Windy City Rehab - General Discussion

[Madding crowd]

I watch this because Ari is my husband’s friend and used to be our neighbor. I can’t stand Allison and in this time where so many people are struggling to pay their bills to see her bragging about her many homes and running off to Paris for fireplaces. And did I hear her tell her staff they would have to just put their coats on the back of their chairs because she couldn’t find place for a closet in 6,000 feet? 

[buttersister]

7 hours ago, Madding crowd said:

And did I hear her tell her staff they would have to just put their coats on the back of their chairs because she couldn’t find place for a closet in 6,000 feet? 

🤮

That house is like all her stuff, not even a fraction as cool as what she thinks. Delusional. HDTV.

[cameron]

12 hours ago, Madding crowd said:

I watch this because Ari is my husband’s friend and used to be our neighbor. I can’t stand Allison and in this time where so many people are struggling to pay their bills to see her bragging about her many homes and running off to Paris for fireplaces. And did I hear her tell her staff they would have to just put their coats on the back of their chairs because she couldn’t find place for a closet in 6,000 feet? 

And she bragged on that the chairs came from Maxim's in Paris.  Thought the dealer said they were like the chairs at Maxim's, not the chairs from Maxim's.

[Fellaway]

It's ba-ack. Or, at least it will be. Windy City Rehab has been renewed for Season 4.

12 Shows Renewed at HGTV for 2024

[tessabq]

Windy City Rehab has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the Instructional/How-to Programming category. HGTV must have spent all the PR campaign dollars on this one. 

[KeithJ]

Alison posted this on Instagram a few weeks ago:

[auntjess]

Watched a few of these because my  DVR is off line due to power outage.
I saw a tail end of one, where she's done a house, kind of gray blue, 2 story, in a neighborhood of tan brick one stories. 
Looked dreadful, and ruined the neighborhood.
Back to the Weather Channel for me.

 

[Fellaway]

Season 5 Premieres 9/24

This kills me:

Quote

Never one to stop adding things to her already full plate, Victoria has also turned her attention back to flipping properties. Of course, that takes capital, which puts the TV personality at a crossroads. Does she sell her newly renovated multi-million dollar dream home and Atlanta condo? 

Attention span of a gnat, this one.

[cameron]

Watched last night's new episode and I don't know who I dislike the most - Alison or the new homeowners.  Guess they don't know what keeping it traditional really means; once again a mishmash of Alison's designs. Thought she said at the beginning of this show that she had to sell her places in Vegas and the latest one in Chicago, but there she was working out of that downtown Chicago that she supposedly had to sell.  Maybe I got it wrong.

[cameron]

Another episode watching AV and the silly way she wears her hats.  Just want to knock that hat off her head.  On the plus side, the owner/gc did an outstanding job with the house.

[KeithJ]

Did anyone else get the impression that Alison was flirting with the owner?  Maybe I just read it wrong.

Other than changing the floorplan and the stained glass window, did Alison really do much in the house this time?  Of course she picked out the ugly furniture for the closet and then had the guy paint it glossy gray.

I could have done without the "Forged In Fire" contest for her prospective employees.

Why do I continue to watch this show?

[Andyourlittledog2]

6 hours ago, KeithJ said:

Did anyone else get the impression that Alison was flirting with the owner? 

Yes!  And it really bugged me. It was like every time they talked they were having a moment. Very weird. I loved the house (except the color) but that shiny grey paint on the antique furniture was awful. Why do people do that?  If there are antique gods these people will have much to answer for.

[cameron]

1 minute ago, Andyourlittledog2 said:

Yes!  And it really bugged me. It was like every time they talked they were having a moment. Very weird. I loved the house (except the color) but that shiny grey paint on the antique furniture was awful. Why do people do that?  If there are antique gods these people will have much to answer for.

Thought the same thing.  He was a good looking guy but I bet that the wife didn't like that.  I actually like that green.  

[Andyourlittledog2]

I like the green too but I thought it was overwhelming and too dark on the entire house. I would have preferred a somewhat lighter color (but not the original pale yellow or white -- those are so boring).

[Soapy Goddess]

17 hours ago, KeithJ said:

Did anyone else get the impression that Alison was flirting with the owner? 

Absolutely! I'd go as far to say that maybe she was hoping for a threesome.

