Windy City Rehab

Alison Victoria buys a run-down historic home in the heart of Chicago that comes with many surprises. When the house unexpectedly has to be taken down to the studs, Alison must do whatever it takes to stay on time and on budget.

Alison finds a Civil War-era house on a corner lot, with only 112 square metres of living space. They try to get enough additional space and a fresh design from the home to get their price point without destroying its original history and charm.

While looking for a property in Wicker Park, designer Alison and Donovan discover what seems like a great deal on an 1885 triplex with fire damage; soon, hidden structural damage from the fire starts burning up their hopes for a profit.

Alison and Donovan tackle an 1800s landmarked home in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, but major structural issues and a tenant who won't vacate cause them to lose control of the already maxed-out budget.

Alison Victoria wants to give a neglected Bucktown home an upscale, English-style makeover; she faces a tough financial decision when a potential buyer makes a full-price offer that requires her to change the entire design.

Alison and Donovan land one of the first landmarked cottages in Chicago's Ukrainian Village neighborhood. They hope to return the property to its former glory, but strict historical build guidelines and expensive property loss may hinder that.

Alison and Donovan decide to renovate a huge, early-1900s home in Lincoln Square that's been split into a two-flat and convert it back to a single-family home. The enormous size comes with additional expenses and delays that threaten their profit.

Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt take their chances on a split-level home that is full of disasters; faced with numerous setbacks, they must put their differences aside to turn the nightmare into a dream home for potential buyers.

Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt take on a penthouse with the potential for some serious profit. What seems like an easy renovation quickly goes off the rails, when an inexperienced superintendent tries to hide his shoddy work.

Alison and Donovan enter uncharted territory with a converted four-unit historic home in Lincoln Park. They must decide whether to leave it as a four-unit, or turn it back into a single-family home.

Alison and Donovan take a huge risk when they buy an oddball, boxlike house from the '90s. A flooded basement is just the beginning of a myriad of problems they encounter.

A new project in the North Center neighborhood is an opportunity for Alison to get the business under control, but after Donovan has a disagreement with Ermin over a structural issue, she considers whether they can continue working together.

Alison and Donovan are denied a loan for a new property and are forced to shift focus to finishing a new construction that slipped through the cracks; Alison must finish the project quickly and get to the bottom of why it stalled in the first place.

Alison works hard to defend her business and reputation; she takes on a three-unit building in one of Chicago's hottest neighborhoods and must find a way to make each unique and luxurious in its own way.

Alison tackles a high-rise condo in need of a modern makeover and hopes to turn a quick profit. As her business spirals out of control, tempers flare during a meeting and Alison and Donovan's partnership is pushed to the brink.

Alison and Donovan find a home in the North Center neighborhood, and she thinks it's an opportunity to get the business under control. After Donovan has a disagreement over a structural issue, Alison considers whether they can continue working together

Despite Donovan's hesitation, Alison seizes the opportunity to build in a new area of Chicago. She feels this project is the perfect way to get to know the neighborhood, and while it goes smoothly, cracks continue to grow in her and Donovan's partnership.

Alison and Donovan are denied a loan for a new property and are forced to shift focus to finishing a new construction that slipped through the cracks. Alison must finish the project quickly and get to the bottom of why it stalled in the first place.

A busy client in Chicago gives Alison carte blanche and a $1.5 million budget to renovate a complete tear down into an architectural masterpiece that includes its own greenhouse, a massive living area and unique landscaping.

Alison helps a Chicago family navigate the city's tough building codes and materials shortages to turn their outdated home into a suburban stunner sure to become the envy of the whole neighborhood.

Alison works with a close friend to dial in his stunning Gold Coast high-rise condo while also juggling business opportunities as she jets to Athens to create a signature wine.

Alison takes on a project to rescue her clients from a bad floor plan in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. She has to juggle a huge budget, tight timelines and demanding home owners as she struggles to keep the renovation on track.

As Alison continues to rebound from a tumultuous year, she dips her toes back into the world of client renovations; she takes on a Chicago couple with a big wish list and a tight budget.

While taking advantage of a real estate opportunity in Atlanta, Alison finds a willing co-investor in her older brother; she gets to work completely transforming an outdated loft in one of the city's oldest buildings into a truly luxurious retreat.

