A restaurant’s feature wall is meant to make a statement, but the wrong choice of material can turn a design dream into a structural nightmare. In this case study, Wall Panels in Birmingham helped Sophie Taylor create a stone-effect feature wall in her new Jewellery Quarter dining room, without the structural work or the cost of reinforcing the building’s stud walls. The project used 10 Florence Beige Double Tile Wall Panels and was fitted by restaurant fitters in a single afternoon.
The Problem
Sophie opened a new dining spot in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. She wanted a standout feature wall in the main dining area using large, natural stone tiles. However, upon inspection, the building’s internal stud walls could not support the heavy weight of natural stone, and reinforcing the walls was out of her budget.
The Solution
Sophie needed to replicate the look of large stone slabs using a lightweight material. She chose the Florence Beige Double Tile Wall Panels, which create the impression of heavy 600mm x 1400mm slabs but are light enough to fix to standard plasterboard.
Each panel uses Pro-Tek’s Authentic Grout Line Technology milled directly into the surface, so the grout effect stays crisp without any of the scrubbing, discolouration or mould that comes with real grout. The lightweight SPC core also means the panels can be fitted directly to internal stud walls without any structural reinforcement.
The Installation
The restaurant fitters were able to install the feature wall in a single afternoon. No heavy lifting equipment or reinforced framing was required, saving Sophie a lot of money on labour.
Because the panels are light, the team could handle and position them without specialist equipment. The full 2800mm panel height meant the feature wall could be covered from floor to ceiling in a single run, with no horizontal joins to weaken the finish. Trims and silicone seals were applied in the same visit.
The Result
The dining room has the stone feature wall Sophie originally envisioned. Diners assume it is real stone, and she achieved the look without compromising the structural integrity of her leased building.
Sophie’s verdict:
“I was gutted when they told me the wall couldn’t take real stone. But these double tile panels look identical to the large slabs I originally picked out. We got the look we wanted without the massive construction costs.”
Project Snapshot
- Client: Sophie Taylor
- Location: Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
- Room Updated: Restaurant Dining Area
- Product Chosen: Florence Beige Double Tile Wall Panel
- Panels Used: 10
- Time to Complete: Half a day