Director Robert Rolls told Chattr the Mornington Peninsula family business had spent more than 30 years building wine cellars, bespoke joinery and custom homes. He said the recent reviews and comments were coming from people who had not been clients.

Rolls thanked strangers who had publicly defended the company, saying their support had been noticed.

“Our focus is on our team, our clients and on the work in front of us,” he said.

Viewers Push Back Against The Reviews

In a Reddit discussion about the reviews, commenters questioned why a real business was being dragged into a television dispute. One wrote, “What a horrible thing to do”, while others argued that frustration with the competition should not become an attack on somebody’s livelihood.

The backlash follows the 34.5-point tie between Courtney and Sev and Adam and Jolene. Both teams unveiled wine cellars, but the price and classification of House 4’s curved installation became the much bigger talking point.

In its account of the dispute, realestate.com.au put Courtney and Sev’s payment at $14,500 for an installation reportedly valued at about $100,000. Adam and Jolene’s cellar cost $20,000 and was described as having a value of about $45,000.

Scott Cam accepted the bespoke-artwork classification under the show’s rules. That settled the ruling, although it clearly did little to settle the conversation.

Steph Defends The Contestants, But Prefers The Other Cellar

Former winner Steph Ottavio has added a fairly useful distinction: you can prefer another team’s design without making things personal.

Speaking to the outlet, the architect defended Courtney and Sev against personal attacks while saying Adam and Jolene’s straighter design worked better with their home’s architecture.

She appreciated House 4’s installation as an artwork, but questioned how well its curves connected with the building around it. She also suggested the judges’ praise could put contestants on a pedestal and encourage viewers to favour their rivals.

Steph drew on the negative commentary she experienced during her own season with husband Gian. Supporters attacking other contestants in her name was not the kind of backing she wanted.

Her advice to Courtney and Sev about hostile online commentary was brief: “Don’t read anything.”