Emma and Ben have shared an update about the home they renovated on The Block, months after it failed to sell at the infamous 2025 auction.
The couple, as well as Australia, were heartbroken, when the property was passed in, because it failed to reach the exorbitant $2.99 million reserve price.
Months later, the pair have shared more about its progress on the market.
“Our Block home hasn’t sold yet,” Emma told Chattr, but said it’s perfect for those looking for a “stunning home in Daylesford”.
Because the auction did not go as expected, the couple had to put their “dream home” in the Mornington Peninsula up for sale.
They purchased it in 2022, and ended up selling it.
They shared the exciting update about the sale on January 24 via Instagram, posting photos in front of the “sold” sign with their son, Bailey Colter Cox.
“We are super proud of the completed reno. It was a huge task that we tackled together. We also had help from family and friends along the way,” Emma told the publication.
While it was a happy outcome, they previously told Mamamia that it was “sad” to list it.
“We completed the renovation on this one just before we went on The Block,” they revealed.
“And to be honest, it’s like our dream home, but we’re just 10 years too early.
“Our plan was to see how we go on The Block and if we made any money on the show, we would have loved to have stayed living there.
“However, we are still in limbo with The Block house, so we thought best to sell it and move on. Sad.”
Now, the couple, who welcomed their son, Bailey, in September, told Chattr that they’d love to “start working on another project of the DIY kind”.
Every room Emma and Ben have renovated on The Block
Week 1: Bathroom
The judges praised them for their textures and colour choices.
They, however, had issues with their curved tiling.
Darren gave Emma and Ben 8 and a ½, Marty gave Emma and Ben a 7 and a ½, and Shayna awarded them eight points. Overall, they received a score of 24.
Week 2: Kids’ Bedrooms
In their first kids’ bedroom, which was designed for a boy, Shaynna praised the depth of colour and said it was reminiscent of Daylesford.
The judges also admired the circular feature wall.
However, they didn’t love everything.
Marty wasn’t a fan of the wallpaper or the lighting, and said overall, the room wasn’t memorable, which Shaynna disagreed with.
Week 2: Kids’ Bedrooms
Their second kids’ room was designed for a girl, and all three judges liked the colour palette.
“I feel like I’m in a Daylesford home right now. It has something very special about this room, and very marketable,” Marty said.
However, they found the room impractical, especially the wardrobe, which the judges noted was too small for two children to store their belongings in.
Overall, they received scores of nine from Darren, eight from Marty and an 8 and a ½ from Shayna.
Week 3: Main Bathroom
For their ensuite bathroom, Emma and Ben were awarded an overall score of 28 – an improvement from their first bathroom renovation in week one.
The judges described the space as “magical” and noted that the couple would have no problem appealing to a wide range of buyers.
“There’s so much to love,” exclaimed Marty as he viewed the room, with both Darren and Shaynna agreeing that the ensuite was truly reflective of the Daylesford region.
The only criticism was the lack of overhead lighting, with the judges suggesting Emma and Ben install a downlight over the vanity.
Week 4: Main Bedroom and Walk-In Robe
When the judges walked into Emma and Ben’s main bedroom, they all said it was “spectacular”, praising its size and layout.
“It’s very close to perfect. They’ve done everything with purpose,” Shaynna said.
The only shortfall? The room’s pendant lights are too far forward.
“The only reason they won’t get a perfect 10 is the knocking head risk,” Marty said after bumping into the lights.
Despite this, Emma and Ben were one point away from winning! Overall, they were awarded a 9 and a ½ from Darren and Shaynna, and a 9 from Marty, leaving them with a total score of 28.
Week 5: Living and Dining Room
Despite their success in recent weeks, the expectant parents fell short in week five of The Block with a final score of 22.
While the judges praised the pitch of the roof and elevation of the room, they criticised the scaling of the room, furniture selection and lack of cohesion with the materials, colours and textures featured in the other finished parts of the house.
“The connection to the outside and your living spaces sell the dream…this is selling a chiropractic bill,” noted Darren.
Week 6: Rumpus Room
Despite spending a conservative $8,700 on their rumpus room, Emma and Ben were given high praise by the judges, who complimented them on the marketability of their design.
