Windy City Rehab - General Discussion

[LittleIggy]

12 hours ago, cameron said:

Streeterville actually comes with big panache behind it.  

But those of us not from Chicago don’t know that. Gold Coast sounds so luxe.

[DanielleBowden]

I can't get to the article because its behind a paywall but the couple who bought Giddings filed motion yesterday to block the sale of Alison's home.  

[cameron]

19 minutes ago, CeceliaBedelia said:

I can't get to the article because its behind a paywall but the couple who bought Giddings filed motion yesterday to block the sale of Alison's home.  

Curious as to whether it's to block the sale or impound the monies from the sale.  Just read about that on the Chicago Tribune site.  Suing couple is concerned where the funds of the real estate transaction would go.

 

Edited October 9, 2020 by cameron

[3 is enough]

Wow.  What a train wreck.

[jkitty]

I currently live in Streeterville a few blocks from this building.  I have two young children and literally every family we know in our neighborhood (which is many through preschool) is looking for a house in the burbs thanks to COVID, Mayor Lightfoot’s abysmal and hypocritical handling of COVID as it pertains to children (particularly in Streeterville and Lakeshore East), and steadily increasing crime In the area. With most of us working from home indefinitely, proximity to the loop is no longer a draw, our kids have no where to play safely, and most activities we loved to do with them are closed. People need offices,backyards, and proximity to family for help. 

My point is, selling this unit pre-COVID would have been a stretch as it is. At that price point, there are newer buildings with more amenities and more practical floor plans. The square footage may have been smaller, but pre-COVID most people living in Streeterville were not that hung up on amount of space, but more how it is used. (I know many people with 1%-er incomes that have kids sharing bedrooms or have rooms doing double-duty). Any home ownership cost down here is essentially double the mortgage with assessments and taxes. People wanted multiple pools, full gums, yoga studios, working spaces, pet groomers, dry cleaners, demonstration kitchens, party rooms, play rooms, golf simulators, etc. - all of which the new buildings have.

Now...I don’t see how she sells this unit. Pretty much anyone who was looking for this unit is looking in the burbs now or is very reluctant to buy with massive tax hikes looming to cover lost income from no tourism, conventions, reduced sales tax etc. 

[jkitty]

On 10/8/2020 at 11:44 PM, LittleIggy said:

But those of us not from Chicago don’t know that. Gold Coast sounds so luxe.

Gold Coast is expensive to be sure... but it’s mostly very old and very dated. Think of 80-year-old women who have lived in their homes for 50 years. The buildings are beautiful, but impractical and lacking in amenities that many younger buyers want and need. The floor plans are closed, the interiors are fussy and dated, and the units rarely have outdoor space or good light. Or they are full mansions like the one Governor Pritzker lives in (which is, quite frankly, hideous IMHO.  The one Bill and Giuliana Rancic did was nice though.) Gold Coast is old money with old buildings and older people. Streeterville is new money, new buildings and younger people/families. 

[cameron]

47 minutes ago, jkitty said:

Gold Coast is expensive to be sure... but it’s mostly very old and very dated. Think of 80-year-old women who have lived in their homes for 50 years. The buildings are beautiful, but impractical and lacking in amenities that many younger buyers want and need. The floor plans are closed, the interiors are fussy and dated, and the units rarely have outdoor space or good light. Or they are full mansions like the one Governor Pritzker lives in (which is, quite frankly, hideous IMHO.  The one Bill and Giuliana Rancic did was nice though.) Gold Coast is old money with old buildings and older people. Streeterville is new money, new buildings and younger people/families. 

Totally agree about Streeterville.  Loved the history of the area and it's many buildings, especially that private club that is painted green.

[3 is enough]

And yet even with all of this going on HGTV cast Alison (paired with Mike Holmes, no less) for the new season of Rock the Block.

Kind of ironic since Mike Holmes is known for being a stickler for doing it right.

Edited October 11, 2020 by 3 is enough

[CrazyInAlabama]

She's also going to be a designer on HGTV's show coming next spring, with Ty Pennington too.  She'll be one of three designers that alternate on the show.   

https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2555281/alison-victoria-has-yet-another-hgtv-show-despite-windy-city-rehab-legal-issues#:~:text=A new show is now,has its own intriguing concept.

Edited October 11, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[sskrill]

Why would someone who grew up in the John Hancock go to UNLV? (asks the UNLV grad)  I presume there would be some level of wealth and priviledge involved in that upbringing, meaning you could easily do better than a school ranked 258th.  

