'Windy City Rehab' Season 3: Alison taps her brother Jamie Gramenos for Atlanta project
Long-time viewers already believe the show should be renamed. Following last week's flipping project in Los Angeles, Alison Victoria has brought the latest episode of 'Windy City Rehab' to Atlanta.
On this week's episode, host Alison Victoria enlisted the services of her brother, Jamie Gramenos, to help her redecorate an Atlanta loft. However, with high expectations for a speedy turnaround and a limited budget, this all-family endeavor could devolve into a total disaster. Victoria stated that she was at a crossroads and wasn't sure where she wanted to settle down, and the snowy pictures of Chicago suggested that she could be ready to leave the Windy City. After visiting friends who had recently purchased a new loft in Atlanta, the designer wanted to spend more time in the city and investigate purchasing an apartment there. Victoria resorted to her brother for investment capital.
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Gramenos was bewildered by Victoria's offer to join her on her new project because their previous endeavor, a house in Las Vegas shortly before the 2008 recession, had cost them a lot of money. The siblings took on a two-bedroom, two-bedroom loft this time. The property itself comprised many independent buildings holding rehabbed lofts but retained some industrial components, like a water tower and smokestacks, and was located in a repurposed textile mill from the late 1800s – the ninth-oldest building in the city, per the show. Victoria's ideal residence had a top-floor outlook and over 1,800 square feet of area. The two subsequently met in Atlanta to see the property and Gramenos agreed to split the investment 50-50 but insisted on sticking to a $100,000 repair budget, even though he "[is] fully expecting" her to exceed it. Victoria extended her hand, intending to complete the project in four to five months.
Delays in obtaining permissions, among other things, pushed back the project's completion date by up to a year. Gramenos traveled back to Atlanta for the big reveal. As he entered the unit, his gaze was drawn to the museum-style lighting that accentuated the artwork and the broad floor planks that made the tight hallway appear larger. Before entering the main space, he checked the second bedroom and bathroom, which had been repainted and styled. Victoria was attempting to get a neutral aesthetic with her design for everyone to enjoy being in this place.
The kitchen and living room had been freshly painted white. Victoria enthusiastically pointed out "moments," the eye-catching embellishments around the loft, for her brother to see as they walked around. The gold cabinetry and hood in the kitchen drew his eye. Gramenos was certainly taken by the huge barn doors framing the glided mirror and standing tub in the bathroom upstairs. The designer described the doors as the "most beautiful" she'd ever seen.
Gramenos said they spent $220,000 on upgrades, in addition to the $494,000 purchase price and $20,000 in holding charges. He predicted that the house could be sold for $880,000. After a year of rehab, Victoria and Gramenos chose to keep the property because prices seemed to be rising, and they planned to utilize it as a family crash pad.
Season 3 of HGTV's 'Windy City Rehab' airs every Thursday at 9/8c.
