Tour Team Alison's 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home

Led by Alison Victoria, business partners and best friends Pete and Ben bring a blend of construction and design know-how to compete against two other design times. See their beach house renovation here.

June 06, 2023

By: Rebecca R. Norris

Show: Battle on the Beach

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Photo By: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

Battle on the Beach: Team Alison

For the third season of Battle on the Beach, Windy City Rehab host Alison Victoria mentored Pete and Ben, best friends and business partners from Upper Peninsula, Michigan. They've completed a total of 52 renovations and flips together, each bringing their own skills to the table: Pete's a construction guru, and Ben's a real estate broker with a background in fine art and design. They’ve worked on flips of this scale in the past, but now they’re up against the clock. The duo has just six weeks and $90,000 to complete the renovation.

see more: Battle on the Beach

The Teams: Season 3

Pete and Ben weren’t the only seasoned flippers on the beach. They were up against business partners Ashley and Steve (mentored by Rock the Block host, Ty Pennington), who had more than 40 flips under their belt, and Kelsey and Ryan (mentored by Build It Forward host Taniya Nayak), a husband-and-wife DIY content creator duo. Each team was given $90,000 and six weeks to completely renovate their rundown beach home, all in an effort to add value and walk away with the $50,000 grand prize.

The Kitchen Challenge, Before

Pete and Ben's kitchen was musty and needed more airflow, but they quickly realized they had an opportunity to make the space the heart of the home.

The Kitchen Challenge, After

To make the kitchen the focal point of the home, Pete and Ben flipped it with the living room, which situated it in the middle of the living area. This enhanced functionality and flow, as well as made the space feel more open. The team also lifted the ceiling and outfitted it with joists for an airier appeal.

The Kitchen Challenge, After

When designing their kitchen, Pete and Ben went with a bright, two-tone green palette, which they incorporated into their cabinetry, island and backsplash. It was only once they ran out of dark green tiles that they began weaving in shades of blue, which ended up adding to the beachy ambiance.

The Kitchen Challenge, After

Knowing that five stools at a kitchen island isn’t nearly enough seating for a packed beach house, Pete and Ben added a built-in breakfast nook off to one side of the kitchen, which featured an L-shaped bench and three chairs. Then, to make the most of the extra space across from the table, they added a powder room.

Judges’ Reaction

At the end of the day, Pete and Ben spent $30,081 (just $81 over their budget). When Sarah and Bryan Baeumler of Renovation Island toured the home with Alison in tow, they were quick to comment on the color scheme, which wasn’t Bryan’s favorite. Vibrant palette aside, Bryan was wowed by the quality of workmanship, particularly the way in which they accented the ceiling. That said, both he and Sarah felt Pete and Ben missed a key opportunity by not opening up their windows or, at the very least, focusing the dining nook around them.

See the Winning Design: Tour Team Ty's Winning 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home

The Main Suite, Before

Week two of the Battle on the Beach Season 3 was spent transforming the main suite. In past seasons, the main suite was already an established space within the home. This season, teams had to choose which of the two bedrooms would serve as their main bedroom and bathroom. With hopes of adding immense value, Pete and Ben opted to transform the larger of the two rooms.

The Main Suite, After

Making the most of their space, the duo knocked out the hallway wall to square off the room. Then they added two spacious closets to the right side of the room, something Bryan and Sarah immediately noticed.

The Main Suite, After

When designing their main suite, the teams were challenged with adding antique pieces into the space. Alison, Taniya and Ty took their design duos to Charles Phillips Antiques and Architecturals, where they were given $500. At the end of the day, Pete and Ben walked away with a $396 vintage barn door — which they put on a track leading to their en suite bathroom — and a $278 set of French doors to serve as the opening statement to the main suite. While they edged into their budget, they felt the pieces added notable character and value.

The Main Suite, After

Behind the antique barn door, Pete and Ben created a stunning main bath configured from their guest bathroom. They outfitted it with a walk-in shower featuring dual rainfall showerheads and rich greenish-blue tile.