People definitely have a misconception about this market - these shows that tout the bling are not realistic.  A lot of this market is Mormons looking for 5 bedroom suburbia.  Also, working class casino folks looking for something they can afford, and where their kid can go to a decent elementary school (our schools ain't tied with Alabama for nothing).  

I'm sure there's money to be made here, but she has to understand she is not a top tier flipper.  I like her but I feel more like she's a kid playing at being a grown up in a field she doesn't have the skill to navigate.

But I'm as middle class as middle class gets, so I won't be seeing her in my hood.

Edited October 12, 2020 by sskrill

[Broderbits]

6 hours ago, 3 is enough said:

And yet even with all of this going on HGTV cast Alison (paired with Mike Holmes, no less) for the new season of Rock the Block.

Kind of ironic since Mike Holmes is known for being a stickler for doing it right.

This is one of the reasons why I stopped watching HGTV except for Love It or List It (I like Hilary & David) : it's impossible to take any of these clowns seriously. They've got actors playing designers, renovators getting sued for shoddy and illegal work, house after house looking exactly the same, very little originality or professionalism; and smother it all with a blanket of fake, fake, fake.

[LittleIggy]

5 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

She's also going to be a designer on HGTV's show coming next spring, with Ty Pennington too.  She'll be one of three designers that alternate on the show.   

https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2555281/alison-victoria-has-yet-another-hgtv-show-despite-windy-city-rehab-legal-issues#:~:text=A new show is now,has its own intriguing concept.

Does she have incriminating photos/videos of HGTV/Discovery execs?

[3 is enough]

4 hours ago, sskrill said:

Why would someone who grew up in the John Hancock go to UNLV? (asks the UNLV grad)  I presume there would be some level of wealth and priviledge involved in that upbringing, meaning you could easily do better than a school ranked 258th.  

People definitely have a misconception about this market - these shows that tout the bling are not realistic.  A lot of this market is Mormons looking for 5 bedroom suburbia.  Also, working class casino folks looking for something they can afford, and where their kid can go to a decent elementary school (our schools ain't tied with Alabama for nothing).  

I'm sure there's money to be made here, but she has to understand she is not a top tier flipper.  I like her but I feel more like she's a kid playing at being a grown up in a field she doesn't have the skill to navigate.

But I'm as middle class as middle class gets, so I won't be seeing her in my hood.

Fellow Las Vegan here.  In defense of UNLV, the hospitality school is one of the best in the country, and the law school has a solid ranking. 

Still, I understand your curiosity as to why she went to school here.  All I can think of is either she wanted to go to university in a fun city, or she didn't have the grades to get accepted into a better school.

And you are correct about the real estate market here.  But I'm sure she can find some more upscale properties in Summerlin where she can paint the cabinetry black and add ugly range hoods to the kitchens.

[buttersister]

2 hours ago, 3 is enough said:

grew up in the John Hancock

Her family moved to Lincolnwood when she was a young child. 

Mike I'll Make It Right Holmes is going to work with Lawsuit Alison? WTAF?

[CrazyInAlabama]

They almost had to team AV with Mike Holmes, to make sure everything was done correctly, and future home buyers weren't avoiding her house.   Personally, I wouldn't touch anything she redid, just for the design issues, and I wouldn't trust her to work with quality tradesmen, or even know what needs to be done to code.      The "I'm just a designer" statement doesn't thrill future buyers.   Notice many of the WCR homes just aren't selling.  

[MaKaM]

I don't know that I will watch the show, but if they did a "behind the scenes" and showed where Mike was totally destroying her, i'd pay to watch that. But honestly, she is probably fine if she just sticks to design and has a competent builder doing the heavy lifting. Her aesthetic isn't mine, but there isn't *that* much you can do to ruin a house by picking out fancy toilets and big brass range hoods. Mike likes the finer things but is also practical so maybe he'll be able to keep her from screwing up the budget for some antique furniture she is just going to paint black or a toilet that sings to you as you wee.

[sskrill]

15 hours ago, 3 is enough said:

Fellow Las Vegan here.  In defense of UNLV, the hospitality school is one of the best in the country, and the law school has a solid ranking. 

Still, I understand your curiosity as to why she went to school here.  All I can think of is either she wanted to go to university in a fun city, or she didn't have the grades to get accepted into a better school.

