Renovation show House Rules returns to Channel Seven tomorrow, with six teams handing over their house keys and competing for a $200,000 cash prize. Each of the six teams will see their homes transformed by their competitors and while host Johanna Griggs returns with previous judge Wendy Moore, this year’s team boasts two new judges – English interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Australian architect and builder Drew Heath.
Aaron & Daniella: Queensland
Hailing from the Gold Coast, carpenter Aaron, 31, and dancer Daniella, 38, will be leaving their two young children behind to pursue their House Rules dream. “Leaving both kids is difficult,” says Aaron who hopes to bring his carpentry experience to the competition. “As a carpenter, I’ve got a fair bit of experience. Not only house frames and fit outs, but I’ve been a supervisor and project manager. All that sort of stuff adds up,” says Aaron. “I like fashion and design. So, I guess we’ll complement each other,” says Daniella who has no renovation experience.
Kate & Harry: South Australia
This Adelaide couple bought the worst house on the best street leaving no money left to renovate. “Financially, we wouldn’t have been able to renovate so it’s amazing being on the show; we feel like we’ve won the lottery!” says Harry, 32 and a carpenter, of the chance to undertake a dream renovation with Kate, 28. “We want a big family so the house has to be grand and spacious.
I’ve got lofty ambitions for the location. We want to be there forever,” says Harry who explains that the couple would love another child (their son Xavier is one) but don’t have the space. House Rules will put an end to that!
Sean & Ella: Tasmania
24-year-old teenage sweethearts Sean and Ella have been together since they were 15 and share the same occupation too – they’re both paramedics. After buying their first home in Hobart last year (a 1960’s fixer-upper), the couple are keen to transform it. “We bought the house as a renovator. So to have it done for us is amazing!” says Sean. The couple have no renovation experience but feel their careers will stand them in good stead. “With our job, we get thrown into new and different situations every day that you’re not prepared for. We can’t prepare for most things and that will be an advantage in the competition as the whole renovation is going to be new to us,” says Sean.
Andrew & Jono: Western Australia
Twin brothers Andrew and Jono, 27, bought a house together in 2011 after their mum hinted it was time to leave the nest. “We’ve done a few minor renovations but we didn’t have the money to do it all,” says Andrew who is looking forward to seeing his home transformed.
Andrew studied architecture for eighteen months and has dabbled in basic renovation techniques such as painting and sanding floors while Jono’s has very little renovation experience at all. “We’re not going to be able to do much of the building so we might have to rely on tradies more than the other teams,” says Jono.
Fiona & Nicole: Victoria
Best friends Fiona and Nicole, both 44, are House Rules’ first all-female team. Friends for thirty years, Fiona asked Nicole to help renovate her dilapidated Melbourne home. “I do believe it’s got amazing potential. I have grand plans for it and hopefully with HOUSE RULES it will become a reality,” says Fiona who grew up on building sites with her builder father. Nicole has extensive renovation experience too after completely overhauling an old Victorian home in 2005.
Troy & Bec: New South Wales
Divorced father of one Troy, 46, is hoping to transform his 1960’s western Sydney weatherboard home to accommodate his girlfriend Bec, 39, and her two children. “We use a camp barbecue which isn’t ideal and not to mention dangerous,” says Troy of his home that has a toilet that doesn’t flush. Understandably, the couple are super excited at the chance of renovating their home.
Bec brings no renovation skills to the competition while Troy is a self-confessed handy man. “I’m basically good at a lot of things and can pick up things pretty quick. I’m a handy man of sorts – a jack of all trades, master of none. Hanging doors, painting doors, decorating, gardening and gyprocking – that’s about the extent of my experience,” says Troy.
House Rules commences on Channel Seven tomorrow (April 30).
Well I’m Three quarters of the way through episode one, of your first show, and it is a joke. I am so disappointed.
What was channel 7 thinking When they engaged in these couples for the show.
What was the criteria for application?
Perish the thought.
Fair enough if couples do not have any experience, or qualifications. But they could at least have some sort of background About the types of styles, and what they mean, and what they reflect, and the ability to research. The first house, he is such a waste of Money, it is a disaster. The outside looks nice, shame about the rest.
Does channel 7 think that the viewers are going to be remain Lee interested in a whole load of design rubbish. Fancy having LLB on the show, What a waste of his time I only can hope he is getting enormous big fat paycheck out of it
The first couple are the most ungrateful pair. They should have left them in the shanty. If the terms ” contemporary country” are misunderstood they should have written a scribe describing everything it means.
They have spoilt the season for me.
I think I’ll stop watching, can’t stand those two bitches from Vic. Almost turned it off halfway through, tuned out anyway.
I don’t like the three young couple they are not good and not friendly in some of the contestants they talk bad behind the camera that’s not good attitude.
Viv,
I am with you totally, those 2 women are so damn arrogant that the mind boggles, rude, totally do not even want to listen and just watched the latest episode where they complained about the other 2 couples near their zone not co-operating yet the same 2 stupid mongrel bitches paint their ceiling ‘chalk’?
Chalk? Bloody chalk is white traditionally not friggin yellow.
Jesus H Christ on a raft, piss them off.
The Victorian pair were probably chosen intentionally to give the show a ‘must-watch’ factor.
I think it is unfair that the judges know who did which zone when they judge. How can they convince us that give unbiased marks? The house owners don’t know who did what, and nor should the judges.
How can the houses be finished to a good standard when having to be renovated in a week, by unskilled labour! No wonder there are poor finishes and bits missing.
Despite all this, I feel compelled to watch as some of the work and ideas are brilliant.
Obviously like the Block, My Kitchen Rules etc the script writers think they need a contravertial couple to sell the show. This is no more reality TV than Bay Watch, I no longer watch these idiotic shows as is my perogitive to do so