Candyland House grabs national spotlight as HGTV calls it the “ugliest in America”

Residing on a Rogers Park street, a Victorian home bursts with pastel pinks, yellows and blues. Neighbors call it the Candyland House or Barbie House. Now, HGTV eyes it as one of America's ugliest, according to TimeOut.

The house at 1525 W. Pratt Blvd. started as a “drab olive green” build from 1891, says Block Club Chicago. Artists Jackie Seiden and the late Don Seiden transformed it over 47 years. It became their canvas, covered head to toe in glitter and bright hues.

Artists' legacy in every corner

"The whole house is pastel-colored and glitter from head to toe," said Kathy Schrage, a real estate agent with Redfin, as reported by Block Club Chicago. Kathy listed the home back in 2021. "It's like a Barbie's dream home."

Jackie Seiden drew inspiration from the old Edgewater Beach Hotel. "The colored deco style really stuck with me," Jackie Seiden said, according to DNAinfo Chicago in 2013. Further, even the silverware handles got pastel paint. Don Seiden, a sculptor and art therapy pioneer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, shared the vision until his 2019 death, Block Club reported.

The five-bedroom home sits on a double lot. According to Block Club, updates include skylights, a garage-turned-pastel-orange art studio, and a third-floor loft for classes. A wooden walkway links the house to the studio.

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From sale to HGTV fame

Listed in 2021 for $525,000, it drew quick offers but returned at $600,000, as reported by Zillow. The Seidens hoped for a buyer to keep its charm, Schrage said, per Block Club.

New owners Joe Bergantino and Ricky Gonzalez bought it in 2022, TimeOut reported. The pair tackled rot, new windows, and siding. They aim to preserve its eccentricity.

In 2024, HGTV tapped them for season seven of “Ugliest House in America,” TimeOut said. The show tours bold homes, and a winner would receive a renovation worth $150,000 from designer Alison Victoria. 

From the sidewalk, mustard yellow clashes with salmon and turquoise. Inside, glitter ceilings and yellow floors shine. Is it an eyesore or bold art? The verdict awaits, but the house demands attention amid cookie-cutter neighbors.

Owners estimate a decade for full fixes. A win could speed it to six weeks, saving stained glass and glitter paint. Rogers Park's landmark tests tastes nationwide.