Alison joins forces with a husband-and-wife realtor team to restore a three-bedroom Spanish revival in California's Hollywood Hills.

Alison has one last property to flip that she owns with her former business partner; her new construction on a six-bedroom home in the perfect location should bring in top dollar, but major delays tighten the budget to avoid a huge loss.

After Alison designed their kitchen, her friends are back for a second round, but this time it's for their entire house; the project turns tense when their contractor cuts corners, delaying the project and pushing their budget to the max.

A client's project is right up Alison's alley – a converted single-family home with history and high-end finishes. But the pressure is on when a one-year deadline is set to get the job done, and he tells Alison he's moving in whether it's ready or not.

Alison's best friend Christy and her fiance are battling over budget - she wants fancy, he wants to lower costs. They bring in Alison to mediate, and she must find a way to make both sides agree without compromising the design.

Alison is given four months to design the top floors of a city condo, but things get complicated when the city code requires a second exit. As a result, the project threatens to spiral out of control with heavy delays and a huge increase to the budget.

Alison has her hands full with two 100-year-old projects – a suburban phase one overhaul and a city rental property that's barely standing. She's also faced with a tough decision when one project takes a turn that could cost her business.

Alison goes big and takes on a full renovation of her own Spanish-style villa, finding pieces from across the globe to take it to the next level. Her stress soars, however, when she tries to find the time to stay in Vegas to get the job done right.

Alison is granted full design freedom to expand a family’s historical home, and it’s a dream job until the homeowners get an eviction notice from their short-term rental.

Alison is on board when a client decides to be the general contractor on his own project, but a subcontractor mistake costs him thousands. Now, Alison must design on an even tighter budget and convince him to trust the design process.

After Alison designed their kitchen, her friends are back for a second round, but this time it’s for their entire house; the project turns tense when their contractor cuts corners, delaying the project and pushing their budget to the max.

A couple who's been in their first home for 17 years are ready for Alison to give it a fresh look. But when they find out their house is on a landmarked street, the budget takes a $150,000 hit. Meanwhile, Alison still looks for ways to flip.

A couple's been stuck in a house that barely functions for three years, and their bedroom doesn't even have heat! And for Alison, the renovation is far from easy as continual delays leave the family scrambling and pushes everyone to their limits.

Alison feels a sense of urgency as she takes on a first-floor renovation for a client who's losing her vision. Contrast is key, and she looks to make design decisions where function trumps style. Also, Alison's tempted to get back into the flipping game.

A woman is under pressure having invested her parent's life savings into a full-gut renovation of their multi-generational home. Now, Alison faces the challenge of delivering a design that the entire family can agree on while staying in a tight budget.

Alison has designed many homes like this couple's quintessential Chicago two-flat, but she hasn't always had to deal with such opinionated clients. The end result is a brag house that's, "worth every conversation," displaying custom pieces at every turn.

Clients are $150,000 in the hole before they turn to Alison for a rescue. The project has been sitting for a year, so Alison looks to turn their mess into magic with the bathroom of their dreams, a high-end adult room and a spacious family kitchen.

Alison is on the clock to renovate a single-family home while her clients live in the basement. Now, the pressure's on to deliver high-end design with a focus on lighting and custom fireplaces, and to get them upstairs as fast as she can.

Alison plays both designer and therapist to a bickering couple who want to double the size of their home. She looks to deliver a massive kitchen, a main suite with an enviable closet and to get their daughter off the dog's bed and into her own room.

Alison returns to a 140-year-old home she loves but had to walk away from after endless delays. This time she demands complete design control over the project, but as time passes, she questions if she's right back into the same mess as before.

A couple looks to Alison to take on their perfect property, a downtown Chicago penthouse. Alison discovers this is no easy project, however, as these clients come in with high-end taste, a tight budget and struggle to give up control over the design.

Alison steps in and takes over when she sees a couple's choppy and terrible floor plan. She aims to deliver on their dream of a rustic, Italian home in the city, creating one of her favorite kitchens, arched doorways and a stained glass masterpiece.

Alison jumps in to save a family that's about to give up on their dream of owning an 1890 home in Little Italy. She stretches the budget to include a fireplace in the living room, a modern chef's kitchen and a stained glass door to the main bathroom.