Which house will rule? Would you hand over your house keys to a bunch of strangers to transform your home? This is the exciting premise behind Channel Seven’s new reality series .

The -wide competition from the Together, they’ll travel the country, hand Without knowing who was responsible for makers of My Kitchen Rules will see six over the keys to their own homes and leave each zone – the home owners will score teams from around the country put their their competition rivals to transform every them all. Will they love what they see? homes on the line and their skills to the room in their house any way they want. Or will they hate it? test in a fight for supremacy and a It’s the key to a whole new life, but will Scores will be revealed at the Homebase life-changing prize. they open the door to their dreams, in , where the eliminations will or their worst nightmare? also take place. NEW SOUTH WALES Host Johanna Griggs will be at the helm The last team left standing will walk away Michelle and Steve as six brave teams gamble with the most with a life-changing prize. More details important possession in their lives. about the show will be revealed soon. VICTORIA Acclaimed designer Carolyn Burns-McCrave Keep up-to-date with all the House Rules Nick and Chris and experianced build supervisor Chester news on the show’s official website Drife will be overseeing the teams, who have www.houserules.com.au QUEENSLAND only one week to completely transform each Amy and Sean home. Teams will be given a designated zone in the house to work on. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Carly and Leighton Two expert judges – architect Joe Snell and Home Beautiful editor Wendy Moore WESTERN AUSTRALIA – will score each teams’ renovation. But the last word will go to the home owners! Jemma and Ben TASMANIA Jane and Plinio Michelle & Steve NSW After nearly three decades together, Michelle and Steve have endured their fair share of ups and downs.

Financial hardship brought on by a bad But there’s still plenty of work to do. Michelle, a stay-at-home mum, investment and rising interest rates saw They need a new kitchen, roof and deck and is a passionate renovator who studied them lose their last home but the Aussie their bathroom is in dire need of an overhaul. interior design for six months at TAFE. battlers survived. Also, the lower level is an empty shell which “I love it,” she enthuses. “It’s a creative they’d love to convert into a granny flat. outlet for me.” They were holed up in a tiny two-bedroom unit for seven years, but after scrimping Mortgaged to the hilt, their renovation When they’re not working on the and saving they had enough for a deposit dreams had been put on hold until now. house, the pair enjoy spending on their current home. “It was tough,” “Had it not been for this show, time with their two children, Steve says. “I kept thinking we keep getting the renovations probably would never daughter Alex, 20, and son knocked down all the time. But buying have even happened,” Michelle says. Jesse, 18, who have inherited this house and recovering financially and “We wouldn’t have been able to afford it.” their love for renovating. getting over that dark period is our greatest But that doesn’t mean that handing over As the oldest team in the achievement.” their keys to the other contestants will competition, Steve and Michelle The couple have owned and renovated five be easy. “I’m nervous because I’m very are ready to battle it out with properties during their 28 years together. particular with my taste, but at the end of the young guns. “Our age and But their current home in ’s northern the day I’ve just got to trust them and hope wisdom will definitely be a major beaches is their most ambitious project yet. strength,” Steve says. “We get they do the right thing by us,” Michelle says. things done no matter what. We Michelle and Steve bought the 1950s The pair describe their style as simple and see everything through to the end.” dilapidated coastal weatherboard house relaxed with a beachy, coastal feel. Preferring in May 2012. “There were rats and clean, white colour schemes, their worst cockroaches,” Michelle, 48, recalls. Steve, nightmare would be black walls and fixtures. also 48, adds: “Even though it was rundown, we could see the potential.” Steve, who works in the building industry as an OHS Manager, is an experienced After a lick of paint and some elbow grease, handyman who learnt a lot of what he knows the three-bedroom home Michelle calls from his late bricklaying father Keith. “He their “own private Idaho” has improved started me laboring. I would work mixing immeasurably. cement, chipping cement off bricks when I was eight, nine years old.” Nick & Chris VIC Moving out of home for the first time and into their own pad was a major step for Victorian brothers Nick and Chris.

