The first season of Australian reality television series House Rules, also known as House Rules 2013, was commissioned in 2012 and began airing on 14 May 2013. The series is produced by the team who created the Seven reality show My Kitchen Rules and is hosted by Johanna Griggs.
House Rules places six teams renovating each other's homes and further challenges for the ultimate prize of a full mortgage payment.
Contestant Teams
This season of House Rules introduced six new teams. All teams are from different states in Australia.
# Team Ages House Relationship Mortgage 1 Carly Schulz & Leighton Brow 31 & 32 Adelaide, SA Couple Two Years $460,000 2 Michelle & Steve Ball 48 Sydney, NSW Married 27 Years $629,000 3 Jemma & Ben Van Ryt 26 & 27 Perth, WA Just Married $545,000 4 Nick & Chris Stavropoulos 22 & 27 Melbourne, VIC Brothers $524,000 5 Amy Garrett & Sean Cornish 30 & 26 Brisbane, QLD Engaged $300,000 6 Jane Polley & Plinio Taurian Hobart, TAS Married with children $315,000
Elimination history + Teams' progress through the competitionPhase: Phase 2 Grand Finale WA TAS VIC SA QLD NSW Round Total Round Total Team Scores Total(out of 20) Scores Result Carly & Leighton 25 19 14 21 28 1st(107) 1st(18) 13 18 1st(31) Winner Michelle & Steve 17 19 16 17 28 4th(97) Tie 2nd(15) 15 15 2nd(30) Runner-Up Nick & Chris 20 20 17 15 18 5th(90) 3rd(12) 11 15 3rd(26) (Episode 27) Jemma & Ben 15 28 23 24 16 2nd(106) Tie 2nd(15) 14 11 4th(25) (Episode 27) Amy & Sean 10 21 25 20 22 3rd(98) 4th(11) colspan="5" (Episode 25) Jane & Plinio 19 20 16 19 15 6th(89) colspan="6" (Episode 24)
Competition Details
Phase 1: Interior Renovation For the interior renovation round, all 6 teams had their homes transformed by each other through a rotation round format over a course of 6 weeks. At the end of each renovation, the highest scoring team received an advantage for the next renovation, and lowest scoring receiving a disadvantage. At the end, all scores were tallied up and the team with lowest overall total was eliminated from the competition.
Western Australia: Jemma & Ben Episodes 1 to 4 Airdate — 14 to 20 May 2013 Description — Teams head to the first renovation at Jemma & Ben's 1950s home in Perth, Western Australia.
+ Renovation 1 Perth, Western Australia House Rules Rule 1 Make it feel 'now' with an edge Rule 2 Create a kitchen/dining area we can party in Rule 3 Style a beauty room fit for a princess Rule 4 No bright annoying colours Rule 5 Give us leather and chandeliers Team Zone Scores Homeowner Joe Wendy 8 8 9 25 / 30 7 6 7 20 20 / 30 6 7 6 19 19 / 30 5 6 6 17 17 / 30 3 3 4 10 / 30 colspan="5" —
Tasmania: Jane & Plinio Episodes 5 to 8 Airdate — 21 to 27 May 2013 Description — Teams head off to the second renovation at Jane & Plinio's 1930s home in Hobart, Tasmania. Two bedrooms belong to their children Jarra, 16 years old & Nina, eight years old. Previous winner's advantage: Carly & Leighton — They got to decide on which zone they wanted to renovate Previous loser's disadvantage: Amy & Sean — Camping in the back yard in a tent during the renovation.
