'Ugliest House in America' Season 3: See the Stunning Makeover

In this third trip across the country, Retta found some truly appalling homes. But only one gets the moniker of HGTV's Ugliest House in America — and with it, a stunning home makeover by Windy City Rehab’s Alison Victoria.

January 06, 2023

By: Chelsey Bowen

Show: Ugliest House in America

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Shop This Look

Photo By: Brian O'Doherty

Photo By: Noah Willman

Photo By: Brian O'Doherty

Photo By: Noah Willman

Photo By: Brian O'Doherty

Photo By: Noah Willman

Photo By: Brian O'Doherty

Photo By: Noah Willman

Photo By: Brian O'Doherty

Photo By: Noah Willman

Photo By: Brian O'Doherty

Photo By: Noah Willman

Photo By: Brian O'Doherty

Photo By: Noah Willman

Photo By: Brian O'Doherty

Photo By: Noah Willman

The Search is Over

During Season 3 of Ugliest House in America, host Retta traveled across five regions of the United States to find — you guessed it — the ugliest house in America. After touring 15 semi-finalist homes, she called in Windy City Rehab's Alison Victoria to give the winner a much-needed $150,000 home renovation.

see more: Ugliest House in America

The Lucky Winners!

In Manassas, Virginia, Alex bought a house for him, his parents and his sister to share. The expansive home not only fits their living needs but provides office space for work-from-home days. However, the overall style of the interior wasn't exactly what the family was looking for, and though they originally thought they could update it with cosmetic fixes, they quickly realized they were in way over their heads.

Before: House Exterior

Take a peek above the front door for your first glimpse of why Retta tagged this home, “The House of the Gilded Angel.” The stained-glass window features an enormous cherub: the first of many. Note the overgrown landscaping and tired exterior in need of a little TLC.

After: House Exterior

Initially Alison wanted to paint the entire brick exterior blue, but the homeowners were hesitant. She opted to leave the brick as it was and use the chic, dark blue shade on the home's shutters, front door, garage doors and window surrounds.

From: Alison Victoria

Before: Entryway

Cluttered and outdated, the entryway was a mish-mash of florals, damasks, oak wood and tile flooring.

After: Entryway

After a complete clean out, the now black-and-white entryway is barely recognizable. Alison laid new luxury vinyl throughout the whole home, grounding the transformation from the floor up. A glossy black staircase and a complementary modern cabinet create a simple, yet striking, ambiance.

From: Alison Victoria

Before: Entryway

Ah, to see the angel stained-glass window in all its glory. Needless to say, it was one element Alex and his family were ready to get rid of ASAP. The ornately traditional home felt antiquated and didn't fit this modern family’s style.

After: Entryway

Now, not only does the home have a clean aesthetic, it’s also personalized to the family. Alison's new monogrammed stained-glass window makes a beautiful statement.

From: Alison Victoria

Before: Living Room

One of the few spaces that wasn’t bursting with angelic features: the living room — not to say it didn't need to be updated.

After: Living Room

Fresh, contemporary furnishings set the scene for a casual and inviting family room. Though Alison may not have painted the house’s brick exterior, she still had the chance to transform the brick around the fireplace with a fresh coat of bold paint. Black accents in the window treatments and furnishings deliver depth to the neutral space.

From: Alison Victoria

The Final Touches

Though Alison was the lead designer on this project, Retta got to use her design skills along the way from helping with final picks for flooring, tile and cabinet choices to her chic idea for transforming the basement. Watch out, design world! We have a new gal in town.

Before: Kitchen

Overly ornate, the kitchen is an abundance of frilly window treatments, embellished cabinets, a shiny tin ceiling and an elaborate chandelier. It was all just too much.

Saving an Original Piece

One of Alison’s hallmarks when renovating for Ugliest House in America is saving a design element from the original house and reusing it in the new home. Cherub tiles made up the kitchen’s backsplash, so she repurposed a few of the angels as coasters. Now the family has a physical reminder of how far the house has come.

After: Kitchen

The homeowners have a large extended family, so it was important to create a functional kitchen that also allowed them to host gatherings. The new, spacious kitchen, which Alison extended by taking the cook space into the breakfast area, boasts an oversized island, plenty of counter and storage space and top-notch appliances

From: Alison Victoria

After: Kitchen

Right on trend, two-toned cabinetry brings this kitchen into the now. Alison paired navy blue lower cabinets with soft gray uppers. A marble-inspired backsplash and countertops pull them all together. Centering the space is an extra-long island for dining, hanging out and prepping.