Last year they purchased a 1970 However, their mortgage has left them with Their worst nightmare would be seeing Californian Bungalow in Melbourne’s no money for renovations. “Our plans have the walls painted any shade of green. northern suburbs. While the pair couldn’t been put on hold till we get a better handle “It’s a crap colour,” Nick says. wait to move into their new home, their on the mortgage,” Nick says. The brothers believe that being the mother Sue was devastated. “When we But scoring a place on House Rules only siblings on the show will be told her we’d bought the house, there means their home will get a much-needed an advantage over their rivals. was no congratulations,” Nick, 21, laughs. makeover, albeit one they have no control Ultra-competitive, they’re “She was like, ‘You’re leaving me!’ over. “It’s a gamble,” Nick says. in it to win it. “We’re both And she started bawling her eyes out.” “From a carpenter’s point of view, of perfectionists and work well Like good Greek boys, they didn’t go too far course you’re going to worry about giving under pressure,” Nick says. and live just a short 15 minute drive away. your keys to a bunch of strangers. But the Flying the flag for Victoria good thing is I’ll be able to fix anything Both their parents instilled in them the is a huge honour for them we don’t like.” importance of owning property as both. “We feel a sense of a foundation for the future. “I always Their dream is to turn their home into pride to be representing wanted to own a house before I was 28,” the ultimate bachelor pad: a comfortable our state,” Chris says. Chris says. “I bought it when I was 26, space with a focus on entertaining. Nick adds: “This is a once so that’s not a bad effort.” Describing their style as contemporary, in a lifetime opportunity and the pair want their home decked with all They never set out to buy a home together, we’re taking it with both hands.” the mod-cons. “Our vision is to completely but after Chris discovered Nick was about modernise the house,” Chris says. “We like Chris, a sales/marketing to buy a “hero tradie car” he convinced his open plan living with a focus on comfort.” manager, and Nick enjoy playing sport brother to invest with him. “I was like you and working out in their spare time. can’t buy a ute, you need to buy a house While they love the high ceilings, they’re with me,” Chris says. not a fan of the late 80s extension and the floating floors. “The ceilings in the Initially, they looked at buying apartments extension are lower,” Chris says. off the plan, but settled on a three-bedroom house they could fix themselves utilising Nick’s skills as a carpenter. Amy & Sean QLD Aged care manager and former personal trainer Sean strives to see the positive in any life situation, including the time he broke his jaw two years running playing AFL.

“As silly as it sounds breaking my jaw was “As we have never renovated before we “Amy and I would be happy in a good thing as it awoke me to the sort are not afraid to look silly, or ask a basement somewhere,” laughs Sean. of character Amy was as she didn’t leave a question which others may consider “So we are not too worried about my side during the entire ordeal which dumb and we are not stuck on ideas what our fellow contestants will do to made me realise just how much she cared which have worked previously,” says Sean. our home, but I do have nerves about for me and how deeply I loved working on their homes as I would “We will come into this full of energy, and depended on her,” says Sean, 26. hate to let them down.” with a good work ethic and ask fresh Sean proposed to Amy, his girlfriend of questions which perhaps the others Sean, who opted to do charity work three years, during a speech at her 30th haven’t thought about.” at a Cambodian orphanage after birthday. The engaged couple, who are finishing high school instead of Amy views the couple’s strengths as both originally from Victoria, are hoping going to schoolies, is hoping to having different personalities which their 1950s three-bedroom Queenslander create a country home with an complement each other. can be transformed into a warm, open industrial modern tone where haven which brings the outside in. “Sean is a big list writer who always has “friends can feel welcome and a step-by-step plan to get to the end comfortable enough to walk in and “It’s a Queenslander style house so it’s still product whereas I think that everything take something out of the fridge”. on stilts. We would like to raise it to utilise will get done in the end if you put in the the space underneath and build a deck The couple hope to join forces hard work,” says Amy. on the back to bring the outdoors in,” says and set up their own personal personal trainer Amy, 30. “We both work well together as Sean gives training business together soon me the organisation we need and I supply and see House Rules as a Amy, a former professional dancer who the calm, can-do attitude when Sean gets test to see if they could work has travelled the world dancing in musical upset that we haven’t finished everything professionally together without theatres at Universal Studios and on on the list by the end of the day.” jeopardising their relationship. luxurious cruise ships, met Sean through her younger sister Sally, who was in the Although Sean is comfortable handing over same year at school as Sean. their keys to the other contestants, he does admit to being nervous about messing up While Amy and Sean are renovating the others’ homes. rookies, the pair don’t see themselves at a disadvantage because they’re both hard workers with lots of enthusiasm. Carly & Leighton SA Carly met her Prince Charming, Leighton when he knocked at her front door hoping to rent her spare room.