And you are correct about the real estate market here.  But I'm sure she can find some more upscale properties in Summerlin where she can paint the cabinetry black and add ugly range hoods to the kitchens.

I don't mean to devalue my own degree, but even the hospitality school is ranked 7th in the country, so that wouldn't say much for her either (I don't have a hospitality degree).  But yeah, maybe her grades sucked.

But she won't go to Summerlin, she'll think she belongs in 7 Hills with the rest of the elite.  I feel like houses between 250k and 400k would be her sweet spot.

Someone mentioned Lincolnwood, is that better, worse, or on par with the Hancock?

[buttersister]

7 hours ago, sskrill said:

Someone mentioned Lincolnwood, is that better, worse, or on par with the Hancock?

The Hancock is a landmark building on the Magnificent Mile. Heh, back door is in Streeterville, I guess;-) Currently open units are going from 500K to 2.2MM. Lincolnwood is a suburb 10 miles north of downtown. Average housing price is currently 380K, so some more, some less. It's nice, but not on par. Otoh, her parents saved a bundle not having to pay for private schools. As noted, she lives in Chicago proper now, close by a lot of the homes she trashed/failed to sell/was sued over.

[MsTree]

9 hours ago, sskrill said:

But she won't go to Summerlin, she'll think she belongs in 7 Hills with the rest of the elite. 

Summerlin is pretty spread out on the far west, so if she wants a mid-range she can go north of Charleston or south of Sunset. And if she wants "elite", there's always The Summit or The Ridges, although I seriously doubt she'll find what she's looking for there.

[Bigfatcat]

Oh, She favors the same 'barrel chair' that is neither comfortable (you back doesn't have support) or stylish in her own own. Where would you curl up to read a book on a wintry day? Here she is talking about her fabulous home!

 

[3 is enough]

That house looks so cold and uncomfortable.  I wonder if she is selling it furnished.

Tonight is the season finale.  At least it was fairly short.  I still am puzzled as to why HGTV is sticking with her.  

If she does come to Vegas she will have to deal with HOAs.  That might make her code violation issues and stop work orders in Chicago seem trivial by comparison. She certainly won't be allowed to add on to a house and dwarf the neighboring properties, or paint the exteriors black.

I saw some older photos of her before she went crazy with the eyebrows.  Why?  Does she not look in the mirror?

Edited October 13, 2020 by 3 is enough

[sempervivum]

That house of hers looks so 80's; I know that's a trend in fashion wear, but is it in interiors, too? Mauve, grey and touches of hunter green, plus brass- I did my first house in that palette!

Also, I was surprised that there didn't seem to be any outside space-no balcony, back garden or rooftop deck? 

[buttersister]

Oh good Lord, Delaware, it’s worst than I imagined. Tuned in just in time for a freaking pity party.

Still torturing vendors, last minute ideas, it costs him more “but he does it for free for me.“ 🤮

Countertop screwups, not right, big problem people!  FU. I can’t watch a singIng lesson. Or another minute. 

 

[sskrill]

7 hours ago, 3 is enough said:

If she does come to Vegas she will have to deal with HOAs.  That might make her code violation issues and stop work orders in Chicago seem trivial by comparison. She certainly won't be allowed to add on to a house and dwarf the neighboring properties, or paint the exteriors black.

Most of the HOA hoods are less than 20 yrs old, so I can't imagine there would be many to work with.  She'd probably try that area east of UNLV, and Rancho Manor area off Alta (very few homes there tho).

Lets just hope she doesn't.  Those other 2 couples are already awful enough.

[irisheyes]

Alison Season 1 - I’m rehabbing these homes and bringing them back to life. Only I can do work like this. It’s not for everyone. 
 

Alison Season 2 - I had nothing to do with construction. All I did was pick out tile and cabinets!  Why is everyone so upset with me???

[LittleIggy]

She’s just the DESIGNER! Waah! Then later in the show she called herself a developer. Whatever, bitch. 
I rolled my eyes so much during tonight’s episode that my eyes hurt. 🙄🙄🙄 Quick, Ari, build Alison a cross of reclaimed lumber so she can nail herself to it.

I hated the faux wood wallpaper. That wasn’t “Hunter Green.”

[CrazyInAlabama]

Another round of the Donovan is evil story line.   

