What a 1920s Mansion Taught Us About Custom Interiors Today
Lessons from the Julian Price House

Every now and then, a home stops you in your tracks. It whispers its story through timeworn moldings, vintage fixtures, and wallpapered ceilings that somehow feel both nostalgic and current. The Julian Price House, a 1920s estate in Greensboro, North Carolina, is one of those rare homes, meticulously restored and brimming with character.

We had the chance to tour it during this fall’s High Point Market, thanks to a private event hosted by our friends at Thibaut and our wonderful rep, Joy. As designers who spend our days helping clients blend old and new, it felt like stepping into a living masterclass. Every detail was intentional. Every room felt layered, lived-in, and loved.

It reminded us exactly why we do what we do and how thoughtful, custom design can bring that same sense of magic into any home, whether it’s a 100-year-old charmer or a brand-new build full of personality.

Here’s what we learned and how we bring it to life for our clients every day.

Moldings, Millwork, and the Magic of Original Details

Let’s start with the bones. The Julian Price House is full of them: stunning crown moldings, arched radiators, vintage fixtures, and millwork that tells a story at every turn. What made this home shine was how those features weren’t hidden. They were highlighted.

At Rowan Hall Interiors, we live for this balance. Whether we’re working in a historic Knoxville neighborhood like Sequoyah Hills or on a custom build that needs a sense of soul, we believe character doesn’t have to be sacrificed for comfort. In fact, it’s what makes your home feel like you.

And when a home already has something special like original trimwork, antique lighting, quirky nooks, or a back staircase (like the Julian Price House’s charming staff stairwell-turned-guest wing), our job is to design around those details, not over them. That’s where custom furnishings come in. We’ll design a sofa that complements your curved archways, or a built-in that feels original to the home, because it was crafted just for that spot.

That’s exactly what we did in our Fourth & Gill project, where the home’s original details were woven seamlessly into our design plan with carefully scaled furnishings and layered finishes. Every piece worked with the home’s history, not against it.

The Power of Custom: When Furniture Belongs

One of the most striking things about the Julian Price House was how perfectly everything fit. A small bar area that felt like it was meant to be there. Bedrooms that felt gracious, not generic. A scullery so charming, Alfie may have tried to move in.

This is the difference custom makes.

At Rowan Hall, we’re not just picking from a catalog. We’re designing pieces that respond to the architecture, reflect your personality, and elevate the function of your home. Whether you have historic millwork, asymmetrical walls, or a newer home full of personality and bold taste, custom design ensures that what you bring into your space feels curated, not cookie-cutter.

We consider everything: the pitch of a chair back, the depth of a banquette, the profile of a leg, the way a fabric repeat flows across a frame. This is what turns furniture into heirloom pieces and rooms into destinations.

We’ve done it for Fourth & Gill. We’ve done it for Rocky Hill cottages and West Knoxville new builds. And we can do it for you.

Small Spaces, Big Impact

The Julian Price House had no shortage of wow-worthy moments, but one of the most talked-about was a small-but-mighty bedroom wrapped in Thibaut wallpaper from top to bottom. Paired with custom bedding, oversized art, and layers of color and pattern, it proved just how much personality a small space can hold.

At Rowan Hall Interiors, we love helping our clients take design risks, especially in the spots where they might least expect it. Powder rooms, sculleries, upstairs landings, home bars… these are the places where bold design makes a lasting impression.

Don’t know where to start? We do. From concept to install, we guide you through the process and ensure your bold ideas are rooted in beauty, balance, and function.

Wallpapered Ceilings & Metallic Magic

The ceilings at the Julian Price House were having a moment. One hallway featured a soft metallic finish that caught the light in the most enchanting way. Another staircase hall showcased an elegant wallpapered ceiling, framed by intricate molding.

These design moments don’t happen by accident; they’re the result of intentional, layered thinking.

In our process, we take the time to explore those details with you. During your design presentation, we’ll walk you through mood boards, elevations, and material samples that consider not just your walls and floors, but the spaces above and in between. Because the fifth wall deserves attention, too.

Historic Soul, Modern Comfort

Every room at the Julian Price House was a lesson in balance: vintage plumbing fixtures (we’re looking at you, blush pink and seafoam green) paired with modern shower fittings for real-life function, original radiators restored and framed by newly painted trim, antique sconces glowing beside fresh, colorful wallcoverings.

