My Reno Rules 2026 Episode 2 recap: Team’s room branded ‘hideous’ in brutal first reveal

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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

Adrian Portelli has lifted the My Reno Rules prize pool to $250,000 after a brutal first reveal that saw one room branded “hideous”.

The call came as judges tore into Emma and Michelle’s living room, with Simon Cohen slamming their oxidised feature wall as “hideous” after the high-risk design failed to land.

The fallout was immediate, with the pair left shaken, describing the feedback as a “punch in the face”.
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The moment capped a chaotic first judging, which followed a frantic final push to complete the opening rooms inside the 1970s Bulleen homes.

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.

Judges delivered harsh feedback face-to-face, branding one room “hideous” in a brutal first reveal. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Emma and Michelle were left reeling after their high-risk feature wall was slammed as “hideous” by judges. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Emma and Michelle were first to face the panel.

While their living room showed ambition on scale, the execution quickly became the focus.

“It’s hideous,” Simon said bluntly, as judges questioned both the finish and the decision to attempt such a risky feature so early.

Judges also pointed to unfinished details, including missing skirting, and labelled the fireplace a “screw up”, reinforcing the sense the room had run out of time.

Their guest bedroom landed more safely, but failed to shift momentum.

Nathan and Julia delivered one of the most consistent results, despite divided opinions over their bathroom design. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Nathan and Julia delivered one of the most consistent results, despite divided opinions over their bathroom design. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Nathan and Julia followed with one of the more consistent results of the night.

Their kids’ bedroom drew strong praise for its creativity and detail, with judges describing it as a complete world for a child.

“You knocked it out of the park,” they were told.

But their bathroom split opinion, with the bold plum wall dividing judges despite solid execution.

Nathan and Julia delivered one of the most consistent results, despite divided opinions over their bathroom design. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Franky and Isaac rode a rollercoaster reveal, praised for their bathroom but slammed for a “beige on beige” bedroom. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Franky and Isaac delivered mixed results.

Their bathroom impressed with warmth and detailing, but their guest bedroom was labelled “boring” and “beige on beige”, with judges saying it lacked personality.

“It really fell flat,” they were told.

They were also warned to drop the “underdog” mindset if they wanted to stay competitive.

Mitch and Shaz claimed the win after delivering one of the best rooms judges said they had seen on TV. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Mitch and Shaz’s bold living room gamble paid off, earning top scores and emotional praise from judges. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Then Mitch and Shaz closed out the reveals.

Their living room drew near-unanimous praise, with judges describing it as one of the best rooms they had seen on a renovation show.

“It was, without doubt, one of the best rooms I’ve ever judged on TV,” Neale Whitaker said.

Their decision to include a ping pong table paid off, helping create a multi-use space that stood out for both design and practicality.

Their kids’ bedroom also impressed, tying the house together with a consistent palette and styling.

Then came the first leaderboard of the season.

Mitch and Shaz took out the win with 25 out of 30.

All four teams were pushed to their limits as brutal judging and rising stakes set the tone for the competition. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Nathan and Julia followed with 22.5, while Emma and Michelle and Franky and Isaac were tied on 20.5.

Shaz became emotional as the result landed, overwhelmed as their risk paid off in the strongest possible way.

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.

But the biggest twist came after judging.