 I hated the 3 flat on tonight's show.   I love how the $3,000, plus more if fully furnished (for corporate housing I imagine), turned into $2800 max by the realtor estimate.  Now down to $2500 for the two unrented apartments.   Not a great way to show a potential building buyer what a great investment this place is.     I saw other apartments with 3 bed 2 bath, and bigger second and third bedrooms, for $2500 that have been on the market for a while too.   Since the apartments were only 2 bed, 2 bath, then they didn't look like a great deal to me.  

 I wonder how the $1.5 million sale estimate will work out?    I hated all three kitchens, but at least they didn't have those $4,000 range hoods.   I think a second bedroom would have been more useful than a huge desk space in the second bedroom.   If I was an investor, I wouldn't want tenants already contracted for the apartments.    So $1.5 million down to $1.449 million price drop in two months?   And the slow season is here, 

Sorry, but the Hunter Green, was actually gray/blue.    The fake wood look wallpaper was hideous.    How many people are going to want to rent the first floor, and have no blinds on the windows looking out on the sidewalk?   

I had to laugh at the "Raise the Stakes" with Alison and the others sitting around blaming everything on Donovan.   Next Tuesday there are two episodes with commentary, and that's not something I plan on watching.    

Edited October 14, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[3 is enough]

Well that was a pity party.  I can't believe she was clueless for so long. I wonder if Donovan is suing her for airing their dirty laundry on tv.  Not saying he is blameless, but there are two sides to every story.

[cameron]

Well done Alison;  Stop Work Order with five code violations on the Augusta Blvd. property and Donovan isn't even working on this project.  And this is just in the beginning stages of the project.  

[irisheyes]

9 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

I hated the 3 flat on tonight's show.   I love how the $3,000, plus more if fully furnished (for corporate housing I imagine), turned into $2800 max by the realtor estimate.   I wonder how the $1.5 million sale estimate will work out?    I hated all three kitchens, but at least they didn't have those $4,000 range hoods.   I think a second bedroom would have been more useful than a huge desk space in the second bedroom.   If I was an investor, I wouldn't want tenants already contracted for the apartments.    

According to realtor.com, she still has two units to rent, and she’s asking $2500 for each. 
I wonder if she’s selling her house now to unload some of her assets so they can’t be claimed in a settlement. (Not a lawyer)

[cameron]

45 minutes ago, irisheyes said:

According to realtor.com, she still has two units to rent, and she’s asking $2500 for each. 
I wonder if she’s selling her house now to unload some of her assets so they can’t be claimed in a settlement. (Not a lawyer)

I think that's what the plaintiffs are concerned about and hence the lawsuit.

Just saw where Augusta is still on the market for $1,449,000.

[mojito]

Horrible episode with way too much repetition of one particular scene, especially since we'd already seen it before. 

Is Donovan completely out of business now? It would seem that he would have to leave the area what with all this bad publicity.

I'm curious about the three apartments. If I'm renting an apartment, I don't care if mine looks different than the other two. I only care what my apartment looks like. Perhaps AV just needed a diversion because I don't see what all the emphasis on unique apartments had to do with renting them or selling the building.

[WI GIRL56]

  ON 10/12/2020 AT 12:35 AM, 3 IS ENOUGH SAID:

Someone mentioned Lincolnwood, is that better, worse, or on par with the Hancock?

Lincolnwood does border Chicago.  It is a good area.  Houses are all over the place from McMansions to starter homes.  Probably a better place for kids since they have a yard.  

I worked at a grocery store in Lincolnwood in the late 70s.

[rlc]

Wait- did Allison end her partnership with Donovan? I’m not sure if it was mentioned.

[CrazyInAlabama]

On 10/14/2020 at 7:00 AM, irisheyes said:

According to realtor.com, she still has two units to rent, and she’s asking $2500 for each. 
I wonder if she’s selling her house now to unload some of her assets so they can’t be claimed in a settlement. (Not a lawyer)

Since I bet her place hasn't sold, and we're coming to the slow sales season, and many urban places have dropped in value, so there may not be any sales profit to fight over. 

