Judges’ savage comments turned the My Reno Rules leaderboard upside down as Portelli’s $1m race tightened before the live finale. Picture: Seven
Emma and Michelle have gone from almost quitting My Reno Rules to winning Adrian Portelli’s $10,000 cash bonus in a dramatic leaderboard flip.
The mother-daughter team scored 29 out of 30 and surged from the bottom of the leaderboard, as former favourites Mitch and Shaz crashed to last place after judges savaged their kitchen, dining room and pantry.
The final interior reveal reshaped the entire $1m race, with only two points now separating all four teams ahead of the live finale.
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It was a wild reversal for Emma and Michelle, who had almost walked away after a disastrous bathroom judging and entered the final interior week sitting last on 42 points.
After losing the kitchen to Nathan and Julia, the pair were left with the laundry, stairs and their third consecutive lounge room.
But this time, they finally delivered.
When judges Neale Whitaker, Julia Green and Simon Cohen entered House 1’s open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, the reaction was immediate.
Julia and Nathan’s kitchen helped launch them to the top of the My Reno Rules leaderboard before the final exterior week. Picture: Seven
Neale Whitaker, Julia Green and Simon Cohen delivered season-changing feedback as the My Reno Rules interiors were completed. Picture: Seven
“Shut the front door. What the hell?” Green said, as the judges praised the two House 1 teams for finally creating a cohesive home.
Nathan and Julia’s kitchen, dining room and powder room landed strongly, with Whitaker saying the kitchen made him feel like “the heart of this home is now beating”.
The My Reno Rules teams are now racing towards the live finale, with only two points separating all four contestants. Picture: Seven
Mitch and Shaz’s dark kitchen gamble backfired as the former frontrunners crashed to last place on the leaderboard. Picture: Seven
He praised the Venetian plaster, porcelain stone and cabinetry, saying he was “ready to move in” to the kitchen.
Green called the dining room “courageous, confident, cohesive and cool”, but the judges still marked down the stools, the dishwasher being too far from the main kitchen action and parts of the powder room.
Adrian Portelli and Dr Chris Brown watched as the My Reno Rules leaderboard was blown apart before the live finale. Picture: Seven
Adrian Portelli’s $10,000 room bonus capped a wild reveal as Dr Chris Brown faced the shaken contestants. Picture: Seven
Nathan and Julia finished with 26.5 out of 30, a score strong enough to push them to the top of the overall leaderboard.
Then Emma and Michelle completed the comeback.
Their lounge room drew some of the strongest praise of the season, with judges backing the Venetian plaster fireplace, smoky couch, textured wallpaper and bold artwork after weeks of criticism over their design choices.
Emma and Michelle went from almost quitting My Reno Rules to winning Portelli’s $10,000 room bonus in a huge comeback. Picture: Seven
“This is redemption,” Green said.
Whitaker said the room was “modern love” and praised the pair for keeping their own style, while Cohen described it as one of the most considered spaces he had seen in the competition.
Emma and Michelle finally found their groove, scoring two perfect 10s after weeks of harsh judging and design setbacks. Picture: Seven
Their laundry also impressed, with judges praising the cabinetry colour, storage, layout, benchtops and pullout ironing board.
“You couldn’t be further apart from last week,” Green said.
The scores followed the praise.
Cohen gave Emma and Michelle a nine, before Green and Whitaker both handed out perfect 10s, giving the pair 29 out of 30.
“Comeback queens, we are here and here to stay,” Emma said.
But while House 1 soared, House 2 fell apart.
The My Reno Rules interiors are complete, but the $1m race has never looked more unpredictable. Picture: Seven
Franky and Isaac, who had entered the week full of confidence after their previous win and Portelli’s $10,000 bonus, started well with a dramatic stairwell and Melbourne-inspired living room.
But their decision to squeeze a study nook under the stairs backfired.
Cohen said nobody would sit there to work, while the judges said the styling and layout had missed the mark.
Nathan and Julia’s polished kitchen, dining and powder room pushed them into first place before the final exterior round. Picture: Seven
Their laundry also failed to land, with Green saying the functionality was confusing and the space felt mismatched from the rest of the home.
Franky and Isaac scored 22 out of 30, leaving them tied for second overall with Emma and Michelle.
The night’s biggest collapse belonged to Mitch and Shaz.
The pair had started the episode on top of the leaderboard, but their dark kitchen gamble unravelled in front of the judges.
Dr Chris Brown faced contestants as judges revealed the scores that completely reshaped the My Reno Rules leaderboard. Picture: Seven
Judges delivered a harsh verdict on House 2, sending former leaders Mitch and Shaz tumbling down the leaderboard. Picture: Seven
Their dining room was labelled brown, flat and underwhelming, before the kitchen drew even harsher feedback.
“My eyes are burning,” Green said.
Cohen questioned the industrial pendant, the tree hitting the ceiling and the disconnected butler’s pantry, asking: “What happened this week?”
Green said she was shocked the work had come from Shaz, who had been one of the strongest designers in the competition.
Contestants faced the judges after the final interior reveals, with the $1m prize suddenly within reach for every team. Picture: Seven
The My Reno Rules teams were grilled over risky design choices, missed details and rooms that changed the entire competition. Picture: Seven
Shaz admitted she had felt pressure to keep delivering wow moments after setting such a high standard earlier in the series.
“I always want to do better,” she said.
Mitch and Shaz scored only 20 out of 30, dropping them from first to fourth in the overall standings.
After the scores were added, Nathan and Julia jumped to first on 72 points.
Franky and Isaac’s risky study nook failed to land, leaving the comeback kings tied for second place. Picture: Seven
Emma and Michelle were overcome after their comeback rooms scored 29 out of 30 and put them back in the $1m race. Picture: Seven
Emma and Michelle and Franky and Isaac were tied on 71, while Mitch and Shaz fell to 70.
With the interiors now complete, the competition has become a four-way fight for Portelli’s $1m prize.
MISSED AN EPISODE? HERE’S ALL OUR MY RENO RULES 2026 RECAPS SO FAR
Episode 1: ‘Manipulator’ exposed as budget blowout sparks early chaos
Episode 2: ‘Hideous’: Brutal verdict rocks Portelli reno show
Episode 3: ‘Fine line’ as Julia calls out rivals in copygate drama
Episode 4: ‘Worst ever’: Portelli’s $1m brutal take-down
Episode 5: Emma snaps as kitchen deal explodes over ceiling fight
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