We had such a great experience working with Gabriel and his team at Bencke’s Tile Bath Remodel. From the very beginning, Gabriel was incredibly communicative, responsive, responsible, and someone we felt we could completely trust. He always kept us updated, answered every question, and made what could have been a stressful renovation feel easy.
Our Jack-and-Jill bathroom was 25 years old and very builder-grade and felt cramped with way too many doors. Gabriel helped completely transform the space into a bathroom that feels so much larger, brighter, and honestly looks like something out of a magazine.
The quality of the work is exceptional. They waterproofed the bathroom properly, insulated the tub, installed a linear drain with a perfectly sloped floor so the water drains exactly where it should, and the tile work is absolutely flawless. The floating vanity, mirror, and every finish were installed with so much attention to detail.
What I appreciated just as much was that Gabriel truly stands behind his work. If we noticed even the smallest thing, he was happy to come back and make it right without any hesitation. It’s rare to find a contractor who genuinely wants everything to be perfect.
We interviewed several contractors before choosing Gabriel, and I am so glad we did. The final result exceeded our expectations, and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Gabriel and his team to anyone looking for a bathroom remodel. They do beautiful work, they’re honest, and they’re the kind of people you actually enjoy working with. Adding the before and after pictures for reference!
Tile Accent Walls in Richmond, VA
Bencke’s Tile sets tile on feature walls in Richmond, VA, like the marble-look wall above a fireplace opening shown below.
Call for Remodeling Service:804-244-6737- 5.0 16 Google reviews
- Free in-home estimate
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An accent wall gives a room a place to look
One wall in tile can change how a whole room feels. A fireplace wall, a shower wall or the wall behind a bed: the tile becomes the part of the room people notice first.
Places a tile accent wall can go
Around a fireplace
A marble-look tile feature wall above a fireplace opening is in the photos below.
In a shower
One wall in a different tile or pattern, framing a niche.
In a kitchen
A pattern panel behind the range works like a wall of art.
Feature walls in our work
How to pick tile for a feature wall
A feature wall works best when the rest of the room stays calm. Pick a tile with a strong pattern or color, and keep the other surfaces plain. A marble-look tile reads as luxury without a lot of color, and a patterned tile can carry a room by itself.
Think about light. A wall that catches a window’s light will show off a glossy tile, and one in shade may need a tile with more color.
What a feature wall can be made of
Marble-look porcelain
Large panels or tiles with veining that read as stone without the upkeep. Good on fireplace walls and shower walls.
Natural stone tile
Real marble, travertine or slate. Each piece is different. It needs sealing and care.
Stacked stone or stone veneer
Thin pieces of real or molded stone that stack into a rugged wall. It is heavy, so the wall has to be solid, and corners use special corner pieces.
Mosaic
Small tiles in a pattern or a gradient. Good for a small, jewel-like area.
Dimensional or 3D tile
Tiles with a raised surface that play with light and shadow. Dust gathers, so think about cleaning.
Wood-look porcelain
Planks that look like wood but handle moisture. A wood-look strip can warm a bathroom wall.
Patterned or cement-look tile
Bold prints. A little goes far, so keep the other surfaces plain.
Where a feature wall earns its place
The best wall is the one people look at first: behind a headboard, above a fireplace, behind a vanity, at the end of a hall or behind the range. A wall with many windows or doors is harder, because the tile gets broken up. A wall that catches light at an angle will show every wave in a glossy tile, so ask about the finish.
Think about scale too. A tall wall can take a big tile or a big stone pattern, and a small wall can look crowded with the same one. Hold a sample against the wall before you decide.
If the wall has a fireplace
A fireplace wall needs extra thought. The area right around the opening has rules for how close certain materials may come, and those rules come from the fireplace maker and from local codes. Ask a fireplace professional or the building office before you pick a material.
Stone and porcelain handle heat better than wood or paint, but the opening itself has its own requirements. A gas fireplace and a wood-burning one are not the same, and the mantel height, the heat and the weight of a stone veneer all matter.