Here's the yahoo news version of the article about the two attorneys already suing her over the house they bought, trying for a temporary restraining order for proceeds if she sells her own home in Bucktown.    The article notes that Gramenos (A.V.'s name) and her boyfriend filed a quit claim deed transferring ownership of the house to their LLC (The LLC is their initials).    That move isn't going to look good to the judge, will it?  

https://news.yahoo.com/couple-seeks-block-sale-windy-231300446.html

I also read that the place with two apartments, and the former Italian Ice shop in the basement was never rehabbed, but she wants to sell it as a  project for some other rehabber to fix, and I think they said there are approved plans, and permits.  It was put on sale for $999,000, in March 2020.    Now on the market for $799,000

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1846-N-Damen-Ave-60647/home/13355981?fbclid=IwAR0N-V7MxQHqRvUfdb0Qi2xKkSeucBlIX-AaTeaDudIt64l4verumdEKfAA

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1846-N-Damen-Ave_Chicago_IL_60647_M75858-07874

https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/03/11/windy-city-rehab-did-not-rehab-bucktowns-old-mikos-italian-ice-building-but-you-can-its-for-sale/   This is the article about the building.  

 

Edited October 16, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[LBS]

Those are small units too at 735 square feet.  My husband and I rent in the South Loop (2 bed/2 bath, 1150 square feet) for $2800 including parking.  We also have a gym in the building (not much use now though). Thinking she could get 3k in Ukie Village even not during a pandemic was a stretch.  The place is a half mile from the nearest el stop which is a bear in the winter and it’s not that close to downtown to lure a lot of corporate rentals.  What a mess!  She can’t blame Donovan for everything.  

[Bungalow]

Chicago Sun-Times about Ari:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2020/10/13/21514908/windy-city-rehab-ari-smejkal-hammer-design-group-alison-victoria

 

[LittleIggy]

Where did Alison get the money for the “Feng Shui expert” if she is so broke? 🙄

[MsTree]

2 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

Where did Alison get the money for the “Feng Shui expert” if she is so broke? 🙄

Maybe the expert came on to promote herself...and that was her "payment".

[3 is enough]

HGTV  or the  production company probably paid for the Feng Shui expert.  That  appearance just screams "scripted" to me.

[izabella]

A lot of people have mentioned those dumbass $4000 range hoods.  I vaguely recall that Allison sells those range hoods, like a side business, and profits handsomely from them.  Does anyone else remember her talking about that in season 1?

The couple that restores run-down homes in Galveston on DIY channel made their own range hood recently, too.  They said the hoods cost $4000, which would no way fit the budget for the shack they were renovating, so they made their own out of wood covered in copper sheeting for virtually pennies.

Edited October 15, 2020 by izabella

[mojito]

On 10/14/2020 at 11:37 AM, rlc said:

Wait- did Allison end her partnership with Donovan? I’m not sure if it was mentioned.

You had to read between the lines. Only the very astute among us caught this. To be honest, though, I had to watch the same scene seven times before I caught on. It's pretty subtle.

[fountain]

I guess I am the odd person out as I like a lot of what is done in most houses. The things I usually don’t like are the old stuff she overworks and includes with the new stuff but I usually like the new stuff, even many of the range hoods. Even though these places are flips I like that they include on trend features as shows like flip or flop just do the same basic builder stuff over and over again. It is nice to see more designed homes. I get it some people like the basic new home look but high end new homes in my city definitely have more detailed and stylized design.  You can definitely tell the difference between the show homes of a standard builder which do Tarek and Christina kind of things and the custom home builders who do more stuff like on this show.

I guess I take with a grain of salt the construction issues as all builders have some, it comes with the territory but they usually just handle them before they become lawsuits. IDK, I would have to research more about if the lawsuits make the news because of the show.

I figure all these shows lose money or break even on the homes but make money on the show.

[Grrarrggh]

10 hours ago, fountain said:

Even though these places are flips I like that they include on trend features as shows like flip or flop just do the same basic builder stuff over and over again. It is nice to see more designed homes. I get it some people like the basic new home look but high end new homes in my city definitely have more detailed and stylized design.  You can definitely tell the difference between the show homes of a standard builder which do Tarek and Christina kind of things and the custom home builders who do more stuff like on this show.

You can? I can't tell the difference. White/grey open concept. Where's the difference? 

[fountain]

3 hours ago, Grrarrggh said:

You can? I can't tell the difference. White/grey open concept. Where's the difference? 

I see a difference in the kitchens. Tarek and Christina often have the standard L with an island with shaker cabinets. This show has had many kitchens that are not grey or white and lots of non-shaker cabinets, at least from what I recall. IDK, I actually like the finishes in many areas on this show, maybe I wouldn’t choose everything for my house but the show gives me some ideas for my home as I find transitional style easy to make small updates to refresh it every few years. The only design stuff on this show I really don’t like is the antique stuff just because I dislike antiques and would totally paint them and piss people off. I like Allison’s own house she has for sale, but if it is all poor construction then that is not good.