Judges' Reactions

During the main suite challenge, Bryan and Sarah judged each team with three main elements in mind: craftsmanship, overall design and added value. They applauded the spacious bedroom, monstrous bathroom, expertly laid tile and ample storage. They didn’t, however, love the bold X-shaped accent wall, the pebbled floor in the shower or the single vanity.

The Main Suite, After

“The execution is incredible,” Bryan said after touring the space, noting how much he liked the placement of the toilet, which was kept out of view of the doorway.

And the Winner Is...

Despite the few fallbacks they saw, Bryan and Sarah thought Pete and Ben’s main suite transformation was most notable of all. To them, the construction, attention to detail and overall craftsmanship were on par, which ultimately earned them the $3,000 cash prize for the week. After losing the kitchen challenge — and after going slightly over budget at the antique salvage yard — Pete and Ben were thrilled to take home a win.

Look Back at Season 2: Interview: 'Windy City Rehab' Star Alison Victoria, Season 2 Winner of 'Battle on the Beach'

The Living Room, Before

The third week of competition was spent renovating and designing the living room. The goal: Create as much added value as possible, while tailoring the space to the beachside market. After centering their kitchen in the middle of the home's living area, Ben and Pete planned to transform their original kitchen into their new living room — with just $9,000.

The Living Room, After

Inspired by Alison's advice, Ben and Pete chose to get rid of the windows on the far side of their home to make room for a statement wall (complete with a fireplace and built-in bookcases). While the road to get there was a bit rocky — Ben found Alison’s tough love difficult to receive — in the end, they landed on a cohesive, collaborative design.

The Living Room, After

To make the statement wall really stand out, Ben and Pete purchased a $375 vintage mantel from Hungary. The circa-1880s piece had tons of character but needed to be trimmed down to fit the space. Once in place, the team filled the interior of the mantle with a firebox surrounded by marble, blending old with new.

The Judges Weigh In

While Ben and Pete’s living room design was cozy and colorful, Bryan and Sarah said they missed the "beach" element of the space. “I don’t feel your house has maximized why you’re here,” Sarah said. “Nowhere in this whole lower level or main floor have you focused on the outside.”

The Living Room, After

The window to the side of the soft blue couch could have been the perfect place to focus seating around, however, in Ben and Pete’s design, only a single seat in the living room peers out to the ocean. The good news? "Furniture can easily be moved around," Alison reminded the judges.

Judges’ Final Reactions

As much as Bryan and Sarah enjoyed the cohesive design and quality craftsmanship in the living room, they ultimately felt it was too formal for a beach house. Because of this, Ben and Pete didn’t take home the win for the third week of the competition. This was especially disappointing considering they went roughly $3,000 over budget, ringing in at $12,095.

See the Winning Design: Tour Team Ty's Winning 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home

The Guest Room, Before

Ben and Pete were feeling defeated coming off a loss during week three. To make up for it, they planned to add as much value to their guest room as possible by creating a kids' room that would accommodate at least three people. They vowed to spend no more than $10,000 on the project.

The Guest Room, After

When dreaming up the kids' room, Alison suggested Ben and Pete add a queen-sized bed with a twin bunk on top to make the most of the space.

The Guest Room, After

In an effort to appeal to kids, Pete and Ben pivoted from the green color palette they used throughout the rest of the home and layered shades of blue into the design.

The Guest Bathroom, After

Pete and Ben continued the blue color palette (and the shark accents) into the guest bathroom. Hand-laid tile and modern finishes give the space an upscale, nautical ambiance.

The Guest Bathroom, After

Bryan and Sarah admitted they would have liked to see a finish on the newly-installed pine door in the guest bathroom.

