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Adrian Portelli shocked contestants by lifting the prize pool to $250,000 as chaos unfolded during a brutal first reveal. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n
Adrian Portelli has lifted the My Reno Rules prize pool to $250,000 after a brutal first reveal that saw one room branded \u201chideous\u201d.<\/p>\n
The call came as judges tore into Emma and Michelle\u2019s living room, with Simon Cohen slamming their oxidised feature wall as \u201chideous\u201d after the high-risk design failed to land.<\/p>\n
The fallout was immediate, with the pair left shaken, describing the feedback as a \u201cpunch in the face\u201d. Portelli unveils plan for $1-a-litre petrol<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018New player in town\u2019: Portelli\u2019s brutal Block swipe<\/a><\/p>\n The moment capped a chaotic first judging, which followed a frantic final push to complete the opening rooms inside the 1970s Bulleen homes.<\/p>\n With time running out, all four teams scrambled to finish styling, clean their spaces and fix last-minute issues before judges Neale Whitaker, Julia Green and Simon Cohen arrived.<\/p>\n Judges delivered harsh feedback face-to-face, branding one room \u201chideous\u201d in a brutal first reveal. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Emma and Michelle were left reeling after their high-risk feature wall was slammed as \u201chideous\u201d by judges. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Emma and Michelle were first to face the panel.<\/p>\n While their living room showed ambition on scale, the execution quickly became the focus.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hideous,\u201d Simon said bluntly, as judges questioned both the finish and the decision to attempt such a risky feature so early.<\/p>\n Judges also pointed to unfinished details, including missing skirting, and labelled the fireplace a \u201cscrew up\u201d, reinforcing the sense the room had run out of time.<\/p>\n Their guest bedroom landed more safely, but failed to shift momentum.<\/p>\n Nathan and Julia delivered one of the most consistent results, despite divided opinions over their bathroom design. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Nathan and Julia delivered one of the most consistent results, despite divided opinions over their bathroom design. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Nathan and Julia followed with one of the more consistent results of the night.<\/p>\n Their kids\u2019 bedroom drew strong praise for its creativity and detail, with judges describing it as a complete world for a child.<\/p>\n \u201cYou knocked it out of the park,\u201d they were told.<\/p>\n But their bathroom split opinion, with the bold plum wall dividing judges despite solid execution.<\/p>\n Nathan and Julia delivered one of the most consistent results, despite divided opinions over their bathroom design. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Franky and Isaac rode a rollercoaster reveal, praised for their bathroom but slammed for a \u201cbeige on beige\u201d bedroom. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Franky and Isaac delivered mixed results.<\/p>\n Their bathroom impressed with warmth and detailing, but their guest bedroom was labelled \u201cboring\u201d and \u201cbeige on beige\u201d, with judges saying it lacked personality.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really fell flat,\u201d they were told.<\/p>\n They were also warned to drop the \u201cunderdog\u201d mindset if they wanted to stay competitive.<\/p>\n Mitch and Shaz claimed the win after delivering one of the best rooms judges said they had seen on TV. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Mitch and Shaz\u2019s bold living room gamble paid off, earning top scores and emotional praise from judges. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Then Mitch and Shaz closed out the reveals.<\/p>\n Their living room drew near-unanimous praise, with judges describing it as one of the best rooms they had seen on a renovation show.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was, without doubt, one of the best rooms I\u2019ve ever judged on TV,\u201d Neale Whitaker said.<\/p>\n Their decision to include a ping pong table paid off, helping create a multi-use space that stood out for both design and practicality.<\/p>\n Their kids\u2019 bedroom also impressed, tying the house together with a consistent palette and styling.<\/p>\n Then came the first leaderboard of the season.<\/p>\n Mitch and Shaz took out the win with 25 out of 30.<\/p>\n All four teams were pushed to their limits as brutal judging and rising stakes set the tone for the competition. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Nathan and Julia followed with 22.5, while Emma and Michelle and Franky and Isaac were tied on 20.5.<\/p>\n Shaz became emotional as the result landed, overwhelmed as their risk paid off in the strongest possible way.<\/p>\n Earlier in the episode, Portelli had already made his presence felt during a mid-build walk-through, awarding Mitch and Shaz a $10,000 bonus for their living room.<\/p>\n But the biggest twist came after judging.<\/p>\n All four teams were pushed to their limits as brutal judging and rising stakes set the tone for the competition. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n The prize pool was increased from $100,000 to $250,000, instantly raising the stakes for every team.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing screams more motivation than that amount of money,\u201d one contestant said.<\/p>\n With the first leaderboard locked in and tensions already building, the competition has taken shape.<\/p>\n MISSED AN EPISODE? HERE\u2019S ALL OUR MY RENO RULES 2026 RECAPS SO FAR Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here <\/a>to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.<\/p>\n
RELATED: \u2018Wow\u2019: \u2018Manipulator\u2019 Reno Rules star exposed<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Episode 1: \u2018Manipulator\u2019 exposed as budget blowout sparks early chaos<\/a><\/p>\n