The Block 2026: Dining and Alfresco Reveals
It’s living, dining and alfresco week on The Block - or as we’re calling it, statement pendant week!
With some of the biggest spaces of the season to tackle, the teams had plenty of room to make an impression. Dining tables became the perfect spot to have a little fun with lighting, while the living rooms showed us some clever ways to layer light throughout an open-plan space. Outside, we were very happy to see ceiling fans making an appearance, along with radiant heating to keep those alfresco areas in action when summer is over.
House 1 | Adam and Jolene
Adam and Jolene had the judges talking as soon as they walked through the door, starting with their enormous custom Christian Cole dining table. Darren loved the scale, while Marty praised the craftsmanship. The oversized mirror divided opinion, with Shaynna and Darren loving the way it reflected the surrounding view, although Marty wasn’t quite as convinced.
The styling was a hit too, with Shaynna describing the finished space as “elevated and sophisticated”.
The Lighting
There’s plenty happening with the lighting here, and it’s a great example of how to approach a large open-plan living space without filling the ceiling with decorative fittings.
The Made by Mayfair Vinci chandelier immediately draws the eye over the living area. Finished in bronze with pieces of hazel alabaster, it has enough scale to stand up to the proportions of the room and gives the living zone its own identity within the larger floorplan. The natural variation through the alabaster becomes even more noticeable when illuminated, creating a rich golden glow against the olive and earthy tones used throughout the furniture.
But the Vinci isn’t expected to do all the work. Beside the sofa, the Wirth floor lamp brings the light down to a much more useful level for relaxing in the evening. Its walnut base, natural linen shade and bronze details sit comfortably alongside the chandelier without feeling overly matched.
There are downlights for general illumination too, along with concealed linear lighting around the perimeter near the mirror. Together, these different sources allow Adam and Jolene to change the feel of the room depending on how they’re using it. It’s a good reminder that a big room doesn’t necessarily need more decorative lights. What matters is having light where you need it, at different heights throughout the space.
House 2 | Chantel and Wyatt
The judges weren’t completely sold on Chantel and Wyatt’s layout this week. Darren questioned the position and size of the dining table, while Shaynna noticed a lot of unused space through the lounge. Marty went a little further, describing the room as “the definition of vanilla”.
Their dining lighting, however, certainly gave us something to look at.
The Lighting
Suspended over the table, the Made by Mayfair Cadence trapeze pendant brings some much-needed personality overhead. Three pieces of Spanish alabaster sit at different angles and heights, breaking up the very orderly arrangement of the dining setting below.
Its long proportions work particularly well above the rectangular table, while the staggered design gives the pendant presence without creating a large visual block through the room.
We’ve seen Chantel and Wyatt turn to natural stone in their lighting throughout the season, so the Cadence feels very much at home here. The colour-switching function also gives them flexibility to adjust the light depending on how the dining area is being used.
Then we head outside, where they gave us something we always love to see: an outdoor fan.
The Abyss fan in black sits directly above the alfresco dining table, putting the airflow exactly where it’s needed. Its larger size makes sense against the generous proportions of the terrace, while the black finish ties in with the darker architectural details around the space.
An alfresco can look fantastic, but on a hot Melbourne day, a ceiling fan can make the difference between admiring it through the window and actually wanting to sit out there. We love an outdoor fan, and this is exactly why.
House 3 | Lisa and Rosco
Lisa and Rosco’s living room received mixed feedback from the judges, particularly around the decision to orient the room towards the TV rather than the view. Shaynna was a fan of their colour palette, while the alfresco was a much bigger hit. Marty called it the best outdoor area they had seen at that point in the judging.
The Lighting
Rather than one dominant decorative fitting, Lisa and Rosco have used their lighting to draw attention to different parts of the living room.
The Traviato surface mounted downlights in travertine sit over the lounge area, bringing another natural material onto the ceiling. Instead of disappearing like a conventional recessed downlight, the travertine becomes part of the room’s material palette.
Luton adjustable spotlights have been directed towards the artwork. Rather than sending every beam straight down onto the floor, the adjustable fittings put the artwork in focus and give the wall another layer of light.
With lamp lighting also used at a lower level, Lisa and Rosco have created several lighting layers without relying on a single hero fitting. It’s a more understated approach this week, but there are some very useful ideas here for anyone planning a living room.
House 4 | Courtney and Sev
Working with a tight budget, Courtney and Sev still managed to impress the judges with their living, dining and terrace spaces. Marty thought the dining room was the best positioned of the day, while the styling throughout the living room earned plenty of praise.
Things got even better outside, with all three judges agreeing their alfresco was the best they had seen that day.
The Lighting
We’ve already seen Courtney and Sev use the Create II bottle shades in sepia glass beside the bed in their main bedroom. This week they brought them back, but gave them a completely different job.
Three Create II shades hang in a row above the dining table. Their narrow profile works particularly well here, giving the dining area plenty of presence overhead without interrupting the outlook beyond.
The transparent sepia glass introduces a darker note against the lighter finishes in the room, and using three together gives the fitting a very different character from the bedside pendants we’ve already seen. We’ve loved watching Courtney and Sev repeat lighting choices throughout their house rather than starting again with every room.
Outside, the black Londo fan looks right at home against the dark timber ceiling. Paired with the Lucci Connect radiant heater, the alfresco has been set up with Melbourne’s changing seasons in mind.
House 5 | Rick and Tayla
Rick and Tayla had the biggest space of the competition to work with, although the judges weren’t convinced they had made the most of it. The scale of the dining setting came into question, as did the arrangement of the lounge, with Darren particularly frustrated that the incredible view wasn’t playing a bigger role in the room.
Their lighting took a lighter, more playful direction.
The Lighting
Above the dining table, Rick and Tayla have clustered three August pendants at staggered heights, mixing the August oval pendant with the August squat pendant. Rather than hanging three identical fittings in a straight line, the different shapes and heights create a more relaxed arrangement.
Both styles combine a chalk white finish with opal glass, which works particularly well against the pale interior. The cluster gives the dining table a clear focal point without feeling too heavy in a room already flooded with natural light.
There’s a subtle connection over in the lounge too. The Helix 3 light floor picks up the rounded opal-glass detail of the August pendants, but in a completely different fitting. It links the two areas visually while bringing another source of light down beside the sofa.
And Rick and Tayla certainly haven’t forgotten about comfort outside.
Their timber-lined alfresco features the Nautica fan with brushed chrome and teak, with the teak finish making a natural partner for the ceiling above. The integrated light is particularly useful in an outdoor entertaining space, combining airflow and illumination in the one fitting.
Two Lucci Connect radiant heaters sit overhead to take care of cooler days. With an outdoor kitchen and plenty of room for dining and lounging, the combination helps make this a space that can be used for much more of the year.