What the wall needs before the tile goes on
A heavy stone veneer needs a strong, flat, properly prepared wall. Some tile can go over existing drywall, and some needs a cement board or a bed of mortar over lath. Ask what the wall is made of and what it can carry. A wall in a damp space needs a waterproof layer, and a wall over a fireplace needs a base made for heat.
Lighting changes everything. A light that skims the wall shows texture, and a light that shines straight on flattens it. Plan outlets and fixtures before the tile is set, since cutting into a finished wall is hard.
How a project runs.
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Free in-home estimate
We come to your home, measure, and talk through what you want.
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Your price
You get the price for your job before any work starts.
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The build
Demo, prep, tile and grout, in that order.
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Walkthrough
You look over the finished room before the job is closed.
5.0 on Google from 16 reviews.
We love our new kitchen tile backsplash! Working with Bencke’s was a great experience, from the start with good communication and professionalism to the finish with a beautiful job well done!
Gabriel came by to give an estimate on doing tile work and was very thorough in articulating his approach, timeline and cost. He gave a wonderful idea to put a marble counter ledge which turned out really beautiful. He was so quick in starting the project and kept everything so clean with protecting furniture surround the bathroom. His crew were so polite and did an amazing job. I’m so grateful for them completing this so quickly. Gabriel went above and beyond to get everything done quickly but also with excellence. I would highly recommend him and his crew!
We needed an access panel for our tile bathtub and Gabriel was able to give us a quick estimate. He delivered flawlessly and we are very happy!
I can't say enough about Gabriel and his team. I put in an emergency request for kitchen and bathroom tile repairs/replacements on a Tuesday, and they were out fixing it and doing an amazing job by Thursday!! Highly recommend. Can't say enough good things! Thank you!
Finish and feel
Polished
Reflective and bright. It shows every wave in the wall and every smear.
Matte
Soft and calm. Easy to live with, and it hides fingerprints.
Honed
A smooth stone finish with low shine. It looks natural and takes a gentle cleaner.
Textured
A raised or rough surface. Great for drama, harder to wipe.
Caring for a feature wall
Wipe polished tile with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner. Stone needs a sealer, and the maker can say how often to renew it. Textured and 3D surfaces gather dust, so a soft brush or a vacuum attachment helps. Grout lines can darken, and a gentle scrub handles that. Keep harsh acids away from stone.
Mistakes that spoil a feature wall
Picking a tile you love in a store and never seeing it in your room’s light. Choosing too many strong things at once, so the wall competes with the floor and the furniture. Forgetting that a heavy veneer needs a wall that can carry it. Leaving out a plan for corners and edges, where a rough cut or a missing trim piece stands out. Using a grout color that fights the tile.
And buying too little tile, because a pattern or a stone color can be hard to match later.
Stand back and photograph the wall
Stand back from the wall and take photos from the doorway and from the side. Measure the wall and mark any windows, outlets and switches. Note what the wall is made of, if you know. Save pictures of feature walls you like, and say what draws you, such as color, texture or pattern.
Think about the light at the time of day you use the room most. And decide which part of the room should stay quiet, since a feature wall needs one.
Frequently asked questions
Don’t see your question? Call or write and we will answer it.
The size of the wall, the tile and the pattern set the price. The estimate is free and in your home, so you get a real number for your job.
The wall people look at first when they walk into the room, and one with no windows to break up the tile.
Related pages.
ServiceTile Installation
Bencke’s Tile is a tile contractor in Richmond, VA. We set tile on shower walls, kitchen backsplashes, floors and feature walls. Ask for a free estimate and we will come measure the space.
Learn more
ServiceBathroom Remodeling
Bencke’s Tile remodels bathrooms in Richmond, VA, from demo to the last grout line, and tile is our trade. Ask for a free estimate: we come to your home, measure the room and talk through what you want.
Learn more
GuideMarble-Look Porcelain vs Natural Marble
Real marble or marble-look porcelain? A plain comparison of looks, stains, etching, scratches, upkeep and where each belongs in a home.
Read the guide
