Windy City Rehab

Alison Victoria begins work on ‘sexiest home ever’ — her own

The HGTV star debuted ”Windy City Rehab: Alison’s Dream Home” on Tuesday night in which she’s designing her new mixed-use Chicago dwelling.

By Miriam Di Nunzio

Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’ dabbles in new construction for season finale

Host Alison Victoria designs a $1.5 million home from the ground up on the season 3 finale.

By Alison Martin

Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’ co-host had to get permission to shave his beard — and more details from his contract that have surfaced in court

Eckhardt’s contract with showrunners provides a glimpse behind the curtain of reality television

By Mitch Dudek

The designers of HGTV’s “Rock the Block” include: David Bromstad, Tiffany Brooks, Alison Victoria, Brian Kleinschmidt, Jeremiah Brent, Mika Kleinschmidt, Mike Holmes, Nate Berkus and host Ty Pennington

Movies and TV

Alison Victoria thinks green for latest ‘Rock the Block’ challenge

To finish up their home’s exterior, Victoria and partner Mike Holmes added a fun space to the backyard. Did it win over the judges?

By Alison Martin

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Movies and TV

Were Alison Victoria’s tears real? Lawsuit questions ‘Windy City Rehab’ episode showing falling out with her costar

The claims were made in a new filing Tuesday by former show co-host Donovan Eckhardt, who is seeking $2.2 million in a defamation lawsuit.

By Mitch Dudek

Alison Victoria and her teammate Mike Holmes compete on “Rock the Block.” | HGTV

Windy City Rehab

Alison Victoria goes for versatility over ‘wow’ — but is it enough for fourth week win on ‘Rock the Block’?

Victoria and teammate Mike Holmes give buyers plenty of options with their basement design. But they’ve got serious competition this week.

By Alison Martin

Windy City Rehab

Want to buy an Alison Victoria home featured on ‘Windy City Rehab’? There’s still one left

But even though the asking price has plunged, the house in North Center will set you back nearly $1.5 million.

By Mitch Dudek

David Bromstad, Tiffany Brooks, Alison Victoria, Brian Kleinschmidt, Jeremiah Brent, Mika Kleinschmidt, Mike Holmes, Nate Berkus, Ty Pennington

Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’ star Alison Victoria returns to ‘Rock the Block’ tonight: Here’s where her legal problems stand

Alison Victoria returns to HGTV Monday with the second season premiere of “Rock the Block.” But she’s still facing a number of legal troubles in Chicago.

By Alison Martin

Windy City Rehab

Read the full lawsuit filed by Alison Victoria’s ‘Windy City Rehab’ co-host Donovan Eckhardt against HGTV

Eckhardt alleges that the show falsely portrays him as a “villain” who stole money from projects. Read the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court, below.

By Sun-Times staff

Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’ co-host sues for $2.2M, says Alison Victoria, HGTV falsely paint him as ‘villain’ on reality show

The suit states that Chicago contractor Donovan Eckhardt “has suffered from depression, sleeplessness, loss of appetite” and has undergone counseling for the “embarrassing, traumatic and humiliating” experience.

By Stephanie Zimmermann and Mitch Dudek

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Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’ host Alison Victoria drops $100K off price on her Bucktown home

The home was first listed in September.

By Mitch Dudek

Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’ carpenter Ari Smejkal on his newfound fame: 20-30 business calls a day, ‘guys and girls hitting on me all the time’

Smejkal, who owns Hammer Design Group, squarely backs host Alison Victoria in her split with Donovan Eckhardt on the HGTV show.

By Mitch Dudek

Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’: ‘I’m not done,’ Alison Victoria vows as painful Season 2 ends

Mostly rid of Donovan Eckhardt, the HGTV star contends with stop work orders and buyer complaints.

By Selena Fragassi - For the Sun-Times

Windy City Rehab

Couple looks to stop Windy City Rehab’s Alison Victoria from selling her Bucktown home

The jilted couple’s attorney claimed that Victoria is “fraudulently attempting to sell and liquidate whatever equity she has in her personal home and transfer the funds to an LLC she co-owns with her boyfriend.”

By Tom Schuba

Windy City Rehab

Who is Donovan Eckhardt from ‘Windy City Rehab’?