“I love the flooring, I love the artwork, I love the wallpaper. There’s nothing I fault with their selection. It’s beautiful,” said Shaynna, with Darren adding in that the pair had “nailed” the space.
Marty did note, however, that more effort should have been made in the rumpus room to make it more “kid-friendly”, considering its proximity to the kids’ bedrooms in the house.
Week 7: Kitchen
Despite the judges falling in love with the styling of their kitchen, Emma and Ben received the lowest score of the week by half a point.
Even though they scored 26, Shaynna, Marty, and Darren all agreed that their chosen layout let them down.
“The fridge should have gone where the wine fridges are,” said Darren, who then said that after doing this, Emma and Ben would have a “perfect” kitchen.
Week 8: Guest Suite
After winning a sauna and $50,000 from the Domain Listing Challenge, Emma and Ben finished the week on a high by winning their first room reveal!
The couple was one of two teams to finish their guest suites.
From the moment they walked in, the judges fell in love. The praise began for their kitchenette, and then their bedroom, which featured a customised bedhead.
It also continued for their walk-in wardrobe and bathroom.
“They’ve literally thrown all of the Emma and Ben sprinkles all over it, I love it,” Marty said about the bathroom.
Finishing with 29 and a ½, the judges all agreed that if their finishes were done, they would have received a perfect score.
Week 9: Back of House
While the judges praised the appliances in their laundry and powder room, they criticised the laundry’s lack of functionality.
“The natural light is beautiful, the materials are stunning, but it seems there is no strategy to how they have planned the room,” Marty said.
They also said that Emma and Ben’s garage was “okay”, and did not make much of an impression.
In the end, the judges gave them 22 points, which was the lowest score of the week.
Week 10: Terrace and Shed
Overall, Emma and Ben received 26 points for their terrace and shed.
The judges loved how open the terrace was and the architectural choices Emma and Ben had made. However, Shaynna was critical of the use of black, which she described as “heavy.”
While they were also impressed by the golf simulator in the shed, Shaynna raised concerns that the space was “too orientated to men” and would alienate female buyers.
Week 11: Backyard and Pool
It was another great week for Emma and Ben, with all of the judges falling in love with their landscaping, which reminded them of the rolling hills of Daylesford.
Not only that, their cabana space also got a big tick of approval.
After scoring 37 and a ½, they ended up using their secret gnome, which won them the week!
Week 12: Front Yard
For the final reveal, Emma and Ben came second, with a a score of 37 – one point away from winners Sonny and Alicia.
All of the judges were impressed when they saw their front yard for the first time.
Marty loved the grandeur of their yard and how the driveway wound downwards.
Dave said their planting was “hard to beat”.
“Everything’s planted to perfection,” Shaynna agreed, and loved how they structured their yard and how the garage door blends in.
While Darren loved lots, he was concerned that they did not have a gate. Unfortunately, it got delivered late and was the wrong colour, and when Emma and Ben tried to paint it, the frost melted it off.
Who are Emma and Ben from The Block?
Emma, 27, was once a woodwork teacher but put down her tools to focus on dancing. She is now considered one of Australia’s best pole dancers. Emma also teaches the art and owns her own clothing label.
Meanwhile, Ben, 32, studied engineering and before The Block started filming, was accepted to be a firefighter in Melbourne.
Oh, he has also tried his hand at a bit of stand-up comedy, and there have been plenty of laugh-out-loud moments so far this season.
How long have Emma and Ben from The Block been together?
After meeting in high school, Emma and Ben remained friends until they finished. They started dating in 2011 and have now been married for three years.
Of purchasing their first home together, the couple say it wasn’t easy as they juggled university with full-time work in order to save enough money.
Not only did the married couple from Victoria buy their first home when they were 24, but they’ve been flipping houses ever since!
“My aunt flipped houses her whole life; she is probably our inspiration,” Ben said.
“Our strengths are our eagerness to give anything a crack and learn from any mistakes made. This has been possible through owning our own houses,” he added.
The pair agree that their wedding was the greatest day of their lives.
“The day ran perfectly with 160 of our closest friends and family,” they told us.