It’s the same philosophy we bring to every Rowan Hall project. We help you honor what you love, while making it livable for today. Whether that means repurposing a family heirloom into your entryway design or choosing light fixtures that nod to history without feeling heavy, our design blends intention and story with elegance and comfort.

Ready to Tell Your Home’s Story?

The Julian Price House may be a rare gem, but homes with character are everywhere. Maybe you’re in a historic neighborhood with original charm. Maybe you just bought a new build with beautiful bones and an eclectic vision. Or maybe your home is somewhere in between, with layers of your life just waiting to be expressed through design.

No matter your home’s age or style, Rowan Hall Interiors is here to help you bring out its full potential.

From consultation and concept to installation and reveal, we take care of every detail. Our custom furnishings, trusted vendor relationships, climate-controlled staging, and thoughtful project management ensure your home isn’t just pretty. It’s personal. It’s professional. And it’s a joy to live in.

Let’s start with a conversation. Schedule a discovery call or initial consultation today, and let us bring your story to life through design.

From Frightful to Delightful: Your Worst Renovation Fears Meet Our Best Solutions
Terrifying tales from the world of renovations (and how Rowan Hall Interiors saves the day)

It started like every great home project does.
A fresh Pinterest board. A hopeful scroll through tile samples.
A friend’s cousin’s brother who said he “kinda” knew how to build a bookcase.

What could possibly go wrong?

Cue the creepy music. Because when you head into a remodel without the right plan or the right people, things can get scary. Really scary.

At Rowan Hall Interiors, we’ve seen the horror stories. The ghosting contractors. The budget monsters. The DIY disasters. But our clients don’t live them because we’ve built a clear, calming, and expertly managed process to help you avoid every home-renovation nightmare.

Let’s take a spooky little stroll through some of the worst-case renovation scenarios and show you exactly how we keep them from ever happening in your project.

Fear #1: The Vanishing Contractor

The Horror: The floors are ripped up, the cabinets are off the wall, and suddenly… the contractor is gone. No updates. No responses. Just echoes.
The RHI Fix: With our strong vendor relationships and project management experience, we coordinate with trusted tradespeople and manage the timeline from start to finish. You’ll get weekly Friday updates, behind-the-scenes coordination, and a team that never ghosts.

Fear #2: The Budget Monster

The Horror: What started as a $30,000 kitchen somehow turned into a $75,000 gut job, and no one saw it coming.
The RHI Fix: We help set realistic expectations and allowances from the very beginning. During our detailed design presentation, you’ll see product costs, materials, and every thoughtful detail before we move forward. You get transparency, clarity, and control. No budget jumpscares here.

Fear #3: The DIY Curse

The Horror: You thought, “How hard could it be?” Two YouTube videos later, there’s drywall dust in your hair and you’re Googling “how to undo shiplap.”
The RHI Fix: We’re your full-service team for a reason. From concept to installation, we handle everything, including construction documents, drawings, and material specifications tailored for your contractor. We speak both client and builder, so there’s no confusion and no chaos. Just calm, buildable beauty.

Fear #4: The Mismatched Mayhem

The Horror: You swore that paint was greige. Why does it look like peach? And why does your modern sofa look like it time-traveled into a cottagecore coffee shop?
The RHI Fix: This is why we have Sylvia, our in-house color specialist and material matchmaker. From undertones and lighting to scale and style, we curate every piece to work together, so your home feels layered and intentional — not like a haunted mashup of TikTok trends.

Fear #5: The Endless Waiting Game

The Horror: Your furniture is on backorder until the next ice age, and the contractor says your home will be “done before Christmas”… of next year.
The RHI Fix: We create a procurement schedule before things get underway and store all furnishings in our climate-controlled staging area. That means when construction wraps, everything is ready for a seamless install. No waiting. No wondering. No spooky surprises.

The Happy Ending: Installation & Reveal

The best part of any horror story is when the monster is defeated — and at RHI, that’s reveal day.

While you’re away enjoying a spa day (or pretending you’re in a Nancy Meyers movie), our team transforms your space into a stunning, styled sanctuary. Every pillow fluffed, every candle placed, every corner perfectly polished. You come home to magic — no hexes, no headaches.

No tricks, only treats!

Who You Gonna Call?

If the idea of managing a renovation makes you break into a cold sweat, it’s time to call in the experts.

Who you gonna call? Rowan Hall Interiors!

