Alison Victoria for The House Magazine, December 2024.

On the surface, the world of reality television and interior design may seem like a whirlwind of drama, fast-paced transformations, and fleeting trends. But Alison Victoria, Chicago-born designer and television star, knows better. Her work, marked by a keen eye for detail and a commitment to authenticity, stands in stark contrast to the rush of instant makeovers or scripted moments. Victoria’s journey, from her role as the first female host of HGTV’s Kitchen Crashers to the Emmy-nominated success of Windy City Rehab, portrays her staying power in an industry that often feels like a revolving door of the next big thing.
Victoria’s connection to design isn’t just professional—it’s personal, embedded deep within her childhood memories and fueled by her love for Chicago’s storied architecture. She remembers long drives along Lakeshore Drive with her father, gazing out the window at the city’s historic brownstones and graystones, and ...