We’re in the home stretch, folks! The Wellesley Tudor revival home in Saint Paul’s Macalester-Groveland neighborhood is this close to being done, and in this episode of The Revival Series, we’re adding the final details and interior design magic. In previous episodes, you’ve seen us bump out the basement, expand the kitchen, and create a charming new mudroom and powder room while maintaining the original charm. Now, we’re working towards the finished product and watching it all come together.

The Fireplace Glow-up

The tile on the fireplace was a huge deal. You see it the moment you step in the entryway door. This was also a months-long mental puzzle: because we couldn’t salvage the original brick thanks to a thick coat of paint, we had to figure out a way to install a new mantle and tile surround that still honored the home’s historic character.

Enter: warehouse tile from Mercury Mosaics. With slight imperfections, rich blues, greens, and earthy copper tones, these handcrafted tiles add artisanal charm and even more character to the Wellesley.

A Front Entry Worthy of a Tudor Revival

When we first started, the front entry was covered in marmoleum, which was likely a past owner’s attempt at waterproofing a high-traffic area for snowy Minnesota winters. We replaced it with tile that has a beautiful, concrete-like feel and feels true to the Tudor Revival spirit.

This mosaic entry was a real labor of love. We went with similar warehouse tiles again (shoutout to Mercury Mosaics), and every single piece was hand-selected and placed, unlike most mosaic tiles that come with mesh backing. We laid it all by hand to make sure the pattern, color balance, and vibe were just right.

Intentional Design Choices

Remember the wallpaper we picked in Episode 1? It’s finally time to install it in the dining room! We tracked down the same pattern from the original walls, just in a softer, updated color palette of blues, yellows, and beiges.

We’re also bringing that same wallpaper into the new office/mudroom space. It pairs beautifully with the muted blue built-in cabinetry and the sweet little hexagon flower mosaic tile we installed in the adjacent powder room-slash-closet area. We added a twist on the classic black-and-white pattern by mixing in warm greys for a softer look.

Next to our freshly-tiled fireplace, we’ll install the vintage sconces from this episode with Architectural Antiques.

Kitchen Updates

Big news: the countertops are in! We landed on a warm-toned Calacatta Cove that pulls beautifully from the dark kitchen cabinetry and ties into the cozy vibe of the whole home. The backsplash tile is on standby, and we went with Carrera Chateau in a classic 3×6 size for a clean, timeless look. It’s just subtle enough to let the pendant lights over the island take center stage. We’re tiling all the way up the wall for an elegant finish.

Restoring Original Charm

Our specialty is restoring old homes and there’s a lot of restoration projects that come along with it. We saved some of the home’s original doors by sanding, staining, sealing, and re-hanging them. For the rest of the doors, we found similar styles at Bauer Brothers, and we’ll put new hardware on them that matches the old. It’s a big job, but it’s personal and maintains the original look of the home.

In previous episodes, we’ve mirrored this value through our work with series sponsor, Pella, to find doors and windows that match the Tudor vibe. Thanks to Pella for their sponsorship and commitment to quality craftsmanship for a century.

Clawfoot Tub Remodel… Finally!

We’ve been teasing the clawfoot tub project forever, and it’s finally happening! Lester (our very first employee and a close family friend from Nicaragua) is helping us restore this vintage gem for the new primary suite. It’s been sanded and primed and is getting a warm black paint job to tie in with the bathroom’s black accents. The original feet are getting a shiny new chrome finish for that perfect blend of old and new.

Bonus: the chrome tub filler just arrived! We unbox it in this episode, and (spoiler alert!) it’s perfect. Classic style with modern function, and a great match for the tub feet – which we anticipated when we sourced the hardware in Materio.

Huge thanks to our friends at Materio for sponsoring this project! Their platform has been essential for tracking the budget, sourcing finishes, creating renders, and keeping everything organized (and client-friendly). If you’re a homeowner or contractor, trust us, you’ll want this in your toolkit. Use code MOONSTONE30 for 30% off your first month with Materio.

Get Ready for the Grand Finale!

We’re so excited to show you the finished product that we’ve poured heart and soul into from design to completion. In the next episode, we’ll unveil the fully-finished Wellesley. Make sure to subscribe to our channel, turn on alerts, and follow us on Instagram – you do NOT want to miss this reveal.