Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer are swapping The Block judging panel for power tools as they take on a dilapidated Italian house bought for just one euro.
First announced as part of Nine’s 2026 programming in October last year, 1 Euro House follows the design duo as they attempt to restore the centuries-old property in the Sicilian village of Castronovo, with filming taking place in Italy late last year.
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Australia’s favourite design duo, Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer, are trading the judging panel on The Block for power tools, hard hats and a monumental Italian challenge in 1 Euro House.
Across Europe, local councils are offering historic, abandoned houses for sale for a single euro to breathe new life into declining towns and villages.
Taking advantage of these innovative regeneration schemes, the powerhouse pair are putting their stellar reputations on the line after purchasing a dilapidated, multi-century-old property to restore in the historic Sicilian village of Castronovo, for the grand sum of one euro.
With no structural reports and complete uncertainty over what awaits behind the cracked plaster, Shaynna and Darren take on their most ambitious renovation project yet.
For the first time, these experts who have spent years critiquing other people’s choices will have their own creative vision, design sensibilities and hands-on skills under the spotlight.
Navigating narrow, medieval Italian streets instead of local hardware stores, the duo face an unpredictable journey filled with tight budgets and timelines, frustrating language barriers, and unexpected structural disasters in a faraway land.
Shaynna Blaze said:
“1 Euro House is unlike anything Darren and I have ever done. It’s exciting and completely unpredictable.”
“We put our design skills and our sanity on the line in a foreign country, and watching this historic property transform amid the culture, chaos and beauty of Italy will be something very special for viewers to follow.”
Darren Palmer said:
“We went into this thinking our years of design experience would prepare us for anything, but nothing truly prepares you for renovating in the ancient laneways of Italy.”
“It is physically and mentally demanding, and for the first time, viewers will get to see what happens when we are the ones in the pressure cooker.”
Beyond the dust and demolition, 1 Euro House also takes viewers on a heartwarming journey of friendship, resilience and local discovery, featuring rich Sicilian food, deep-rooted traditions and stunning Mediterranean landscapes.
It’s big. It’s risky. And it has to be the ultimate international property transformation.
1 Euro House is produced by Abode Entertainment for the 9Network.
