It was an emotional week for the House Rules teams as they worked hard to transform Graeme’s house, which had tragically burnt down, in the Give Back reno. But, the end of the week also saw Katie and Alex pack their bags in an elimination no-one saw coming.
Look back at Katie and Alex’s love story in the video below
“We were really shocked,” Alex tells New Idea. “I felt like we hadn’t shown our best yet, I felt like I had let Katie down.
“I felt like I could have done more. I had this overwhelming feeling I was responsible for it, I don’t know why.”
“I tell him that’s silly,” Katie reassures.
The couple were coming second last on the scoreboard, until Mat and Tim overtook them with the scores they earned from the bonus room.
Despite being devastated to be sent home, Katie and Alex are still thrilled that they had the opportunity to participate.
“We enjoyed every second and, honestly, it has changed our lives,” says Alex.
“From the beginning we said a beautiful renovation would be a plus,” adds Katie.
But the couple are still baffled by some of the judges’ decisions.
“We definitely didn’t agree with some of the safety aspects that were questioned,” says Alex, referring to their unique climbing wall in one of the children’s bedrooms.
And, the fact that two teams didn’t finish their zones and scored higher really rubbed them the wrong way.
“That didn’t really make sense to us,” admits Katie. “Our zone was finished and complete, so that was hard to take.”
Of course, they were thrilled to get to see their 1-year-old daughter, Hallie, again
“Holding her and knowing we weren’t leaving was great,” says Katie.
“Every time we got to see her while we were on the show, we knew we only had a few hours or a day so it was so nice to know that she was going to be with us again.”
Since leaving the show, Katie and Alex have taken some time out to settle back into their old life and get used to their new home. But the couple are looking at starting a career in the design industry.
“A few businesses have asked us to consider a future in that space,” hints Alex. “We’ve had a lot of interest and opportunities come our way.”
“Plus, many members of the public are asking us to come and help them renovate,” laughs Katie.
For more, see this week’s New Idea – out now.