[cameron]

PH couple.  Female "godzilla" client versus Allison.  Actually giving AV a run for the most obnoxious title.

[Andyourlittledog2]

11 hours ago, cameron said:

PH couple.  Female "godzilla" client versus Allison.  Actually giving AV a run for the most obnoxious title.

And I just don't get it. She's the woman this man with good money has been dating for three years. Not a fiancee, not a wife, a woman he is dating.   And she is in control of the whole thing and simply has to spend huge amounts of money on only the best because of course she does. 

Dude, this is the rest of your life with this woman. Get out now.

[KeithJ]

1 hour ago, Andyourlittledog2 said:

And I just don't get it. She's the woman this man with good money has been dating for three years. Not a fiancee, not a wife, a woman he is dating.   And she is in control of the whole thing and simply has to spend huge amounts of money on only the best because of course she does. 

Dude, this is the rest of your life with this woman. Get out now.

Yeah.  Before their trip when he was letting her design everything I was like wtf are you doing?  She could be gone a week after you move back in and you’d be stuck with everything. 

His original budget was $200-300k and the total renovation was almost $550k?  Do the producers know the real budget and then tell them to subtract $200k from it for dramatic purposes?  Then Alison says he’ll never spend $100k on cabinets and then they show the cabinet cost was $95k. 

For some reason I just didn’t like the kitchen.  Maybe because it didn’t really look like a kitchen.  The wine cooler / fridge (whatever they called it) looked so out of place and both of those giant doors were awful.  I still don’t understand putting a mantle in a room without a fireplace.  It’s just a space waster.
 

 

[KeithJ]

This week Alison is back at 2150 W Monroe and I really don't know how these guys are planning on making any money off of it.  Their total rehab price was $920k (and I don't remember if that includes the purchase price of $325k).  They said this was going to be a rental property.  I threw some numbers into an online business loan calculator and, if they borrowed that $920k at 6% for 30 years, they will need to charge just over $5,500 a month (which seems very high for that area) in rent just to make the monthly payments on the loan.

[cameron]

19 hours ago, KeithJ said:

This week Alison is back at 2150 W Monroe and I really don't know how these guys are planning on making any money off of it.  Their total rehab price was $920k (and I don't remember if that includes the purchase price of $325k).  They said this was going to be a rental property.  I threw some numbers into an online business loan calculator and, if they borrowed that $920k at 6% for 30 years, they will need to charge just over $5,500 a month (which seems very high for that area) in rent just to make the monthly payments on the loan.

That episode was so hard to watch with AV going on and on about how great she is and what a fabulous job she did on this property.  I thought that her having the steps painted black was just plain ugly.  And non of the wood finishes complemented each other.  Most of them clashed.

[Soapy Goddess]

I didn't mind the black steps. It was the dark kitchen (cabinets/backsplash) that I didn't care for.

[KeithJ]

I’m not sure I watched the right show tonight.  Absolutely nothing went wrong on this house.

[cameron]

The female homeowner from last's night is in a tie for the most obnoxious homeowner from the one from the penthouse redo episode.  They even both played with their hair all the time.

[KeithJ]

Everything in the basement was temporary?  The flooring, the dry wall, the kitchen?  All temporary?  I’m in the suburbs but I was surprised when they said they were renting for $5k a month.  That seemed ridiculous especially after they showed how cramped they were.

I think this is the first episode this season that Alison didn’t mention Arty.  I was beginning to think he had it in his contract that she had to mention him.

[cameron]

The basement dweller female from last night's show has matching AV eyebrows.  Also noticed that AV used the same stain class doors again in this show that she has used on other shows.  All the insides look the same and are obviously staged.  Wonder what the real houses looked like inside when they are not on tv.

Edited October 30 by cameron

[KeithJ]

That pony wall and closet in the entrance were horrible. Why open up the house to just half close it off again?

[SuprSuprElevated]

Yes, I found that quite strange, and those green lanterns were beyond ugly, as was the green tiled not a fireplace fireplace wall. As a positive, at least she didn't paint all the woodwork mourning black. 

[cameron]

Still want to knock those stupid hats off her head.  Wear the hat properly or not at all.

[KeithJ]

Please stop with the mantle and candles.  It’s so stupid and a waste of space. I can’t believe anyone really likes that.

