Block winner Steph Ottavio warns renovators over laundry spending

The Block’s biggest spenders spent nearly $40,000 on rumpus and laundry week, but former winner Steph Ottavio says the laundry is where renovators should save.Courtney and Sev spent $26,939 across the same two rooms and won the week, while Rick and Tayla’s $39,029 spend delivered fourth place.Former Block winner Steph Ottavio and builder Carl Swanson say renovators should prioritise how a laundry works before spending heavily on luxury finishes.SJO Architects founder, Japandi Estate co-founder and 2023 Block winner Steph Ottavio said ordinary renovators should put function before expensive finishes.RELATED: One in 10 Vic auctions at risk from new underquoting law1920 Melbourne gem targets $3.4m dealMelb auction pain to hit state budget “I think a laundry is a place to save money,” Ms Ottavio told News Corp Australia.She said The Block’s reveal format encouraged contestants to make even utility rooms visually impressive, but homeowners did not need to copy every expensive detail they saw on television.Ms Ottavio singled out natural stone as one area where renovators could cut back.She was even less convinced by books being used to style laundries.“That’s just absurd,” she said.Court...