“It was love at first sight at the front door,” Leighton, who grew up in the western When they’re not working, the couple Carly, 31, a flight attendant for Rex Airlines suburbs of , is looking forward to spend all their spare time on the River and part-time retail assistant, jokes. working with Carly, but admits he will have Murray either in their house boat, or a hard time taking orders from her as they waterskiing. Leighton, who shares his “Six weeks later we didn’t need that spare do their best to “transform a s*@& box father’s passion for boats, riverboats room because he’d moved in. into a palace”, he chuckles. and waterskiing, has passed on his We got together very quickly but we are enthusiasm for the river to Carly. best friends, soul mates and still together Leighton also concedes that he will be two-and-a-half years later.” a tough marker when it comes to judging the “Every spare second Leighton and other teams’ renovations and will lose his I get is spent on the River Murray,” Although Carly, who grew up on a potato temper if Carly distracts him whilst building. says Carly. “It was there that we fell in and cereal farm in the Murray Mallee region of love and one day hope to buy a house South Australia, admits she has no renovating Leighton and Carly recently bought a 1957 to raise kids.” experience, and the other teams will probably sandstone house in Warradale, Adelaide, view them as “The Country Bogans”, she is which overlooks a beautiful park. It has confident Leighton, 32, a carpenter for his never been touched and the couple hope to family’s building company, will be able to open up the living area, transforming it into make up for her lack of experience. an entertainer’s pad and love nest with lots of earthy colours and minimalistic features. “Leighton’s talent for renovating is amazing and unlike me he has done thousands “Our decorating style is definitely open plan, of renovations and is a real work horse, minimalistic and natural,” Leighton explains. so he has all the skills we need. I will just have to listen to him and do what he tells me,” she says. Jemma & Ben WA For newlyweds Ben and Jemma, House Rules will be a honeymoon of sorts after the pair postponed their holiday plans to be on the show.

“We were meant to be going to Canada Their wedding last November and Jemma, a law clerk who runs a spray and Hawaii,” says Jemma, 26. buying in their preferred location has tanning business on the side, brings left them with no spare cash for the a flair for style and design to the equation. “The honeymoon can wait. This is much-needed renovations. a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Neither of them are apprehensive about adds Ben, 27. The house has many issues ranging from handing over their house keys poor drainage, minimal storage and an to complete strangers. “We’re The couple met as teenagers nine years internal bathroom with no air and light. excited more than nervous,” ago. After a year-long trip across America Jemma says. “It’ll be in 2011, Ben proposed on Christmas Eve “The house is still in its original state and interesting to see what at the Rockefeller skating rink in New York. everything is extremely old,” Jemma says. other people do to our house.” “We’ve done some minor renovations but Following their engagement, the proud West we haven’t had the time or the money to Describing their style as simple and Australians were keen to buy their first home. do anything major.” modern, the couple hope they end up “We wanted to be in a good suburb close with a practical living space where they to the city but that meant buying a crappy Paying off a hefty mortgage has meant can start a family. “This home is like our house we could renovate,” Jemma says. the energetic duo have had to curb temple, it’s where we want to start their lifestyle, in particular Jemma, who It didn’t take them long to find what they a family,” Jemma says. “But we don’t has a fondness for designer shoes and were looking for; a 1950s three-bedroom want to start a family in the condition handbags. “I have very expensive taste and house in ’s suburbia which they it’s in. It’s not functional for two people like the finer things in life,” Jemma admits. bought in January 2012. let alone a baby.” “But now we spend a lot of Friday nights at It may be the perfect size but the home cooking instead of going out.” In her spare time, Jemma enjoys Italian-inspired design complete with exercising and hanging out with their With Ben a qualified carpenter who runs white pillars and two concrete lions isn’t Old English Sheepdog Lola. Ben his own business, the pair have a definite exactly their cup of tea. meanwhile loves going to the beach advantage in the competition. “I’m the and is a keen go-kart racer having muscle, she’s the brains,” he laughs. represented his state in the sport. Jane & Plinio TAS After meeting at Plinio’s sister’s barbecue and falling in love 20 years ago, the two embarked upon a road trip around Australia.

