful she is! I love seeing her next to his bed and how much he loves her already!

Can't wait to have our baby girl in her bassinet, right next to our bed, wrapped up safe and with her mum and dad.

Looking forward to showing you more of our home as it comes together. It's always felt like home but it's slowly becoming more ours and I'm enjoying that!

the block elimination rooms.

So last year I went a little crazy on blogging The Block. This year, I'm not going to watch it or blog it as religiously... some of you are probably very thankful!

But I can't help give some thoughts and record some of the rooms I love. My posts will showcase some of my favourite parts; be it a whole room, a piece of furniture or a colour. As I don't know what I'll love I don't know how often these posts will occur, but I'm sure The Block will still be a feature of Thearle Girl.

In case you're not up with The Block Triple Threat, six couples were placed in the elimination rounds to end up with three couples who will actually go through to the show. This meant there have been three elimination rounds. Round 1: bedroom (24 hours). Round 2: living and dining (48 hours). Round 3: bathroom (72 hours).

Here are a couple of things I have loved so far.

Brooke and Aimee's bedroom definitely wasn't my favourite but I fell in love with their soft blue wall and bed.

I like some of the details of Luke and Ebony's room, like the timber skirts and frame, the built-in headboard, and mint features. Also impressed with the blue wall, the same colours as our bedroom!

They say first impressions count, and that is true of Josh and Charlotte. I could see they would be good from when we first met them in Scotty's HQ. They didn't let me down with their living and dining room. My favourite features are definitely the exposed brick wall and timber shelves. I think I'm in love... again. That cascading plant on the shelves just puts the icing on the cake. That wall is a winner... and that proved to be true with the judge's as well.

I am so impressed with the use of colour by Ebony and Luke. I LOVE the pink wall. This photo looks a little overwhelmingly pastel but with slightly different styling, I think the pink would sing even more! I have requested a pink wall in our living room but unfortunately was turned back by my husband. Disappointing.

I wasn't totally in love with Tim and Anastasia's room but it was good! My fave part was the rug though. Often I don't like rugs or am impartial to them, but I actually really like this one.

I love Jess and Ayden's beautiful storage area, using the height of the room and lovely timber, but was a little worried by the candle next to the towels!

Josh and Charlotte's bathroom was very simple, and I liked it. I especially like their large format tiles and custom shaving cabinet which was recessed into the wall.

I'm very impressed with the elimination rooms and am looking forward to seeing what they create in their actual apartments. Good luck to Charlotte and Josho (for the win), Tim and Anastasia, and Jess and Ayden (for the lols!).

the block : master bedroms.

Hooray! Can't wait to see everyone's finished rooms. From the little things we've seen, they look really beautiful!

Here we go:

michael and carlene : I love the look but I really don't like the bedding – other than the beautiful linen bedspread – well maybe just the throw and a couple of those cushions. I really like the recessed bedhead and the black. Once again I love their artworks with the black and white and touch of gold. Change a few cushions and I think it's beautiful!

chris and jenna : Can't wait to see this copper wall! Once again, change the bedding (so much gold and copper) but it's simple and beautiful. I like the black walls and the black and white artwork. I agree with the judges that the rest of the room doesn't compliment the wall. I feel very sad for them.

karstan and max : They've improved so much this week!! I love the simple colour scheme and those two massive artworks are beautiful. The charcoal and white with the orange is great. And who can go past those windows and the bronzed mirror!? They did well but it's not how I'd do it.

simon and shannon : Love the mexsii bedhead, copper pendants, and the timber wall under the window. I love that style. And how lucky are they with so much room to allow for that coffee area!? Beautiful! The simple white and grey walls work well. Don't love the artwork – I don't think it's sophisticated enough. But overall it's great!

darren and deanne : Very cool to have a fireplace in their room! I love the artwork! It's cool how they've tied the panelling in every room - it's not my style but has worked well. A pretty good room but nothing groundbreaking.

