'Ugliest House in America': Season 6 Makeover and House Tour

HGTV's Ugliest House in America host Retta (left) once again journeyed across the U.S. in search of America's most ill-conceived and unattractive abodes. Her ultimate goal? Find the home that checks the greatest number of boxes in terms of dysfunctionality, anti-appeal, pure unsightliness and (in some cases) downright shock value. The home then receives a radical makeover by Chicago-based designer Alison Victoria (right) — HGTV's Windy City Rehab host known for her flair for elegance and originality.

Some of the over-the-top standouts from Season 6 are homes with nicknames like "the carpet castle" (think shag carpet used in place of wallpaper), "bedrock bedlam" (an inexplicable structure resembling a Hobbit hole crossed with a concrete bunker) and "the crafty cottage of delusion" (outlandish interiors displaying what can only be described as an obsession for art gone haywire). After touring them all, Retta declares, "Ugly is back … and it's back with a vengeance."

In the end, there can be only one house each year that earns what is perhaps HGTV's most ignoble honor: being deemed the absolute ugliest. This year, the honor goes to a row house in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, dubbed "the collage barrage" — an ostensibly unsellable home that, on the outside, epitomizes the term "unspectacular" and, on the inside, is a conglomeration of bizarre art projects run amok. It came with all the necessary Ugliest House requirements: a dreadful appearance, awful function, a broad range of inexplicable surprises and plenty of, um, questionable design choices. There are wall collages made from broken mirror fragments and random objects such as bottles, marbles and trinkets embedded in the mortar of interior brick walls. (And that's just for starters.) "The inside makes it clear," says Retta, "the previous owners' artistic license should have been revoked. There's no method. It's just madness."

Here, Retta and Alison present homeowner Justine with her newly refurbished home on reveal day. Alison transformed the exterior with a renovated facade, a crisp black-and-white palette, a striking new pergola and a partially enclosed patio. The front-facing patio features outdoor furniture and an outdoor kitchen complete with a grill, an under-counter fridge, a prep surface and drawer storage. For visual continuity with the adjacent row homes, Alison painted the formerly charcoal gray siding and retaining wall white. The brick portion of the exterior was also painted in bright white and features matte black window trim for heightened contrast.

Additional exterior upgrades include pastel pink paint on the front door, upgraded landscaping, patio planters and outdoor sconce lighting in carriage-style black metal frames, coordinating with the pergola and trim. The pergola's slats are motorized and can be closed, forming a solid roof for added shade when needed or protection from rain during outdoor gatherings. "That is all livable, usable real estate now," says Alison. "It gives a grand feel to a row house."

Prior to the renovation, the main living space served as an ad hoc home office — and as a cat's playroom, complete with a carpet-covered cat tree. The dark exposed brick and haphazard arrangement of furnishings made for a space that was, at best, barely functional and, at worst, uninviting and dreary.

Alison's design called for retaining the wood floors but brightening up the room with fresh white paint for the brick, which gives the entire space a crisp feel and provides a striking backdrop for framed art and wall decor. The new seating area features cozy, midcentury-inspired chairs and an antique decorative mantel. Oversized fiddle-leaf figs add a splash of green.

Details in the living space include an antique decorative mantel, a modern original painting in monochromatic black and white and brass sconces. "The mantel helps define the space," says Alison, who also relocated a drab and poorly placed powder room and, in the process, created a statement guest bath boasting black walls, black tile and a countertop vanity custom-mounted in a repurposed vintage dresser.

Prior to the makeover, the kitchen and dining area displayed a clash of mismatched colors, textures and materials, including an oversized island that was visually obtrusive and not particularly functional. The floor was tiled — a hodgepodge of shapes, sizes and shades.

The newly reconfigured and updated kitchen is sleek, with light-stained wood floors, custom cabinetry in a natural wood finish and a functional island with a white stone top and an integrated sink. A new pro-style gas range, vent hood and modern fridge are all painted in color-matched pink. (If you haven't noticed, pink — the homeowner's favorite color — is a running theme throughout this renovation. And, fear not, there's more in store!)

Defining details in the upgraded kitchen include drawer and cabinet pulls that were cleaned up and thoughtfully repurposed from the original cabinetry, as well as pink color-matched knobs for the gas range.

The newly expanded kitchen also includes a breakfast nook furnished with an oval dining table, modern upholstered chairs and a banquette-style bench seat accented by pink (naturally!) throw pillows. The dining space is backed by exposed brick painted in white and is illuminated by industrial-style sconce lighting and a statement chandelier with Murano glass ornamentation.

The family room, located in what was formerly the kitchen space, combines an arched entryway, wood paneling and a neutral palette accented with pink and white accessories. It also contains one very distinctive bonus feature …

Alison activates the latch to a secret door that leads from the family room directly into a concealed "speakeasy" — a unique bonus room that's ideal for entertaining or as a private getaway.

Prior to the renovation, this odd crescent-shaped sunroom at the rear of the house was an homage to the home's decidedly eccentric character — with an interior sliding glass door, a mosaic-style stone floor, a display of stained-glass windows, lots of glass brick and cigar box lids doubling as wallpaper.

It's in this room's makeover that Alison unleashes the full force of the power of pink. The walls are covered in a graphic, mural-style wallpaper featuring pink flamingos. The built-in shelves and wood trim are all painted pale pink, and the curved exterior wall is now lined with a sofa-style bench seat upholstered in deep rose. The space is accented with a trio of café tables and indoor plants.