Co-host Donovan Eckhardt has been mostly absent during the HGTV series’ second season, leaving fans to wonder more about Alison Victoria’s general contractor — where he came from and where he went.

By Sun-Times staff

Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’s’ Alison Victoria says she lost sleep, all her personal income after partnership fizzled

On Tuesday’s episode of the HGTV hit, Victoria proclaims, “This is the beginning of the end” of her beleaguered partnership with contractor Donovan Eckhardt.

By Selena Fragassi - For the Sun-Times

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Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’ 2nd season: Here is a new map of every property featured

In the new season of the HGTV hit, the show is focusing on tension between Alison Victoria and her partner, Donovan Eckhardt.

By Mitch Dudek

Windy City Rehab

‘Windy City Rehab’ legal drama explained: Documents, interviews and more on the lawsuits behind the show

From permit violations to stop-work orders to lawsuits alleging shoddy construction and fraud, the show has garnered plenty of controversy for hosts Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt.

By Caroline Hurley

Entertainment and Culture

A backyard putting green in Bridgeport? ‘Windy City Rehab’ home met with mixed emotions in working class neighborhood

The rehabbed brick two flat sold for $790,000 in June, which one Bridgeport resident called “crazy town.”

By Mitch Dudek

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Movies and TV

Alison Victoria goes after co-host in ‘Windy City Rehab’ 2nd season premiere: ‘I want to rip his face off’

The duo’s problems dominate the storyline in the latest episode of the popular reality show, which is set to restart Sept. 15.

By Mitch Dudek

Chicago designer Alison Victoria Gramenos’ “Windy City Rehab” will be back for Season 2 on HGTV starting Sept. 15.

The Watchdogs

‘Windy City Rehab’ back Sept. 15 for Season 2 despite troubles with city, neighbors, COVID-19

HGTV says the ‘multiple unexpected challenges’ Chicago designer Alison Victoria Gramenos has faced will be part of the drama.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Coronavirus

‘Windy City Rehab’ stalled again after Alison Victoria, crew quarantined over coronavirus fears

In some of her first public comments after controversy engulfed the HGTV hit, Victoria says she plans to speak her “truth” on Season 2 of the show.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

HGTV’s Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt have been sued over their work on a home at 2308 W. Giddings St.

Housing & development

‘Windy City Rehab’ host says she’ll buy back home from unhappy couple that sued her, move in herself

The owners of the $1.36 million Lincoln Square home have sued Alison Victoria and her partner, alleging the home is plagued with problems.

By Mitch Dudek

News

Read the ‘Windy City Rehab’ homeowner lawsuit

According to the lawsuit, the day after buyers closed on a 4,000-square-foot luxury home in Lincoln Square, an upper-floor shower leaked gallons of water into the kitchen ceiling below.

By Sun-Times staff

Windy City Rehab

A timeline of the problems with ‘Windy City Rehab’

The HGTV show has garnered complaints from residents and multiple stop-work orders and the city has moved to suspend host Donovan Eckhardt’s developer license.

By Alice Bazerghi

Housing & development

Alison Victoria rips ‘Windy City Rehab’ co-star: ‘I don’t want him to f- - - with my life or my business anymore’

The seemingly close relationship between Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt appears to have been flipped on its head.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

“Windy City Rehab” co-host Donovan Eckhardt (right) is being sued by a sub-contractor for money alleged owed on a rehab project.

Entertainment and Culture

Embattled ‘Windy City Rehab’ star to work with new general contractor — raising questions about Chicago co-host’s future

Star Alison Victoria didn’t respond to messages enquiring about the future of her quirky co-host, Donovan Eckhardt, who functioned as general contractor in the show’s first season

By Mitch Dudek

Donovan Eckhardt and Alison Victoria, the hosts of the TV show “Windy City Rehab,” are standing outside a city building and Eckhardt is holding a power drill.

‘Windy City Rehab’ co-star meets with city, agrees to address problems

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Here’s how you can crash at a ‘Windy City Rehab’ home even if you aren’t rich

By Mitch Dudek

Here’s a map of every property featured on ‘Windy City Rehab’ on HGTV

By Mitch Dudek and Stephanie Zimmermann

Trash, permit violations and mud: why some Chicagoans hate ‘Windy City Rehab’

By Stephanie Zimmermann, Mitch Dudek, and 1 more