The first moment of truth in the new season of Huis Gemaakt arrived last night, as couples in Lummen and Haasdonk faced the jury’s judgment. After weeks of hard work and sleepless nights, the first major elimination in Huis Gemaakt took place. The jury assessed the bedrooms of four competing couples and made a tough decision.
Nico & Daisy, Meaghan & Manu, Soumaya & Eros, and Iman & Mo all had a chance at advancing to the next round. However, ultimately, it was Iman & Mo from Lummen and Soumaya & Eros from Haasdonk who impressed the judges enough to continue. They will now work as “owners” of their respective homes, further developing their designs.
In Lummen, everything seemed to be going according to plan for Nico & Daisy, while Iman & Mo struggled with paint issues and time constraints. Despite these challenges, their boldness and innovative design choices left a lasting impression on the jury. Béa Vandendael and Cerina Marchetta, members of the jury, praised their efforts: "They dared to take risks and are completely in tune with the latest interior trends," they remarked.
The surprise for Iman & Mo was palpable when they learned they could continue in the competition. In Haasdonk, the competition was equally fierce. Meaghan & Manu opted for a distinctive style in their bedroom, while Soumaya & Eros wowed the jury with a perfectly finished room. "We may have never seen this level of finishing in Huis Gemaakt before," Cerina stated, highlighting the exceptional quality of Soumaya & Eros's work.
As the couples prepared for judgment, the atmosphere was tense. The jury had the difficult task of determining which couples could continue working on their dream homes and which would have to say goodbye. The pressure was palpable, with participants pouring their hearts into every detail of their bedrooms.
In Lummen, the jury scrutinized every aspect of the bedrooms. Nico and Daisy created a children's room that initially impressed, but the jury's enthusiasm waned when they noticed issues with the lighting. Bart Appeltans, another jury member, quickly pointed out, "The color of the light at the ceiling is completely wrong. It looks like a supermarket fridge. It needs to be much warmer." Fortunately for the couple, it was later discovered that the light could be adjusted with a remote control.
However, the finishing touches were not as polished as expected. "If you finished this quickly, it could have been better," Cerina remarked critically. Meanwhile, Iman & Mo's romantic room, characterized by its striking red color scheme, faced scrutiny for uneven walls and less-than-perfect painting. Despite these flaws, their herringbone floor garnered praise, showcasing their willingness to take risks.
As the jury deliberated, they acknowledged the merits of both couples, making the decision particularly challenging. Ultimately, the jury unanimously favored Iman & Mo's decor, surprising even them. “I was speechless. We did not expect this,” Iman exclaimed, overwhelmed by the outcome.
In Haasdonk, the tension mounted as the jury assessed Meaghan and Manu's bedroom, which featured earthy tones and a heavily decorated style. Bart noted, "This looks like it came straight out of a magazine," but also pointed out that the bedside lamps were not positioned correctly, leading to some humorous moments as jury members bumped into them.
Despite the positive feedback, the jury was not overly enthusiastic about Meaghan and Manu's work. Their painting left something to be desired, with visible streaks and poorly aligned baseboards drawing criticism. "Sometimes it looks sloppy," Cerina remarked, emphasizing that a decorative basket could not mask poor craftsmanship.
Conversely, Soumaya and Eros delivered a more subdued but stylish bedroom, which showcased a commendable combination of materials. "This is the styling I hoped for—trendy and design-oriented," Bart commented, noting the exceptional quality of their finishing. Cerina, however, humorously broke a curtain rod while examining their work, underscoring the pressure of the moment.
Ultimately, the jury found Soumaya and Eros’s finishing to be of an exceptional level, a deciding factor in their advancement. "This is something we have not seen before," the jury concluded, allowing them to continue in the competition. Soumaya and Eros expressed their disbelief: "We are in shock. It’s overwhelming. Now we have a 25% chance of winning a fully furnished house that we can design ourselves!"
Meanwhile, the mood was somber for the eliminated couples. Daisy and Nico, who were sent home alongside Meaghan and Manu, expressed their heartbreak. "This was a dream home for our children. We have to put that dream away now," they lamented, feeling the weight of their loss.
As the competition continues, viewers are left wondering who will be the next couples to face elimination. The properties in Nieuwpoort and Mechelen will be evaluated in the upcoming episode, and two more couples will have to leave the contest. Huis Gemaakt airs every Tuesday and Thursday at 20:40 on VTM and via VTM GO, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.