From: Alison Victoria

After: Kitchen

This homeowner hated having her stovetop in the center of the kitchen's island, so Alison created a cooking area all to itself. Hidden behind cabinets, the range complements the room's sleek, counter-to-ceiling backsplash, the ultimate designer-worthy look.

From: Alison Victoria

Before: Sitting Room

Oh-so fussy, this living space is all frills, tassels and gilded accessories. The family needed a room where they could gather without being suffocated by an overly decorated design.

After: Sitting Room

Stripped of all its adornments, the living room is now bright and airy. Alison created balance with pairs of armchairs and end tables, centering the always-in-style white sofa. Large-scale, abstract artwork makes an impact on the blank wall.

From: Alison Victoria

Before: Dining Room

Dark and dated, the dining room was exploding with old-fashioned patterns and furnishings.

After: Dining Room

Goodbye damask wallpaper, tin ceiling and heavy wooden furniture. Hello simple white walls and contemporary, streamlined furnishings that instantly bring brightness. A sleek, sculptural chandelier makes for the perfect subtle yet eye-catching light source — especially since it replaced the garish one installed by the previous homeowner.

From: Alison Victoria

Not-So-Angelic Decor

The golden angel sconces in the upstairs hallway were possibly the most despised decoration in the house. In addition to the overall look, they were hung exactly at the right height for hitting heads and shoulders.

Before: Main Bedroom

The homeowners were literally resting on a bed of roses in their main bedroom. The carpet had to go, along with the heavy, dark furniture.

After: Main Bedroom

Now, this is a bedroom made for resting at the end of the day. Alison comfied up the new luxury vinyl flooring with a textured, neutral rug. She also reworked the space to include an intimate seating area, as well as sleeping quarters with a brand-new king-sized bed flanked by chic-in-green dressers that double as nightstands.

From: Alison Victoria

All the Angels and Cherubs

This bathroom is one of the main reasons this house was chosen as the ugliest in America. Not only was the chandelier over the tub a safety hazard, but the new family felt terrified bathing with disembodied cherub heads staring down at them. Every corner of the home featured some type of angelic feature. When Retta arrived, 100 angels had already been removed but there were so many more to go.

Before: Main Bathroom

In addition to the cherub-head chandelier, the bathroom was bursting with different stones, marbles and yes, freestanding columns.

After: Main Bathroom

Alison transformed the main bathroom into a wet room housing a freestanding bathtub and walk-in shower. The floor-to-ceiling tile is not only functional but a wow-worthy design choice. Two built-in shower niches hold bathing essentials.

From: Alison Victoria

Before: Vanity

Though functional, the vanity did not fit the family’s clean aesthetic. Along with the rest of the bathroom, this spot needed a refresh.

After: Vanity

The now timeless Shaker vanity (clad in a crisp white countertop and apple-green drawers and cabinets) is a huge step into of-the-moment style. Modern pendants flank soft, rectangular mirrors and create a relaxing, spa-like ambiance.

From: Alison Victoria

Before: Basement

Cluttered and disorganized (and featuring the always-present tin ceilings), the basement is where Alex’s bedroom is, as well as his mom’s office. Since Alex purchased the home for his family, Retta and Alison want to create a special space just for him.

After: Basement

Made for hangouts and relaxation, the renovated basement is outfitted with casual seating, a bar cart and a foosball table. The beloved blue shade Alison used throughout the home found its way onto the textured statement wall.

From: Alison Victoria

And that’s a Wrap!

One more ugly home has been taken off the streets and replaced with a gorgeous space that fits the family’s style and needs.

see more: HGTV Gets Ugly on New Year's Day With the Return of Retta and 'Ugliest House in America'

Ugliest House in America

'Ugliest House in America' Season 3: See the Stunning Makeover

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Search is Over

The Lucky Winners!

Before: House Exterior

After: House Exterior

Before: Entryway

After: Entryway

Before: Entryway

After: Entryway

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

The Final Touches

Before: Kitchen

Saving an Original Piece

After: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Before: Sitting Room

After: Sitting Room

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

Not-So-Angelic Decor

Before: Main Bedroom

After: Main Bedroom

All the Angels and Cherubs

Before: Main Bathroom

After: Main Bathroom

Before: Vanity

After: Vanity

Before: Basement

After: Basement

And that’s a Wrap!

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