At Mercury Mosaics, we’ve always believed tile is more than a surface — it’s a story, a connection, and sometimes even a love letter to the space it’s in. So when Mosaic Coffee and Lydia from Moonstone Design & Build asked us to help bring their dream coffee shop to life, we knew this was going to be something special.
This wasn’t just another tile project. It was a chance to be part of something bigger — to breathe new life into Uptown Minneapolis, a neighborhood with deep roots in the city’s history and where our founder actually grew up. Before the pandemic, Uptown was already facing challenges; afterwards, many beloved small businesses closed their doors. For the design and build team, this project became a way to invest in the neighborhood and create a space filled with color, creativity, and connection.
Rooted in Sustainability and Creativity
Every tile we make in our Minneapolis studio carries the fingerprints of the person who crafted it — the slight variations in glaze, the gentle curve of a corner, the way the color settles in unexpected ways. But not every tile makes it into a standard order. Some are just a bit off-size, a little quirky in glaze, or one-of-a-kind in a way that doesn’t fit perfectly into a uniform project.
We could toss them… but that’s not who we are. Instead, we created a section for our warehouse tile, a place where these perfectly imperfect pieces find new life. When Lydia and the Mosaic Coffee crew explored our warehouse selections, it was like watching kids in a candy shop. They handpicked a mix of shapes, colors, and textures that, at first glance, didn’t “match” — but in their vision, came together beautifully.
From Warehouse to Wall Art
The design process was equal parts art and puzzle. On the warehouse floor, greens, reds, and earthy tones were arranged and rearranged until the layout felt alive. The palette drew inspiration from co-owner Cadence imagined coffee plants; Lidia remembered home. Together, they shaped a palette drawn from Nicaragua’s volcanic landscapes, coffee farms, and the radiant colors of nature.
Once the design was finalized, the tiles were carefully packed and sent to the shop, where installer Luis reassembled the mural piece by piece. Watching the wall come to life in its new home was like seeing the pieces of a story fall into place.
The Perfect Centerpiece
Today, the mosaic stretches behind the coffee bar like it was always meant to be there. Morning sunlight dances across the surface, making every glaze variation glow. It’s not “perfect” — and that’s exactly what makes it captivating. Each uneven edge and color shift is a reminder of the hands and stories behind it.
With just enough leftover tile, a bold, playful bathroom wall came to life as well — an unexpected pop of pinks, greens, and black that perfectly reflects the shop’s personality.
More Than Just Tile
For Mercury Mosaics, this was never just another tile project. It was a way to invest in a neighborhood with deep roots and to collaborate with a team whose grit and resilience matched their own. Like a mosaic, a thriving community is built piece by piece, with different elements coming together to form something greater than the sum of its parts.
Handmade tile brings a warmth and intentionality that mass-produced materials can’t match — the difference between a frozen dinner and a meal made from scratch by someone who loves what they do. In a space meant for gathering, connection, and belonging, that human touch makes all the difference.
All photography courtesy of Moonstone Design & Build
An Invitation to Experience It
If you’re in Minneapolis, step inside Mosaic Coffee and see it for yourself. Order a latte, settle in by the bar, and take in a wall as layered and full of character as the coffee in your cup.
Visit Mosaic Coffee | Watch the YouTube series on Moonstone Design & Build’s channel
