This week is living, dining and alfresco week with House 1 Adam and Jolene hoping to get there first win, they pull out their secret weapon. Some are soaring with confidence while others are falling.
It is week five in Mount Eliza and the teams head into Living, Dining and Alfresco week still carrying the emotion of main ensuite judging. House 5 Rick and Tayla arrive buoyed by their first win, while House 2 Chantel and Wyatt feel they were beaten only by the gnome advantage. House 3 Lisa and Rosco are low after harsh feedback, House 1 Adam and Jolene are still frustrated by an unfinished ensuite, and House 4 Courtney and Sev are trying to balance strong design with a tightening budget.
Domain open for inspection gives the teams a chance to weigh up the results. House 3 Lisa and Rosco’s faux crazy pave and colour choices divide opinion, though some feel the judges were too harsh. House 1 Adam and Jolene’s bold but unfinished ensuite earns respect for its ambition, House 4 Courtney and Sev’s bench-seat shower receives mixed reactions, and House 4 Chantel and Wyatt’s polished workmanship is widely praised thanks to the Cursio Brothers. House 5 Rick and Tayla’s winning room is celebrated, even if several teams privately question whether it was the best bathroom.
The challenge now shifts to the living, dining and alfresco zones which must make the most of the uptown homes’ uninterrupted water views. House 1 Adam and Jolene push hard for a first win with a large lounge, wood fireplace, floor-to-ceiling mirror and plans for a bespoke Christian Cole dining table. House 2 Chantel and Wyatt set out to prove they can deliver without the Cursio’s, but an insulation mix-up slows their start. House 3 Lisa and Rosco want a wood fire but are battling a loss of confidence, while House 5 Rick and Tayla back a bold design with a curved sofa, custom cabinetry and statement fireplace.
Budget pressure becomes the defining issue for House 4 Courtney and Sev, who have already spent around 60% of their $250,000 allocation and decide to chase the CommBank budget win rather than a room win. Their dream of a $15,000–$20,000 Christian Cole table is abandoned, although Scott suggests their talent may still carry them through. Across the site, weekly budget estimates sit high, with House 5 Rick and Tayla planning the biggest spend at $25,000 and several teams forced to stretch or rethink their plans.
The Easter Monday public holiday adds another layer of strategy, with some teams avoiding penalty-rate trades while others take advantage of extended site hours. House 5 Rick and Tayla head to winners’ dinner with Scott, with Rick rushing back the next morning to keep working while Tayla stays with her son Hendrix. Delayed insulation continues to frustrate Chantel and Wyatt, Rick works largely alone as Tayla shops, and Dan keeps pressure on the site by warning House 3 Rosco to clear rubbish or risk a shutdown.
As reveal draws closer, the rooms begin to take shape. House 1 Adam and Jolene commit to their view-focused living area and wood heater. House 2 Chantel and Wyatt settle on a minimalist layout with an eight-seat dining table, electric fireplace and a television placed opposite the other houses’ designs, with Wyatt arguing the choice improves sightlines, avoids glare and keeps dining conversation central. Meanwhile, House 4 Courtney and Sev briefly escape the pressure in a soundproof-room dance party, offering a lighter moment amid a demanding week.
Overall, Living, Dining and Alfresco week opens with high stakes, bruised confidence and very different strategies. House 1 Adam and Jolene are chasing a first win, House 2 Chantel and Wyatt are out to prove they don’t need the Cursio’s to forge ahead of the others, House 3 Lisa and Rosco must rebuild belief, House 4 Courtney and Sev are forced to prioritise budget survival, and House 5 Rick and Tayla are trying to convert its first win into momentum. With the views central to buyer appeal, every design choice now matters.
