Tonight on Dream Home: After weeks of blood, sweat and paint fumes, Dream Home judges Lana Taylor, Simon Cohen and Rosie Morley critiqued the first cycle of renovated rooms before awarding Queensland brothers, Rhys and Liam, the win.
At Elle’s Watsonia house, the judges headed first to Rhys and Liam’s dining room and kitchen spaces. The judges agreed the brothers had delivered on Elle’s “show-stopping” kitchen brief and were in awe of the island bench and the magic of the invisible cooktop. They also loved the curved wall to the butler’s pantry, but Lana questioned if an additional sink and dishwasher should have been included.
Score 26/30
Inspecting Lara and Peter’s living room and guest bedroom, the judges were impressed by the new living space, with Simon saying it added value to the house. While they liked the chosen colour palette, the judges agreed the space felt tight, particularly with the size of the TV. The judges were thrilled with Lara and Peter’s bedroom. Lana said the curved walls and ceiling were the standouts of the space. Rosie was equally impressed by the joinery, which made the room feel expensive.
Score 22.5/30
Rookie renovators Brad and Mel’s bedroom and main bathroom spaces received mixed feedback from the judges. Despite being a compact space, the judges said the bedroom’s colour palette was warm and welcoming. Rosie was less impressed by the style of the bathroom, and Simon said some of the features were a little dated.
Score 20/30
Over at Brad and Mel’s house, the judges praised Hannah and Jonny’s use of space in the living room and loved the large sofa, which could accommodate a large family of six. Simon said the fireplace was a great focal point for the room, and from a value-added perspective, the room was a game-changer. Hannah and Jonny’s second room belonged to 18-year-old Bennett. Simon said it was an epic room. The judging trio loved the built-in simple desk, and Rosie said the arch created a great focus.
Score 23.5/30
Sisters Taeler and Elle were assigned Spencer’s bedroom and the main bathroom. The judges loved the new bedroom, and Lana was thrilled to see the reconstructed rose ceiling feature as an ode to the building’s heritage. But Lana questioned whether the understated room had enough edge for a teenager.
Simon was happy to see the inclusion of a desk and the wardrobe space, but the judges were shocked to find that one door led to the bathroom and questioned if it was a wise design choice. In the bathroom, the judges were happy to see the bountiful storage and double sinks. The judges questioned if Taeler and Elle could have made two bathrooms from their space: one for the girls and one for the boys. Or even separate the toilet from the main bathroom.
Score 24.5/30
The judges were impressed by the layout of Jacinta and Jordan’s kitchen and dining area. Rosie loved the scale of the island bench and the window splashback. Simon said it was a great hangout area for a large family, but he didn’t love the colour palette and questioned using different colours for cupboards on either side of the kitchen. Simon was bored by the couple’s dining area. Rosie said it was a missed opportunity as they could have built-in shelving to create depth and more space.
Score 23/30
Delivering their scores, the judges announced Rhys and Liam as winners of this week’s challenge with a total score of 26/30. The brothers pocketed $5000 to go towards next week’s budget and another $5000 to spend on trades.
