Is this Chicago Victorian home really one of the “ugliest in America”? HGTV thinks so.

On a quiet city block lined with discreet brick buildings and manicured lawns, Chicago’s famed Candyland House slices through the gray-washed horizon like a blazing sugar rush. It’s the kind of place that makes joggers slow their pace and pretend to check their phones while sneaking a covert photo—a local landmark that inspires unbridled joy and ardent criticism in equal measure. Now, those opinions are going national: HGTV has officially dubbed the pastel-colored Victorian a contender for the Ugliest House in America. The home is featured in-depth during the show’s seventh season, the premiere of which is now available to stream on HBO Max and discovery+.

The Candyland House (located at 1525 W Pratt Blvd) has long been a fixture of Rogers Park, and its history is as vibrant as its facade. For decades, it served as the residence of local artists Jackie Seiden and the late Don Seiden; the house became one of Jackie’s primary artistic outlets alongside her teaching career at institutions like the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Their whimsical transformation of the home was even chronicled in the 2020 documentary So Late So Soon. 

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The property changed hands in 2022 when it was purchased by Joe Bergantino and Ricky Gonzalez, who document their restoration journey under the Instagram moniker Homos with Hammers. Despite the perhaps erroneous “ugly” label tacked onto the three-floor Victorian, the couple remains committed to preserving the character and eccentricity of this eye-catching landmark.

In 2024, the pair was contacted by HGTV to appear on Ugliest House in America. The series follows host Retta—of Parks and Recreation fame—as she tours unconventional homes across the country, with one eventual “winner” receiving a $150,000 renovation by Windy City Rehab designer Alison Victoria.

From the sidewalk, the house appears to be auditioning for a parade that never arrived. Colors do not coordinate so much as compete: Mustard yellow paneling is interrupted by bolts of salmon pink and dashes of turquoise. This isn’t whimsy in a shy, children’s book sense—it’s more so a full-throated roar of individuality. Beyond the vibrant facade, however, lies a massive structural undertaking. In just four years, Bergantino and Gonzalez have stripped the home of its rot, installing new window frames, siding and flooring to match the exterior's energy with interior integrity.

So, can the Candyland House really be called “ugly,” or is it simply loud in a culture that prefers its homes to behave and fit into neat, neutral boxes? The property doesn’t fail at what it endeavors to do; in fact, it succeeds almost offensively well. It is a cohesive, intentional and fearless space, which makes the HGTV label feel less like a judgment of design and more like a discomfort with sincerity. It’s easy to tack “ugly” onto things that refuse to soften themselves for mass appeal—and this house has never once begged to be adored by the mainstream.

For now, HGTV’s final verdict remains a mystery. Ugliest House in America has not yet crowned a winner, leaving the Candyland House suspended between public condemnation and renovation redemption. If chosen, the transformation would compress what the owners estimate would take a decade of careful work into a six-week whirlwind, tackling unique projects like restoring glitter-flecked paint and intricate stained glass.

Whether it’s a neighborhood treasure or a national eyesore, one thing is certain: In a world of cookie-cutter homes, the Candyland House is impossible to ignore—but do you think it deserves the “ugly” crown?