+ Renovation 2 Hobart, Tasmania House Rules Rule 1 Make us an entry to remember Rule 2 Show off our books in a study nook Rule 3 Give us a family-friendly kitchen Rule 4 Deliver Danish design with an art deco twist Rule 5 Keep it eco friendly Team Zone Scores Homeowner Joe Wendy 8 7 6 31 / 60 5 7 8 20 40 / 60 7 6 6 19 44 / 60 5 7 7 19 36 / 60 6 4 5 15 / 30 colspan="5" 19 / 30
Victoria: Nick & Chris Episodes 9 to 12 Airdate — 28 May to 3 June 2013 Description — Teams travel to Nick & Chris's 1970s home in Melbourne, Victoria for the third renovation. Previous winner's advantage: Amy & Sean — They got to decide on which zone they wanted to renovate Previous loser's disadvantage: Jemma & Ben — Camping in the back yard in a tent during the renovation.
+ Renovation 3 Melbourne, Victoria House Rules Rule 1 Give us MAD MEN cool Rule 2 Colour our palette moody and murky Rule 3 Put a retro divider between the entrance and the lounge Rule 4 Style our kitchen bold and dramatic Rule 5 Take some risks Team Zone Scores Homeowner Joe Wendy 8 10 10 43 / 60 6 9 10 25 56 / 90 7 7 6 20 39 / 60 4 7 5 16 52 / 90 5 4 5 58 / 90 colspan="5" 40 / 60
South Australia: Carly & Leighton Episodes 13 to 16 Airdate — 4 to 10 June 2013 Description — Teams head to Carly & Leighton's 1950s home in Adelaide, South Australia for the fourth renovation. Previous winner's advantage: Jemma & Ben — They got to decide on which zone they wanted to renovate Previous loser's disadvantage: Michelle & Steve — Although Carly & Leighton were the lowest scoring team in the previous week, they do not participate in the renovation of their own home and because Jemma and Ben got the highest score they got to choose who went into the tent and they chose Michelle and Steve.
+ Renovation 4 Adelaide, South Australia House Rules Rule 1 Use stone and wood but don't give us rustic Rule 2 Make a "splash" in the entry Rule 3 Draw a palette from nature Rule 4 Give us a versatile island we can dine at Rule 5 Fit out the family room with a sandstone fireplace Team Zone Scores Homeowner Joe Wendy 7 8 8 66 / 90 5 7 8 20 76 / 120 7 5 5 17 57 / 90 6 5 6 17 69 / 120 4 6 6 55 / 90 colspan="5" 58 / 90
Queensland: Amy & Sean Episodes 17 to 20 Airdate — 11 to 17 June 2013 Description — Teams travel to Brisbane, Queensland to renovate Amy & Sean's 1950s home for the fifth renovation. Previous winner's advantage: Jemma & Ben — They got to decide on which zone they wanted to renovate Previous loser's disadvantage: Jane & Plinio — Camping in the back yard in a tent during the renovation.
+ Renovation 5 Brisbane, Queensland House Rules Rule 1 Give our Queenslander heritage charm Rule 2 Style us "modern country" with clean lines Rule 3 Create an industrial-style kitchen with rustic warmth Rule 4 Incorporate wall panelling and fretwork arches Rule 5 Make it warm, welcoming and positive Team Zone Scores Homeowner Joe Wendy 8 10 10 97 / 150 6 9 9 24 90 / 120 5 8 8 21 79 / 120 7 6 6 19 74 / 120 6 4 5 72 / 120 colspan="5" 76 / 120
New South Wales: Michelle & Steve Episodes 21 to 24 Airdate — 18 to 24 June 2013 Description — Teams travel to Sydney, New South Wales to renovate Michelle & Steve's 1950s family home in the sixth and final interior renovation. Two bedrooms belong to their children; daughter Alex, 20 years old & son Jesse, 18 years old. The lowest scoring team overall will be eliminated. Previous winner's advantage: None - Michelle & Steve came first in the last renovation, but due to this renovation being their home they are not involved in the renovation, therefore there is no winner advantage. Previous loser's disadvantage: Nick & Chris — Camping in the back yard in a tent during the renovation.
