After Leigh and Kristie were eliminated last week the backyards were next on the agenda.
| House Rules | Josh & Brandon’s (QLD) | Mel & Dave’s (QLD) |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 1 | Go modern Aussie outdoor style | Create a cool coastal vibe |
| Rule 2 | Plunge us into a swim up bar | Make a shipwreck island for the boys |
| Rule 3 | Build a beer garden on the deck | Give us a chill out area by the pool |
| Rule 4 | Give us a games area with a secret cinema | Design a haven for body and soul |
| Rule 5 | Choose your zone | |
Hope Island – Mel & Dave’s
Wendy liked Toad & Mandy’s chill out zone but questioned the strip of wallpaper on the ceiling, “It was a bit of a lost opportunity”. Drew said although they got the plan right for the pool area, all the materials were brutal and bland: “I thought planting would have saved your whole zone.” LLB was very disappointed, although the small step down deck was “spot on”
SCORES: 18/30
LLB thought Kim & Michelle’s haven for body and soul was ‘tokenistic’. “This is obviously two women who don’t spend much time exercising.” But he labelled their kids pirate play area ‘genius’ and said the boat was a ‘total star’. Wendy agreed: “I loved the kind of Peter Pan idea of making that platform around the tree… I wanted to get in there and just play myself.”
SCORES: 21/30
Maryborough – Josh & Brandon’s
LLB admired Jess & Jared’s fire pit structure calling it ‘contemporary craft’. “Yes it’s Australian, yes it’s modern, it’s thought through.” Wendy liked the idea of the outdoor hidden cinema calling it the ‘ultimate in luxury’, but agreed with LLB who said it was ‘deeply impractical’. Drew was underwhelmed by Jess & Jared’s beer garden. “The complete lack of colour and styling. Where are the hammocks? Where are the potted plants?” The judges also thought the games area was a missed opportunity. Scores 16/30
They were commended for achieving so much in four days but the judges were divided on Chiara & David’s BBQ and bar area. Drew thought it was ‘rustic’ and really suited the boys, but LLB disagreed. His judgement at home base was brutal calling the area “shite”. Wendy thought the space was a ‘major achievement’. The pool verdict was ‘cool’ and although LLB thought they’d delivered some good horticulture in the pool area, the swim up bar sunk leaving Chiara & David in tears.
SCORES: 20/30
Update July 3 Last night Mel & Dave and Josh & Brandon returned to their transformed backyards
Hope Island – Mel & Dave
“This is next level,” said Mel with tears in her eyes. “How lucky are we?” added Dave. They were impressed with Toad & Mandy’s coastal cool wallpaper chill out pool area, but questioned no protection against wind. By the pool Dave said: “This is exactly how we envisioned our house if we ever had the time and money to do it.” But the deck was ‘under-styled’ and furniture not ‘coastal vibe’.
Score 7/10
Kim & Michelle’s shipwreck island kids’ area “smashed this out of the park,” said Dave. Mel thought the haven for the body and soul was a little hit and miss. “It’s like they’ve created a beautiful sitting area and then they’ve thrown the mats down at the last minute.”
Score 8/10
Maryborough – Josh & Brandon
Josh & Brandon spotted Chiara & David’s pool and immediately wanted to jump in. “You beauty!” But they thought their framework over the BBQ area could have had a roof. “So we can entertain rain, hail or shine,” said Brandon.
Score 7/10
Josh thought Jess & Jared’s fire pit was better: “This is actually what I was thinking, like logs.” And although the secret cinema impressed, the boys thought it would have been better set up undercover in a permanent area. Meanwhile, in Jess & Jared’s games room Brandon said the idea was there but planning was poor. “They’ve got a beer pong and the pool table but I don’t think you’d be able to play them all at once.” And on entering the deck, Josh noticed their unfinished beer garden: “A beer garden without the garden!”
Score 7/10
At the end of Round 1 the leaderboard looks like this
