Small Home Gazette, Winter 2018
Bungalow Tour Reflections:
What It’s Like to be on the Bungalow Club Home Tour
We talked to several past tour participants: Sonja Blackstone, whose bungalow was the first house on the 2017 tour; Brad and Nancy Guilbeault, who had their house on the 2016 tour; and Mark Holm, who, with his wife Barbara, participated in the 2015 tour. Here’s what they had to say.
Sonja Blackstone’s south Minneapolis bungalow.
Small Home Gazette: What was your experience of having your house on the tour?
Sonja Blackstone: You’re always nervous about what other people are going to think. My house is not a museum; not Parade of Homes—it’s just my house. But the tour experience was very positive. People were just great—very complimentary. I think it was comforting for them to see a little house that isn’t perfect.
I loved meeting people who are interested in old homes like I am, and having a knowledge exchange with them. They had some great ideas that I hadn’t heard before, and some great resources. And I was able to share the resources I had.
Mark Holm: We thought our house was worth seeing, and we wanted to show people what we like about it. The whole experience was great. We really enjoyed the comments. Neighbors we’d never met came by and introduced themselves.
Brad Guilbeault: The people who came on the tour were really interesting and actually interested in the house. They were very complimentary. Everyone was so pleasant. It helped me to feel good about the house.
Nancy Guilbeault: We felt anxious getting ready for it, but I’m so glad we did it. I was struck by how nice people were, and I really enjoyed hearing about other people’s houses. It was a wonderful exchange.
Mark and Barbara Holm’s bungalow, which was on the 2015 Bungalow Club home tour.
Small Home Gazette: What was the most difficult thing about being on the tour?
Mark Holm: Well, it was a lot of work, decluttering and cleaning. But definitely worth it. And I missed seeing the other houses on the tour that year.
Brad Guilbeault: The challenges were getting the house ready, and cleaning and finishing projects. I think I was laying the porch flooring at 10 o’clock the night before. If I did it again I would do the same projects, but put a different emphasis on the timing.
Sonja Blackstone: The main difficulty was managing my own expectations. I had to remind myself that it doesn’t have to be perfect, everything period appropriate, everything done. I had to allow myself to say “this is how it is.” The crack in the wall plaster is going to be there.
And a necessary downside is that you don’t get to see the other houses on the tour. But you just have to enjoy the experience of showing your own house. I can go see other houses this year.
Small Home Gazette: What suggestions would you offer people who are thinking about offering their house for the Bungalow Club tour?
Mark Holm: Start planning; think early. The day will arrive more quickly than you think. Don’t wait until the last minute to get things done.
Brad and Nancy Guilbeault’s St. Paul bungalow, which was on the 2016 Bungalow Club tour.
Sonja Blackstone: Just do it. Don’t take it too seriously. It’s inspiring for people. And it’s good motivation to get some things done.
Brad Guilbeault: Prepare a lunch that you can get to easily beforehand. And if you’ve only got one bathroom, make alternative plans, like running to a neighbor’s.
You’ll want to give each guest time and talk to them and answer their questions. I’m basically a hermit, but after this experience, I told Nancy I would be happy to put our house on the tour again. It was better than I expected. It isn’t a day to dread; it’s a day to enjoy.
If you are interested in find out more about the Bungalow Club’s home tour or volunteering your home, contact us by email (mail@bungalowclub.net) or phone 612-724-5816.
