Willmar's 'Inconvenient Dollhouse' finishes in top five for 'Ugliest House in America'

BY DONNA MIDDLETON | West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — A Willmar house took home the dubious honor of the Not-So-Great Lakes region winner while competing on HGTV’s “The Ugliest House in America: Ugly in Paradise.”

The qualifications needed to win: ugly appearance, poor functionality and hideous design choices. The real-life Victorian dollhouse in Willmar edged out a lake house with a funky odor in Lake Elmo and a former church in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Comedian Retta took a road trip to five stunning destinations and visited 15 unsightly homes nominated by their owners. Each episode featured three houses full of bad designs, ranging from linoleum-covered walls and carpeted bathrooms to epic odors and pest infestation.

The best part? Retta’s hilarious reviews of the cringe-worthy layouts and severely outdated styles.

One of the bathrooms in the house at 204 Terrace Dr. SW in Willmar features a hutch top over the sink in place of a bathroom mirror, matching mirrors on either side of the shower door, and a burgundy lace shower curtain.

Contributed / Kristi Jo Block

The present owner said he bought the house at 204 Terrace Dr. S.W. a year ago. It is full of unusual custom touches everywhere. Many of the furnishings were included in the sale. There are built-in hutches, curios, art areas and more. An open-concept kitchen and great room with vaulted wood ceiling. There is a tea room, a private hot tub room, and unusual stairs.

The Willmar house finished in the top five, losing out to the House with No Privacy in Palm City, Florida. That home received a $150,000 makeover from designer Alison Victoria from “Windy City Rehab.”

The kitchen in 204 Terrace Dr. SW in Willmar holds a large array of cabinets and counterspace, but also incorporates a large mirrored space over the kitchen sink and green-painted crown molding and baseboards.

Contributed / Kristi Jo Block