I am sure Allison could totally be a bitch though, probably wouldn’t like her as a person but I ignore that part of the show lol. And of course if this is all shitty construction then who wants it but I watch for design ideas and I like to see pretty finished things.

[juliet73]

On 10/13/2020 at 1:50 AM, MsTree said:

Summerlin is pretty spread out on the far west, so if she wants a mid-range she can go north of Charleston or south of Sunset. And if she wants "elite", there's always The Summit or The Ridges, although I seriously doubt she'll find what she's looking for there.

 

On 10/13/2020 at 7:00 PM, sskrill said:

Most of the HOA hoods are less than 20 yrs old, so I can't imagine there would be many to work with.  She'd probably try that area east of UNLV, and Rancho Manor area off Alta (very few homes there tho).

Lets just hope she doesn't.  Those other 2 couples are already awful enough.

Former Las Vegan here.  I agree that her options are pretty limited due to the ages of the homes and/or HOA's, plus she'll be competing with new construction.  Henderson (not Green Valley), off of Sahara (near the Lakes) and maybe some areas on the outskirts (Blue Diamond, etc) are a few that I can think of right now.  She might have to rethink her clientele as well.  I can't imagine that there is a high demand for luxury houses considering LV has been one of the hardest hit from Covid-19. 

This was on People.com today:  https://people.com/home/windy-city-rehabs-alison-victorias-former-client-moves-to-have-all-her-assets-frozen-amid-lawsuit/

 

  

Edited October 17, 2020 by juliet73

[LittleIggy]

2 hours ago, juliet73 said:

 

Former Las Vegan here.  I agree that her options are pretty limited due to the ages of the homes and/or HOA's, plus she'll be competing with new construction.  Henderson (not Green Valley), off of Sahara (near the Lakes) and maybe some areas on the outskirts (Blue Diamond, etc) are a few that I can think of right now.  She might have to rethink her clientele as well.  I can't imagine that there is a high demand for luxury houses considering LV has been one of the hardest hit from Covid-19. 

This was on People.com today:  https://people.com/home/windy-city-rehabs-alison-victorias-former-client-moves-to-have-all-her-assets-frozen-amid-lawsuit/

 

  

Noticed this: “The property’s rehabilitation was chronicled on a January 2019 episode of the show, with stand-in actors reacting to the remodel’s reveal since the Morrisseys did not want to appear on camera, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.” 🤭
I didn’t see the episode. Did the actors gush over how wonderful the place was? 🤨

[MsTree]

18 hours ago, fountain said:

guess I am the odd person out as I like a lot of what is done in most houses.

You are not alone. However, I've had to look passed her affinity for black 😉

[cameron]

9 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

Noticed this: “The property’s rehabilitation was chronicled on a January 2019 episode of the show, with stand-in actors reacting to the remodel’s reveal since the Morrisseys did not want to appear on camera, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.” 🤭
I didn’t see the episode. Did the actors gush over how wonderful the place was? 🤨

The judge threw out the the Freeze the Assets lawsuit by the plaintiffs according to a very recent article in the Chicago Tribune.

[jkitty]

My beef with her designs is that they are wholly impractical especially at her price point. For a 1-2M house in the city, you need to be maximizing storage. Most of her kitchens barely have any storage. If they do, she manages to ruin it but doing something like open shelving or clear cabinets. (A glass cabinet or 2 is ok, but not ALL the upper cabinets. Sorry, but my toddler plates and sippy cups are not display worthy.) She wastes spaces that would be a functional and much-needed pantry by turning them into coffee bars and putting in defaced antiques. She doesn’t have coat closets...in Chicago.  She takes rooms in a basements that could be a functional space tbd by the purchaser (like an office, playroom, extra bedroom or a small gym) and makes them a wine room.
 

She thinks she is a huge value-add but usually her big ideas are highly limiting. I don’t know anyone in the city who would want AstroTurf instead of grass. If outdoor yard space is that high on your list you probably have kids or a dog. Dogs can’t relieve themselves in turf and it will hurt kids to fall on cement. There is a reason most new builds in an area are “cookie cutter.”  It’s the design and aesthetic that meets the needs of most of the consumer. You can’t build a non-custom house like it’s custom and expect to get max price and a quick sale. You will alienate so many buyers that way.  She’s just her own worst enemy.  

Edited October 18, 2020 by jkitty