The Gold Coast couple finished the 2026 renovation without winning a single Room Reveal, becoming the first team in the show’s 22 seasons to end their build without topping the weekly judging.

Their last chance came in Sunday night’s Front Yard and Facade reveal. Despite some of their strongest feedback of the season, House 2 scored 26 out of 30, tying with Lisa and Rosco for third. Rick and Tayla won with 27.5 points and pocketed a $50,000 reduction to their auction reserve.

Nine had flagged the potential record in its final Room Reveal recap. Once Rick and Tayla took the win, Chantel and Wyatt’s last opportunity was gone.

Even The Wellness Retreat Couldn’t Get Them Over The Line

It was hardly a case of the judges finding nothing to love. Chantel and Wyatt delivered a private outdoor wellness area with a sauna, outdoor shower and a stone bath described as 4.6 million years old.

Darren Palmer loved the layout, while the stone-clad fireplace also earned praise. There were still reservations about the planting, but the panel finally found some of the warmth they had been missing in House 2.

Shaynna Blaze said it felt like home, an unusually positive response after weeks of criticism about their restrained interiors. A sauna, a statement bath and a warmer reception still couldn’t buy them that elusive first place.

The Gnome That Cost Them A Win

They had come agonisingly close in Main Ensuite Week. Chantel and Wyatt scored 25.5, but Rick and Tayla played their Bonus Point Gnome to lift their total to 26 and win by half a point. House 2 had the higher judges’ score before the bonus was added.

The couple’s commitment to pale, neutral interiors repeatedly divided the judges. During Guest Suite Week, Chantel made it clear she wasn’t about to abandon the palette, saying: “Even though they want me to include colours, I’m never going to.”

As Domain detailed during that reveal, the pair were aiming for a cohesive home that would appeal to buyers, while collecting CommBank budget awards along the way. Those cash wins helped their finances, but never put a Room Reveal victory on the board.

There were encouraging moments, too. Their courtyard impressed the judges during Backyard and Garage Week, even as the simpler backyard and sparse garage pulled the overall result down.

Last season, Sonny and Alicia came close to the same unwanted finish before winning the final front-yard reveal. Chantel and Wyatt didn’t get that last-minute escape.

They are still backing their house where it counts next. “Come auction time, we’ve got a good chance of winning,” Wyatt said. With the build finished and the judging over, House 2’s next verdict belongs to the buyers.