Growing up in country Tasmania on Both “anti-materialists” and self-confessed Family orientated, the hardest part of the a remote commercial pheasant farm, “late starters”, the couple hope House Rules competition will be missing their children. fishing store manager Plinio, 47, hadn’t will revamp their house which “desperately “We will just have to get over that, they seen “much of the world” until he met needs a renovation”, admits Plinio. will be fine,” says Jane. “But my head will Jane, 45, a Melbourne girl who had be at home thinking about them.” Although Jane, a high school drama just moved to after getting teacher, has never renovated before, she Describing their decorating style as work with the Salamanca and hopes her years of constructing theatre uncluttered, Plinio and Jane would Zootango Theatre companies. sets and ability “to see the possibilities like to open up the small, dark rooms “My contracts were at an end so I went of a space and how it can create a real in their house and transform it into back to Melbourne and Plinio followed mood”, will help her and Plinio throughout a modern space whilst still retaining me,” reveals Jane. the competition. the house’s original 1930s features. “We travelled all around Australia in an Plinio, on the other hand, whose favourite Keen to embrace their green old HiAce van, starting with the east tool is a sledgehammer because “you feel principles, Jane hopes to pot coast, then up through the middle and a bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger when indigenous plants in their garden and later through Western Australia when you are wielding one,” has always kept design a house which is eco-friendly. I was five months pregnant with our himself busy with practical jobs. He spent son, Jarra, 16, who we named after the his 20s working during the house boom. beautiful eucalypts from that region.” “I did everything from stacking bricks to pouring fittings, plastering and a lot Keen to continue travelling, the pair of painting,” he says. relocated to Melbourne before Jane became pregnant with their second Despite having more practical renovating child, Nina, eight. Moving again to Yamba, experience, Plinio reveals he is northern New South Wales, the couple a self-confessed procrastinator who were married not long after they bought will need Jane to help him make the their first home there. big decisions. Eventually getting “itchy feet” again the couple sold their home in Yamba and returned to Tasmania where they purchased a three bedroom weatherboard home in New Town in December 2010. Johanna Griggs HOST Johanna Griggs knows more than a thing or two about renovating, making her the perfect choice to host House Rules.

Away from the world of television, she’s During that time she has also hosted the Johanna returned to Seven in 2001 after a keen renovator who runs a construction network’s International, APIA successfully co-hosting the Network’s company with husband builder Todd Huggins. Sydney International (formerly the Adidas Olympic Sunrise program in 2000. That “Renovating is ridiculously good fun,” she then Medibank International), Australian year she hosted the Adidas International says. “And it’s my life away from TV.” Open and Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Tennis broadcast, followed immediately by telecasts. From 2001-2007 she was one of the Australian Open. But she’s quick to add renovating isn’t the hosts of Sportsworld. She also presented easy, as the contestants will discover on In 2002, she became the first solo female host the sport news on Seven Sydney’s weekend House Rules. “Even though it’s something of any Olympics Coverage in this country when bulletins in 2009 and 2010. we love to do, I’d be lying if I didn’t say she fronted Seven’s coverage of the Salt Lake it can be extremely stressful,” Johanna Prior to her move to television, Johanna City Winter Olympics, and in 2006 she again says. “There are so many things you can’t represented Australia in swimming, winning hosted the event in Turin. She also hosted control on a building site. bronze at the Auckland Commonwealth Seven’s coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Games in 1990 and a silver at the 1991 “But the upside is that most days you can In 2007, she was appointed to the Board World Championships. actually see tangible change. I love the fact of Events New South Wales and in 2009 you can look at a room and feel a great sense After announcing her retirement from received an Honorary Doctorate of of satisfaction at what you can achieve. You swimming in May 1993, Johanna joined the Letters - Honoris Causis - from Macquarie put your heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears . She reported for shows such University in NSW for services to into what you produce and when you realise as Sportsworld and Sydney Weekender, and swimming, media and charity fundraising. you’ve done it together it’s an incredibly hosted The AFL Half Time Show. Johanna says she’s looking forward to this satisfying and addictive feeling.” In 1994 and 1995, Johanna hosted Seven’s new chapter in her career. “I’m truly excited Six teams from around Australia have Summer of Tennis, and worked as a presenter about the challenge,” she says of hosting bravely handed over their keys to of the 1994 World Swimming Championships House Rules. “I’ve been in this industry for strangers but it’s something Johanna from Rome. Later that year Johanna 20 years now and this is the first time I’ve herself could never do. “I admire anyone presented the Weekend Sports News and had a go at this style of show. who has the courage and faith to do that then became the network’s first national “I’m expecting lots of drama, lots of but I’m way too anal and would have female (and youngest ever) sports presenter. laughter and hopefully some incredibly a heart attack just thinking of what they Johanna took time out to care for her two creative, clever Australian skills on display. might do.” sons, returning to television in 1998. She But because we are dealing with people’s Johanna will continue to host Seven’s was a regular panellist on Foxtel’s Beauty own homes, I’m expecting the stakes to be Better Homes and Gardens, a job she’s and the Beast and on ABCs sports panel high, the competition to be tough and the enjoyed since 2005. show, The Fat and Good News Week. results incredible.” Carolyn Burns-McCrave DESIGNER Carolyn Burns-McCrave likens joining House Rules as its resident designer to being the character Alice from the children’s classic Alice in Wonderland.

