Long before they stood side by side on The Block, competing against other teams and chasing a life-changing result, Courtney and Sev had already shared a chapter of their lives that would help explain just how strong their friendship really was.

For the two Brisbane best friends, their bond was never simply about having someone to laugh with, share holidays with or embark on ambitious renovation projects alongside.

There was a time when life took an unexpected turn for Sev and her husband, Nelson, and it was Courtney who stepped forward, opening the doors of her own home when her friends needed somewhere to turn.

What followed was 16 months living under the same roof – a period that brought the three of them together during an important chapter in their lives, long before television cameras would capture their partnership on Australia’s most demanding renovation show.

The moment Courtney opened her home to her closest friend

Courtney, 34, and Sev, 37, had already been best friends for 12 years when an unexpected health scare changed the circumstances for Sev and her husband.

At the time, Sev and Nelson were living in an isolated coastal town. However, Nelson experienced a medical episode, prompting the couple to reconsider their living arrangements and return to Brisbane, where they could access additional medical care.

It was during this difficult period that Courtney made a decision that would become one of the most meaningful chapters in their friendship.

Rather than simply offering words of support from a distance, she opened her Brisbane home to Sev and Nelson, giving them somewhere to stay while they navigated the circumstances surrounding Nelson’s health.

The move also allowed the couple to oversee the construction of their own home.

The arrangement was not a brief visit or a few nights spent together. The three friends ended up living under the same roof for 16 months.

For Courtney, it meant making room in her home and her everyday life for two people who mattered enormously to her. For Sev and Nelson, it meant being able to return to Brisbane and have the support of someone they trusted during a period of change.

Although the couple’s medical circumstances have not been publicly detailed, the decision to relocate was significant enough to reshape their living arrangements.

And it offered a glimpse into a side of Courtney and Sev’s friendship that viewers would later see reflected in their journey on The Block.

Sixteen months that said more than words ever could

Living together for more than a year is very different from catching up over dinner or spending weekends together.

It means sharing everyday routines, personal space and the ordinary responsibilities that come with having three adults under one roof.

For Courtney, Sev and Nelson, those 16 months coincided with a period when the couple were also overseeing the construction of their own home.

It was a significant chapter for all three, although neither Courtney nor Sev has publicly shared a detailed account of their day-to-day life during that arrangement.

What is clear is that their friendship had already extended well beyond the usual boundaries of companionship.

Sev has described her relationship with Courtney as one that simply works, despite their differences in personality.

“Our friendship just works. It’s chaos and calm in one package. We’re total opposites in some ways but somehow always on the same wavelength,” she explained.

That description offers an insight into why the two women have remained so close for more than a decade.

They may approach things differently, but they have developed a level of trust that allows them to stand beside each other through significant life changes.

From sharing a home to building one together on The Block

Years after those 16 months together, Courtney and Sev found themselves embarking on another major challenge – this time in front of television cameras.

The pair entered The Block 2026 as one of the most experienced teams in the competition.

Courtney works as a commercial construction site manager, while Sev has built a career in commercial interior design.

Their professional backgrounds gave them a natural division of responsibilities.

Courtney took charge of construction, budgets and coordinating tradespeople, while Sev focused on design, sourcing furniture and styling their spaces.

But their partnership was built on much more than professional experience.

They had already spent years learning how to live, work and make decisions alongside one another.

The Block would inevitably test that relationship, with demanding deadlines, financial pressure and the constant scrutiny of the competition.

Yet the women had something that many other teams could only hope to develop during filming: a friendship that had already survived the challenges of everyday life.

They also knew that their relationship was more important than any result.

A friendship they were determined not to sacrifice for a win

Throughout the competition, Courtney and Sev faced criticism, difficult moments and tensions with some of their fellow contestants.

Their approach to budgets and renovation decisions also attracted attention, making their journey anything but straightforward.

But when they reflected on the experience after their historic victory, both women made it clear that preserving their friendship had always been their biggest priority.

Courtney later told Mamamia that their number one priority going into the show was making sure their friendship remained intact.

She also said there had never been a moment when they were not backing each other up.

For two friends who had known each other for 12 years, that was arguably a more important achievement than anything they could have won at auction.

The husband who was part of their story from the beginning

Nelson also remained an important part of their journey.

He was not simply watching from the sidelines during the competition. Sev revealed that he had supported the pair throughout their four-year journey towards securing a place on The Block.

He helped them prepare their audition videos, offered his opinions and encouraged them throughout the 12 weeks of filming.

When the competition finally ended, he was there to share in the extraordinary result.

It was a particularly meaningful moment for a couple whose previous chapter had involved returning to Brisbane and living with Courtney while navigating an unexpected health-related setback and overseeing their home construction.

The three had already shared a roof during an important period of their lives. Now they could celebrate another milestone together.

More than a renovation partnership

Courtney and Sev ultimately walked away from The Block 2026 with a historic result, selling House 4 for $4.72 million – $1.27 million above its reserve – alongside the winners’ prize and additional rewards.

But their story began long before the auction room.

Before the grand designs, the demanding construction schedule and the celebrations, there was a friend who made room in her home when another friend needed support.

Sixteen months under one roof may have been just one chapter in their lives, but it offers a powerful explanation of why Courtney and Sev entered The Block with something more valuable than a shared passion for property.

They entered with years of trust behind them.

And perhaps that is the part of their victory that viewers will remember long after the auction figures have faded.