+ Renovation 6 Sydney, New South Wales House Rules Rule 1 Create a relaxed family beach house Rule 2 Make it bright and airy with lime-washed floors Rule 3 Add a touch of Morocco in artwork and tiles Rule 4 Bring Waikiki in our kitchen Rule 5 Give us a deep spa bath to relax in Team Zone Scores Homeowner Joe Wendy 10 9 9 1st (107) 3 7 6 16 2nd (106) 7 7 8 22 3rd (98) colspan="5" 4th (97) 4 7 7 18 5th (90) 5 5 5 6th (89)
Phase 2: 24 Hour Fix-Up
Episode 25 Airdate — 25 June 2013 Description — Each team returned to their own home and had to re-invent one of the zones in 24 hours. Teams must stick to a budget of $5000 and must stay together at all times. The lowest scoring team will be eliminated.
+ Renovation summary 24 Hour Fix-Up House Rules Rule 1 You have 24 hours Rule 2 You have a budget of $5000 Rule 3 You may work on one zone only Rule 4 Make the zone reflect your style Rule 5 You must stay together at all times Team Zone Scores Joe Wendy 9 9 18 8 7 15 7 8 15 6 6 12 6 5 11
Phase 3: Gardens and Exteriors
The top 4 teams are challenged to transform the exteriors and gardens of each other's homes. Two teams are allocated to a home (that does not belong to them) and must renovate either the front or back yards, as well as improving the house exterior. For each house, the owners also left an exclusive item that must be used in the zone. The semifinals are held over two rounds and after both rounds are complete, the two lowest scoring team are eliminated.
Round 1
Episode 26 Airdate — 26 & 27 June 2013 Description — In round 1 of the exterior renovations, the 4 remaining teams head to Sydney and Adelaide to transform the gardens and house exterior in 3 and a half days. Teams are allocated to the front or back yard of either Michelle & Steve's or Carly & Leighton's house.
+ Renovation summary Round 1 House Rules Michelle & Steve's (NSW) Carly & Leighton's (SA) Rule 1 Give us a resort-style entrance Rule 2 Build a BBQ deck in the backyard Create a secluded haven in our backyard Rule 3 Modernise our front yard and extend the carport Rule 4 Light up our nights with a fire pit Create an outdoor cinema Rule 5 Choose your zone: front or back
Team House Zone Scores Jim Wendy (Sydney, NSW) 6 7 13 13 / 20 7 7 14 14 / 20 (Adelaide, SA) 7 8 15 / 20 5 6 11 / 20
Round 2
Episodes 27 Airdate — 30 June 2013 Description — The teams continue on to round 2 of the exterior renovations in Perth and Melbourne to transform the gardens and house exterior in 3 and a half days. Teams are allocated to the front or back yard of either Jemma & Ben's or Nick & Chris' house. At the end of this round, the two lowest scoring teams will be eliminated.
+ Renovation summary Round 2 House Rules Jemma & Ben's (WA) Nick & Chris' (VIC) Rule 1 Modernise our Californian Bungalow Rule 2 Create a welcoming front garden Rule 3 Revive the tired exterior Build the ultimate café-style courtyard Rule 4 Give our lions pride of place Plant a veggie patch Rule 5 Choose your zone: front or back
Team House Zone Scores Jim Wendy 9 9 18 1st (31) 7 8 15 3rd (26) 8 7 15 2nd (30) 6 5 4th (25)
Note: - The exterior garden renovations were judged by landscape designer, Jim Fogarty along with Wendy Moore.
Grand Final: Final Renovation and Australia's Vote
Episode 28 Airdate — 1 July 2013 Description — The final two teams completed one final challenge at their opponent's home, renovating a spare/secret room as a blank canvas, though they were not scored on these rooms. The Australian public voted for their favourite team to win. The winner was decided by the public votes.
+ Renovation Summary Grand Final House Rules Rule 1 Find the blank canvas in need of renovation Rule 2 Give your opposition the space of their dreams Rule 3 Think outside the box Rule 4 Make your room the ultimate design statement Rule 5 You only have 3 days Team Zone Winners
Ratings
Colour key: – Highest rating during the season – Lowest rating during the season