When they were house-hunting in 2005, Shawn and Jeffrey Bouslog were enthralled by the architectural split-personality of a St. Paul home across the street from the Mississippi River.
The stucco-and-stone exterior was classic Tudor style, with steep gables and half-timber accents. But when they stepped inside, they were greeted by a multicolored slate floor and iron circular staircase, creating an aura of an Italian villa.
"It really wowed us," recalled Shawn. "Jeff checked the mechanicals, and the kids were excited and running all over. He never asked me if I liked it — he just knew."
The couple wanted to move from Lakeville to the city to be closer to their jobs. So they bought the 1920s Tudor on Mississippi River Boulevard for its charming architectural features, as well as the walking and bike trails just beyond the front door.
The well-maintained home had pretty much everything they wanted: a yard and a big terrace for Shawn's gardens, a family room addition off the back and gracious entertaining spaces. A big bonus was a heated, two-car attached garage — a rare feature in an old house.
The Bouslogs discovered from the previous owner that the house even had a little history. An executive who worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. had the home built in 1922. He was also an inventor, and the remnants of one of his creations is stored in the garage. Twelve brass bells, just like the ones used on the first telephones, are inside a cabinet. Each bell is labeled with a room number. "I'm not sure how they worked," said Shawn. "But they were probably used to ring the occupants in each room."
Other old-house quirks include a dark "secret room" behind a bookcase in the library. "We found a doll and a book in there," she said.
After moving in, the couple did cosmetic modifications to update the home and make it more their style. Shawn painted the white walls and ceilings warmer tones to complement the unique pecan woodwork. "The white made the house feel cold, because it was so big," she said.