“I feel like Alice down the rabbit hole, it’s She admits she spent most of the 80s “Admittedly it is a leap of faith, but let’s as if I’m in an altered dimension because moving her parents’ furniture around, face it these houses are just physical being on television is so completely out of sponging a few too many walls, using spaces that are being filled and you are step with my normal life,” Carolyn admits. baking paper to trace over real estate floor never going to know how good your house plans and obsessing over how she could could be until someone takes you there.” Creating her own interior design business, make her parents’ friends’ houses better. Burns-McCrave Design, with her husband Designing and renovating her own house, Leonard six years ago, Carolyn says she Completing a Diploma of Arts in Interior a 1950s cottage, from top to bottom feels most at home “focusing on floor Decoration and Design, Carolyn spent the with her cabinet maker husband, plans, layering fixtures and finishes and next eight years working at top Melbourne Carolyn loves mixing expensive creating inviting spaces for clients’ Interior Design firm SJB Interiors, before designer furniture, such as her original homes and businesses”. eventually setting up her own business. Herman Miller Noguchi coffee table, with simple furnishings from Ikea to give a Carolyn loves being an interior designer Carolyn says it’s a hard ask designing for layered, personal look which she notes and gets a kick out of making things other people and feels this will be what the is in vogue at the moment. beautiful whilst giving her clients the House Rules contestants will struggle with best version of their style. the most. Carolyn currently resides in Melbourne with her husband Leonard and their two “I take great delight in figuring out what “People are going to have set ideas about children Fintan, 10, and Lorcan, eight. my clients want and giving them a well what they want to create and the teams thought out floor plan that will cater to that will be able to step outside of their all their practical needs,” says Carolyn. own heads, and think about the couple “It’s about layering all the beautiful things they are designing for, are going to be that make it look as if it has all been the ones with an edge.” thrown together when in fact it has Carolyn is excited about the concept been styled within an inch of its life.” of House Rules – the contestants handing Recalling her favourite childhood over their house keys to strangers memories as “going to display homes to renovate - and admits if she wasn’t and looking at beautifully designed a designer she would jump at the chance. houses”, Carolyn has always been obsessed with interior design. Chester Drife BUILDER As the resident build supervisor on House Rules, Chester Drife has some simple words of advice for the show’s contestants.

“Formulate a plan, execute it quickly, be Chester admits he’s too much of a When he’s not working, Chester enjoys resourceful and be willing to adapt to “control freak” to hand over his house extreme sports like sky diving and change,” says Chester. keys to a bunch of strangers. “I couldn’t snowboarding. “I want to base jump do it because my home is my dream. one day,” he admits. Chester will be overseeing each of the I have to live in it every day. There’s no teams’ projects, alongside designer He’s also a keen traveller, having taken chance I could do it. These contestants Carolyn Burn-McCrave. This is his first 2012 off to journey through Europe, Israel are a brave lot that’s for sure!” major television role and he’s thrilled and the United States. He’s hoping his to be part of the show. “I like dealing According to Chester, the biggest hurdle next stop will be South America. with people and I love building,” he says. facing the contestants will be the time constraints. “Time will certainly not be The 34-year-old knew early on that on their side,” he says. “It will be chaotic a career in building was for him. “I was as they try to get their zone done on always good at doing stuff with my hands time. It will certainly put their skills and and problem solving. It’s just what I was relationship with each other to the test.” born to do.” Chester says each team needs to follow After growing up on his mum’s beef and their gut even if it means going against dairy farm near Albury-Wodonga, Chester the House Rules left by each home owner. moved to Melbourne when he was 16. “The biggest struggle is going to be Once he finished high school, he began balancing what the owners want with what his apprenticeship and worked for several is going to be the best result. Some rules high-end architectural companies before may need to be broken. But they just need he began his own business in 2002. to go with their instincts when it comes Chester’s Construction & Carpentry has to deciding what’s right for each zone.” been going strong ever since. “Seeing the business flourish has given me a lot of satisfaction,” he says. “Building is something I’m really passionate about. It’s wonderful taking someone’s dream and watching it take shape and seeing the looks on people’s faces once the project is complete.” Wendy Moore JUDGE Having worked in the magazine world for more than 20 years, Home Beautiful Editor Wendy Moore is one of Australia’s foremost experts on style and design.