I do think the winners are deserving but I feel that the judging is based on too many other factors than just the rooms they present (and often too much on styling). Good to see the wins being spread out amongst the teams though.

the block : study and guest bedrooms.

I can't believe everyone finished their rooms this week, and all of the rooms are great!

michael and carlene: I was so looking forward to seeing their homemade desk and seat, unfortunately it didn't turn out as well as I expected! I would have much preferred it in a more natural wood colour. The study was very functional but didn't do anything much for me. Once again I really like the styling in their bedroom. The exposed brick is great, but I'm glad it's quite minimal – it just brings some depth to the room. It all works really well! Very impressed with the guest room!

chris and jenna: This is going to go either way. Can't wait to see their void in future weeks but not sure how their judging is going to go this week. The attic and storage is a really great idea but a bit hard to judge against everyone else's study. I love their guest bedroom. Minimal and beautiful!! I like the touches of wood and greenery. I disagree and am surprised by the judge's comments, however there were a LOT of plants! I really love the timber and am sad that the judges don't like it. The attic was good for storage but very hard to judge.

karstan and max: I was looking forward to seeing how their floors look and I think they're great! Their space is huge... and the white in the study makes it look even bigger. Other than the floors though, it's not all that exciting. Their bedroom is once again quite boring. Thankfully they have that huge and beautiful artwork to bring some life, but unfortunately it's a plain, boring, black and white room!

simon and shannon: I was really looking forward to seeing how their rooms panned out after their stressful week, and interested to see how their style develops. Their style is super contemporary, and I really like it! The ceiling looking up to that skylight is amazing! I like the study because it kind of is a separate room unlike the others which are very open. I love their guest bedroom as well. It looks big and bright! Always love a bit of Kip and Co and Blacklist Studio. Their attention to detail is pretty amazing!

darren and deanne: I felt very nervous about their fabric canopy bedhead! Their floor was also a risk but turned out beautifully. Their study is sophisticated and practical. I really like it. Their style is not my style, but it's working really well throughout. The bedroom didn't do heaps for me but it does look luxurious! I wonder what perspective a younger judge would bring.

I am really enjoying this season. Lots of potential and great ideas! I'm glad people are trying some new things. I'm excited to keep watching!

It might help to understand my thoughts if you know that I write these Block posts as I'm watching the room reveals (lucky i can touch type). My comments aren't based on the judge's scores (sometimes I might add in an extra comment at the end) but I like to write down and acknowledge what I'm thinking, without being swayed by their opinions. Just thought you should know.

the block : guest bedrooms.

The Block is back. Sorry to everyone who wants to talk to me about anything else for the next few months but I'll probably be consumed by The Block. Seeing it just makes me want to be on it so much!

Room reveals are the best. I love seeing the way the rooms come together and I feel like you get to know the contestants heaps more through it.

My thoughts from this week:

So in love with Michael and Carlene's room! Their colour choices are exceptional. Those cabinets, the copper pendants, and that artwork! Loving her style.

The boys room is so fun and contemporary (and I really love mustard)! I love their details and the way they think outside the box i.e. 5ft cactus, two types of flooring, wooden panelling.

Max and Karstan seriously have a stunning advantage with those windows and that view and that amount of natural light. They were well restored and made the room for me. Unfortunately I wasn't as keen on the rest of it (except those billy button flowers)... even though I feel like I'm on their team having been at school with Karstan.

I was expecting Chris and Jenna's room to be exceptional. It was in the ways I expected - the graphic ceiling and massive space but they were let down with their styling. I was so impressed with their extra details including the desk and ensuite door and photographic artworks of the original building. I think they're going to do well!

I so loved the artwork chosen in Dee and Darren's room as well as those pom pom pillows. The panelling worked surprisingly well!

Can't wait for this season. It looks like it's going to be an absolute cracker! The teams are all really lovely and they all look very talented too!