Who wants to bet the garbage picking was all staged?  We need doors.  Oh look, doors.  We need a mantle.  Oh look, a mantle.

[cameron]

Wonder if Louis Vuitton supplied her with those knitted hats/aka "beanies".

 

[cameron]

9 hours ago, KeithJ said:

Please stop with the mantle and candles.  It’s so stupid and a waste of space. I can’t believe anyone really likes that.

Who wants to bet the garbage picking was all staged?  We need doors.  Oh look, doors.  We need a mantle.  Oh look, a mantle.

Think the whole show was staged.  What happened to those cream color kitchen cabinets that the mother wanted.  If you see the finished product and how they lived previously in that house before renovation, it doesn't jive.  Think it was a PR stint for that builder who deals with high end renovation jobs.  Don't see her family or her fitting that mold.

[chessiegal]

I saw a headline in my newspaper's Home section last week that said - Paint It Black, the newest design trend. Oh dear, is Alison a trend setter? 🤣

[cameron]

This show is getting so hard to watch with AV gushing on about her great she is.  Only watch to see local Chicago scenery since we used to live there.

[cameron]

Allison was sure sporting a low cut dress to wear for a funeral in this latest episode.

Edited December 11 by cameron

[KeithJ]

Allison should know what is going to be blurred out and what won’t be.  Why is she wearing a shirt she knows will be blurred out?

Also Allison, Illinois is a hands free driving state.  Why are you filming yourself dialing and holding your phone while driving?

Edited December 12 by KeithJ

[LoveIsJoy]

Unless I missed it, was there any explanation or resolution about the Atlanta deal falling through at the last minute?  It seems one segment she was upset with the agent on the phone call, and then it went to commercial.  After the commercial, it seems that we were back watching the progress of the house.

Maybe I zoned out, because I don’t remember an explanation about the Atlanta bombshell.  Especially since earlier in the show she had decided to move forward with buying the million dollar condo she wants to flip.  I assumed using proceeds from the Atlanta sale was practically a done deal.

 I did feel sorry for the problems the family encountered for their dream home. I sometimes like Allison’s designs, but the result turned out so been-there bland IMO.  I suppose there really wasn’t enough money left for the design budget.  And I thought the shower tile in the kids’ bathroom was strange.  Looked to me like a bit of dark herringbone tile randomly placed on the shower wall amidst the white subway tile.  I thought it looked odd.

[KeithJ]

9 hours ago, LoveIsJoy said:

Unless I missed it, was there any explanation or resolution about the Atlanta deal falling through at the last minute?

Nope.  You didn't miss anything.  They never went back to it.  This was the 11th episode of the season and there wasn't a preview for another episode.  Maybe it was the season finale?

This article is from September and it says she pulled it off the market:

https://www.realtor.com/advice/reality-tv/alison-victoria-windy-city-rehab-interview-homes-off-market/

I would guess the whole season was filmed before this article so the sale definitely fell through.

Here's the listing for the condo:

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/170-Boulevard-SE-Apt-E412_Atlanta_GA_30312_M65887-11423

It says it was last sold in 2020 which is when Alison bought it.  What's interesting is that the majority of the realty sites estimate the condo (and I know you have to take them with a grain of salt) between $500k - $600k but Realtor.com estimates it at $825k so it's not surprising that Alison wouldn't take a penny under $900k for it. :)

 

[KeithJ]

I went through all 99 (yes 99) images on the listing for the condo and this is the photo for the shower:

You would think they would clean the shower a bit before taking photos for a listing.

[LoveIsJoy]

Thanks for the details @KeithJ.  I’m curious as to how much she’s paying in holding costs while she’s waiting for the perfect offer.  Even if she manages to sell at her desired price, it seems to me that the profit will be offset by the total amount she’s had to pay each month it hasn’t sold.  But then I’m not a realtor or a “bad-ass” designer/flipper/renovator like Allison, so what do I know.🤷🏽‍♀️

[cameron]

On 12/12/2024 at 10:12 AM, KeithJ said:

Nope.  You didn't miss anything.  They never went back to it.  This was the 11th episode of the season and there wasn't a preview for another episode.  Maybe it was the season finale?

This article is from September and it says she pulled it off the market:

https://www.realtor.com/advice/reality-tv/alison-victoria-windy-city-rehab-interview-homes-off-market/

I would guess the whole season was filmed before this article so the sale definitely fell through.