Now in its 87th year, Home Beautiful Wendy has worked for some of the “It was a fairly dated solid pine kitchen. has established itself as the country’s country’s biggest-selling magazine titles We polished the floorboards, painted the favourite homemaker magazine. including Australian Women’s Weekly, cupboards in gloss white and got some Woman’s Day and Burke’s Backyard nice brass handles and painted the tiles Wendy, who took over the reins in 2006, Magazine. But helming Home Beautiful white. With a fresh coat of paint and some says it’s a job she relishes. “I love looking remains a career highlight. nice light fittings, it went from being out- at the homes and all the amazing ideas. dated to French provincial. We spend so It’s so inspirational.” Wendy is not only passionate about much time in there now.” providing her readers with an endless Her new role as a judge on House Rules, source of inspiration, but also ensuring The House Rules contestants will be alongside renowned architect Joe Snell, they have the practical tools needed to handing over their keys to a bunch of is the perfect fit. “Home Beautiful is all about create a home they love to live in. strangers but it’s not something Wendy homes and this is about people’s own homes.” “It’s my dream magazine and it has always could ever see herself doing. “Not a Wendy says she’s looking forward to been the one I wanted to work on. It’s chance but that’s what I love about this seeing what the six teams will do during a magazine I have a personal passion for.” show,” she says. “We are dealing with their renovations. “I want to see great real homes. Our contestants have a real Wendy, who was born and still resides in design and innovation. I want practical, emotional connection to their houses and Sydney, considers the inner west home she liveable solutions. The work has to be high the tension that comes from handing over shares with husband Peter and twin girls, quality. They’re working on real people’s their keys to someone else is gold.” Darcy and Britt, her sanctuary. “Our home homes so they have to make is quite calming so I’ve gone with a calming In her spare time, Wendy enjoys sure everything is done right.” colour scheme throughout the house.” surfing, running and gardening. When it comes to judging, Wendy doesn’t It has undergone some renovations in plan on holding her opinions back. recent years including the addition of “I am a pretty honest person. If I do a home office and a kitchen makeover, have something brutal to say I will have which they managed to achieve for less a reason for saying it. My aim is to than $2500. be constructive and truthful.” Joe Snell JUDGE Sydney-based architect Joe Snell is extremely excited about being a judge on House Rules as he believes putting architecture under the spotlight will benefit everyone.

“Most people think that architecture is this Enthusiastic about assessing the House Joe hopes the contestants will be brave massive thing, but hopefully by watching Rules contestants’ handy work, Joe will in their design decisions and are able to House Rules they will realise it is just about be looking at four things in particular. interpret the taste of the contestant’s making your day a little better,” says Joe. house they are renovating. “I want to see how the contestants use As the son of an architect, Joe has always the natural light of the house, how they “I will tell the truth about the space as I see been surrounded by sketches of buildings manage the cross ventilation of air flow, it, regardless of who renovated it, and I will and floor plans. However, it was only once how they use and interpret the space of not sugar coat it, but that doesn’t mean he did a Bachelor of Science, majoring in the house and their employment of scale I will be a horrible judge,” says Joe. Architecture, that he realised it was the and proportion,” says Joe. As well as architecture, Joe has a passion career for him. Joe admits that renovating other contestants’ for lighting and has created exhibits for “Once I learnt what architecture was about houses is not going to be easy and believes Vivid Sydney, an annual festival of light, from someone other than my father I could the hardest part for the teams will be music and ideas. envision myself being an architect,” he says. deciding who is going to be the leader and Joe currently resides in Sydney with his trusting their decisions as well as being able He went on to complete a Bachelor of Danish wife Laura and their two boys to think in 3D terms when it comes to space. Architecture at the University of Sydney, Asger, 4, and Bjorn, 2. as well as studying at the Royal Academy “Thinking in 3D is a real art which you of Fine Arts in Copenhagen before joining need to learn,” says Joe. “It means you are his father’s firm. able to interpret the space of the house in both the horizontal and vertical sense and In between degrees, Joe went to London be able to look at the house as a whole and became a real estate agent for two rather than just in terms of the individual years. “Being a real estate agent made me zone a team is renovating.” a better architect as I actually learnt what people really wanted in a house,” says Joe, a recipient of national design awards in retail, commercial, event and retail projects. LISA BERGER For further information please contact Seven Publicity Melbourne T 03 9697 7761 M 0438 777 459 E [email protected]