After going "through hell and back," the designer tells PEOPLE how she's continued to bounce back — and what fans can expect to see on the new season of the HGTV series

While Windy City Rehab was an instant success for HGTV and its co-stars, trouble began brewing not long after Season 1 aired, when Alison Victoria’s business partner/contractor, Donovan Eckhardt, lost his permit privileges in the city, as well as his contractor’s license, while lawsuits against the production began to pile up.

Alison Victoria shared some of the changes in her goals with the newest season of "Windy City Rehab" ahead of its premiere.

The HGTV star tells PEOPLE she wanted to surprise the filmmaker, who she says is "somebody who understands" what her world is like

The show returns for season 5 on. Here, Alison Victoria tells us about the new season and the upcoming spinoff Scariest House in America.

The celebrity home designer will still be taking on gut rehabs, but they won't be on her dime — at least for now.

On returning to Windy City Rehab. The last season of the popular HGTV series brought in more than 16 million viewers. Alison is returning to her hometown with 12 new projects. She