Here's the listing for the condo:

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/170-Boulevard-SE-Apt-E412_Atlanta_GA_30312_M65887-11423

It says it was last sold in 2020 which is when Alison bought it.  What's interesting is that the majority of the realty sites estimate the condo (and I know you have to take them with a grain of salt) between $500k - $600k but Realtor.com estimates it at $825k so it's not surprising that Alison wouldn't take a penny under $900k for it. :)

 

I liked how they showed Allison gloating about the sale of the Atlanta condo and how the inflated sales price was going to show everyone.  "Oh, how the mighty have fallen".

[KeithJ]

This couple lived in this house for 17 years and didn’t seem to know they were in a land marked neighborhood?  Nobody doing the plans knew that either?  Also, why would you start demo before the permits come through?  That’s six months they could have stayed in their own house instead of living with the mother in law.

$3.5m for her dream home?  Even her realtor thought she was crazy.  Here is the listing:

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2733-N-Pulaski-Rd_Chicago_IL_60639_M99985-34338

Shockingly, she delisted it and it's off the market. lol

Edited December 18 by KeithJ

[cameron]

11 hours ago, KeithJ said:

This couple lived in this house for 17 years and didn’t seem to know they were in a land marked neighborhood?  Nobody doing the plans knew that either?  Also, why would you start demo before the permits come through?  That’s six months they could have stayed in their own house instead of living with the mother in law.

$3.5m for her dream home?  Even her realtor thought she was crazy.  Here is the listing:

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2733-N-Pulaski-Rd_Chicago_IL_60639_M99985-34338

Shockingly, she delisted it and it's off the market. lol

Thought those home owners were really naive and unrealistic in the finishes they picked out for that job. Totally agree with your assessment regarding starting demo without permits in place.  And I thought the new paint job on the outside of the home was ugly.

[pwdrpuff]

Episode 12 with the cop, that house looked 100 times better before. The black paint and trim on the exterior looks poorly done. It’s already fading 🤦🏻‍♀️.

The inside is hideous imo. They totally ruined the house for $640k.  If they would have picked different paint colors, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, but the black and white this house, looks just soulless. 
 

The shiny black trim around the salvaged doors is a huge miss as well. They fight each other.  They just needed a new kitchen and bath and some design advice for the rest, now their house lacks any historic charm and is actually ugly,

23 hours ago, cameron said:

Thought those home owners were really naive and unrealistic in the finishes they picked out for that job. Totally agree with your assessment regarding starting demo without permits in place.  And I thought the new paint job on the outside of the home was ugly.

I’m not sure how that could pass the historic society. 

Edited December 19 by pwdrpuff

[pwdrpuff]

On 12/16/2024 at 7:16 AM, cameron said:

I liked how they showed Allison gloating about the sale of the Atlanta condo and how the inflated sales price was going to show everyone.  "Oh, how the mighty have fallen".

Did ever sell? I remember there was scammer that went under contract right?

On 12/11/2024 at 11:39 PM, LoveIsJoy said:

Unless I missed it, was there any explanation or resolution about the Atlanta deal falling through at the last minute?  It seems one segment she was upset with the agent on the phone call, and then it went to commercial.  After the commercial, it seems that we were back watching the progress of the house.

Maybe I zoned out, because I don’t remember an explanation about the Atlanta bombshell.  Especially since earlier in the show she had decided to move forward with buying the million dollar condo she wants to flip.  I assumed using proceeds from the Atlanta sale was practically a done deal.

 I did feel sorry for the problems the family encountered for their dream home. I sometimes like Allison’s designs, but the result turned out so been-there bland IMO.  I suppose there really wasn’t enough money left for the design budget.  And I thought the shower tile in the kids’ bathroom was strange.  Looked to me like a bit of dark herringbone tile randomly placed on the shower wall amidst the white subway tile.  I thought it looked odd.

Nah taste was rather lacking with this one. It doesn’t take more money to pick better paint colors. The design was bad too. Huge miss imo. That said, it might not be Alison’s fault entirely. The home owners wanted the complete opposite of their current home. Why stay then? Buy a beautiful $1M home elsewhere and sell their current one to someone who loves it. 🤷🏻‍♀️