Why did they stay at The Homestead bed & breakfast:Visiting relatives Touring the Farnsworth House Attending an area event, i.e. Sandwich Fair Family gathering Weekend get-away Celebrating a birthday or anniversary Wedding night Traveling/sightseeing Special Events at The Homestead:Weddings Marriage Renewals Catered lunch tours Business meetings Community functions Murder Mystery parties Wine tasting dinners Bridal/baby showers Garden party Victorian tea Family gatherings Historical tours
Room Rates:From 2004 through 2006 our room rates ranged from $95 to $195 per night depending on room selection; 2007 rates were $125 to $225; 2008 rates were $145 to $295. Bedrooms: 4 with private baths; 1 suite of two rooms that could be rented to the same party and then share a bath. Owners’ Quarters?There are three possibilities for you: 1. You could use the West Wing bedroom/bath. 2. You could renovate part of the garden level to include a bedroom, bathroom, and an efficiency kitchen. 3. You could purchase our personal residence located just across North Street from the rear of The Homestead. It is an 1881 Queen Anne, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in available for $495,000. Why our cash flow numbers will not work for you in developing a business plan: We operated the bed & breakfast as a marketing tool for our interior decorating business!Because we did not live in The Homestead, and the fact that the main use of The Homestead was as a show house for Langguth Design, we paid a much higher premium for insurance coverage than other B&Bs. We also were charged commercial utility rates for natural gas and electricity; paid employees to do house cleaning, the dishes, the laundry, the serving of lunches, etc.; we used professional landscaping services for everything from pulling weeds and spreading mulch to lawn mowing and snow removal; and our maintenance & repair costs included additional on-going renovation costs. Additionally advertising, telephone and internet services, as well as all purchases of gift shop items and decorative accessory inventory were all considered joint expenses with our decorating business. |
Do you have a passion for history, architecture, and old houses?
Do you love hostas, ornamental grasses, trees and evergreens?
Do you enjoy meeting people from all over the globe?
Do you have the Gift of Hospitality?
If you answered YES to the questions above then The Homestead bed & breakfast is perfect for you! With it’s rich history, beautiful landscaping, and close proximity to the internationally acclaimed Farnsworth House designed by Mies van der Rohe, The Homestead is an exquisite, upscale, boutique bed & breakfast that saw over 5,000 people (from 48 US States and 27 foreign countries) walk through it’s doors between the time it opened in May 2004 until it’s closing in December 2008.
Quotes
“The AACVB has enjoyed working with The Homestead from the planning stages to the completion of this marvelous little B&B… the owners have lovingly restored each room of this wonderful gem; making it the ideal stop for the discerning guest…We have loved working with the owners on various marketing initiatives and look forward to doing the same with the next owners of this very special guesthouse.”
“The Homestead hosted lunch for CAF tour groups who came to Plano on visits to Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House. Visiting the historic Homestead was a unique and valuable experience for CAF tour-takers, all of whom are deeply interested in architecture and curious about hidden treasures like The Homestead. Having the Farnsworth House nearby makes Plano a mecca for architecture buffs, and The Homestead adds depth and quality to the experience for anyone traveling there to enjoy what the town has to offer.”
“The Homestead Bed and Breakfast is the perfect preparatory environment for our visitors, offering luxurious comfort in the visually stimulating designer showplace of this 1854 villa before ascending to the minimalist steel and glass perfection of the 1951 Farnsworth House. Guests to our site come from around the world every year and are enchanted to see the history and home of the founder of a small American town before viewing the scenic American countryside visible through the expanses of glass at this original weekend retreat. City to country, ornate to simple, lush to minimal, the comparisons heighten the senses of each and every guest.”
Comments from Guests:
“You have done a remarkable job renovating this lovely home into a welcoming, gracious place fit for a king! After viewing the ‘before’ photographs, I can appreciate even more the long, long hours of hard work invested in this project. Thank you for rescuing an architectural diamond-in-the-rough so that others can enjoy its grandeur for years to come. I will always fondly remember my stay at The Homestead.”
“I stayed in many Bed & Breakfasts before but this is one of the most beautiful of all! It was so relaxing and home like.”
“Thank you for making my 1st B&B experience so wonderful that I’m now hooked! This home and all of the artistic touches are spectacular!”
“Our compliments on your conversation of the Lewis Steward Homestead. We appreciate all you’ve done to make this house a community treasure. We enjoyed your hospitality and staying at this wonderful home. Thank you for giving us a lesson in the history of Plano and the Steward house.”
“Just a short note to let you know how much we enjoyed our visit to ‘The Homestead’. We truly enjoyed seeing so much beauty. Places like yours are few and far between!”
“Many thanks for the privilege of staying in Plano’s premier house, living its history, walking its grounds, & sharing the imagination of its owners.
“The entire inn is beautifully restored and decorated, the rooms are exceptionally comfortable, and we enjoyed learning the history of the inn and its former inhabitants. Thank you for providing such a lovely atmosphere to your guests.”
Financials
| 2005 Gross Income attributed to The Homestead |
$ 19103 |
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| Overnight Stays Special Events (weddings, lunches, murder mysteries, etc.) Furniture, Accessory Items, and Gift Shop Sales |
$ 9675 $ 6461 $ 2967 |
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2006 Gross Income attributed to The Homestead |
$ 31452 |
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| Overnight Stays Special Events (weddings, lunches, murder mysteries, etc.) Furniture, Accessory Items, and Gift Shop Sales |
$ 14530 $ 11644 $ 5278 |
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2007 Gross Income attributed to The Homestead |
$ 48549 |
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| Overnight Stays Special Events (weddings, lunches, murder mysteries, etc.) Furniture, Accessory Items, and Gift Shop Sales |
$ 22855 $ 11130 $ 14564 |
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2008 Gross Income attributed to The Homestead |
$ 51540 |
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| Overnight Stays Special Events (weddings, lunches, murder mysteries, etc.) Furniture, Accessory Items, and Gift Shop Sales |
$ 14975 $ 12198 $ 24367 |
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2009 Gross Income attributed to The Homestead |
$ 16478 |
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| Furniture, Accessory Items, and Gift Shop Sales | $ 16478 |
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Note:
During the later part of 2008 we had already started to reduce our availability for overnight stays and special events Also we have sold and continue to sell many pieces of furniture and decorative accessories out of the house that we have not replaced.
Expenses:
As the reasons detailed to the left explain we didn’t separate expenses of running the bed & breakfast separately from those expenses of our interior decorating so we are unable to provide these numbers