Judges' Reactions

All in all, Bryan and Sarah were impressed with Pete and Ben's work in the fourth week of the competition — especially considering they came in under budget at $9,658. They were big fans of the magnetized games on the walls, as well as the quality of workmanship. That said, they would have liked to see more toys and play areas, particularly because it was geared toward kids.

See the Winning Design: Tour Team Taniya's 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home

The Exterior, Before

Week five was all about the exterior. With just one win under their belt, Pete and Ben were determined to make a jaw-dropping impression with their deck. They set aside $18,500 for the project.

The Exterior, After

Pete and Ben continued with the green color scheme from the interior of their home. “We’re ready to knock out the exterior by showcasing our style and bringing the inside out,” Pete said.

The Exterior, After

"We’ll create three zones for hanging out," Pete said. "First, an area where people can chill around a fire pit. Then a dining area for eating al fresco (featuring a new tongue-and-groove ceiling and fan). Last, we’ll build a custom kitchenette area ... and add a countertop section to cool off with a nice cold brew.”

The Exterior Challenge

The competitors were tasked with a challenge involving communication. Each team had no more than five or ten minutes to meet with their mentor, carpenter and builder (separately) to come up with a detailed plan for the outdoor shed. Then the carpenter shut the door and got to work with the renovations. "[Teams] won’t see the space again until after they’ve been judged,” Ty revealed. Unfortunately, Pete and Ben struggled to effectively convey their plans.

Judges Weigh In

“We liked to see that you had incorporated all different zones, which is really important for a deck,” Sarah said. Overall, they would have loved to have seen a more spacious seating area around the firepit and better materials for the outdoor kitchen. “Those are interior butcher block countertops and when it rains, they’re going to start to swell and expand and eventually mold and rot — and that's only if the house doesn’t burn down because the wood countertops are jammed right up against the barbecue,” Bryan pointed out.

See the Winning Design: Tour Team Taniya's 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home

Final Fixes

After announcing the exterior challenge winner, Bryan and Sarah told teams that they had until the end of the day to make final fixes on their homes before a group of local realtors came to appraise each property. Budgets had run out, so they gave each team $5,000 to address trouble areas in their homes.

See the Winning Design: Tour Team Ty's Winning 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home

And the Winner Is...

Team Alison spent their $5,000 on their exterior. They added a screened-in porch, replaced the butcher-block countertop surrounding the grilling area with granite slabs, and inlaid a sink for even more convenience while cooking outside. While Bryan and Sarah were immensely impressed with their additions, it wasn't enough to bring home the win.

winner's interview: Interview: Ty Pennington Crowned the Season 3 Champion Mentor of 'Battle on the Beach'

Battle on the Beach

Tour Team Alison's 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home

Related To:

Shop This Look

Battle on the Beach: Team Alison

The Teams: Season 3

The Kitchen Challenge, Before

The Kitchen Challenge, After

The Kitchen Challenge, After

The Kitchen Challenge, After

Judges’ Reaction

The Main Suite, Before

The Main Suite, After

The Main Suite, After

The Main Suite, After

Judges' Reactions

The Main Suite, After

And the Winner Is...

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Living Room, After

The Judges Weigh In

The Living Room, After

Judges’ Final Reactions

The Guest Room, Before

The Guest Room, After

The Guest Room, After

The Guest Bathroom, After

The Guest Bathroom, After

Judges' Reactions

The Exterior, Before

The Exterior, After

The Exterior, After

The Exterior Challenge

Judges Weigh In

Final Fixes

And the Winner Is...

Tour Team Taniya's 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home 33 Photos

Team Alison’s ‘Battle on the Beach’ Season 2 House Reveal 30 Photos

Tour Team Ty's Winning 'Battle on the Beach' Season 3 Home 33 Photos

Interview: Ty Pennington Crowned the Season 3 Champion Mentor of 'Battle on the Beach'

Team Ty's 'Battle on the Beach' Season 2 House Reveal 30 Photos

Team Taniya’s ‘Battle on the Beach’ Season 2 House Reveal 30 Photos

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