From haunted timelines to mismatched finishes, we’re the design team that makes the process feel luxurious, intentional, and surprisingly fun. Our white glove process keeps every project on track and every client delighted.

Ready to turn your home from frightful to fabulous?
Book a discovery call or schedule your consultation. We’ll bring the treats — no tricks required.

Remote Clients, Real Results
How We Design from Afar (So You Don’t Have To)

So you decided to move to Tennessee! Congratulations, you’re going to love it here! From the lake life in Loudon County to the foothills of Maryville, we truly have it all. At Rowan Hall Interiors, we know moving into a new home is exciting, but it can also feel a little overwhelming. That’s where we come in.

Designing your home before you move in is one of the smartest choices you can make. This beautiful waterfront home in Lenoir City proves exactly why.

The Project: A New Build, A Blank Slate

This beautiful waterfront home in Lenoir City is a perfect example of why new Tennesseans turn to our team. In this case, our clients were moving into the WindRiver neighborhood, ready to start boating, playing pickleball, and meeting their new East Tennessee neighbors while enjoying a summer on Tellico Lake.

As a long-distance relocation, the clients knew they wouldn’t be on site during the design process. So they called in our team to furnish and finish their main living spaces before they arrived, and we’re so glad they did.

We provided full-service furnishings for the:

• Great Room
• Den
• Covered Porch and Balcony
• Primary Bedroom
• Guest Bedroom

The goal was to create a warm, refined home that was both completely customized and completely ready the day they moved in.

Why Design Before You Move In? Here’s the Real Value

We get it. When you’re planning a move, it can feel tempting to bring everything with you “just in case.” But we help our clients avoid the double expense of moving and replacing things that don’t actually work in their new home.

Designing ahead of time gives you clarity.
You’ll know exactly what furniture fits the scale and style of your new space, and what’s worth leaving behind. In many cases, the cost of shipping bulky furniture across state lines can be higher than replacing it with something that’s a better fit.

It saves you money and stress.
You’re not paying movers to haul oversized sectionals, tired old rugs, or mismatched nightstands, only to have them live in your garage or wind up on Facebook Marketplace. Instead, you’re investing that money into pieces that were selected just for your home and your lifestyle.

And best of all, it lightens your load, both literally and emotionally.
Moving is exhausting. Walking into a house that’s fully furnished, styled, and ready to live in is a luxury that makes your transition feel seamless and joyful, not overwhelming.

The Guest Bedroom: Old Meets New

One of our favorite moments from this project was the guest bedroom. Our clients had a few sentimental pieces they wanted to keep, including a beautiful bed frame and matching nightstands, and we helped them decide they were absolutely worth bringing along.

But we gave the room a whole new life. With updated finishes, soft goods, custom window treatments, and fresh accessories, the space felt completely reimagined. It’s proof that thoughtful design doesn’t mean replacing everything. Sometimes, it’s about honoring what you already have and knowing what to let go of.

The RHI Process: Remote, Refined, and Ready When You Are

Our full-service process is built for busy lives and big transitions. For this Lenoir City home, we handled:

• Site visits and measurements
• Custom furniture selections
• Rug sourcing and drapery design
• Window treatments tailored to the home’s stunning views
• Complete installation and styling
• Behind-the-scenes coordination with the builder

We didn’t just wrapping up this project; we’ve been part of it from the start. The homeowners reached out during construction so our team could play a key role in their relocation, ensuring every detail of their new home reflected their lifestyle and personality. While our clients packed and prepared for their move, we were busy behind the scenes. We received deliveries to our climate-controlled staging area, managed vendor logistics, and kept the builder looped in at every turn.

When installation day arrived, they came home to a fully finished space with only their clothes and dishes to unpack!

Your New Home, Designed Before You Arrive

Moving doesn’t have to be a marathon. Let us handle the furniture plans, the space planning, and the styling, so all you have to do is walk in and exhale.

Whether you’re building a new home, relocating to East Tennessee, or just want to skip the overwhelm, Rowan Hall Interiors is here to make it easy and beautiful.

Let’s lighten your load and elevate your home. Book a discovery call today, and let’s start designing your space before you move in. Your future self will thank you.

Custom Window Treatments for Fall: Warmth, Layers, and Lasting Style

The air is crisp, the leaves are turning, and your front porch is probably showing off a pumpkin or two by now. Inside, maybe you’ve added a few gourds to the mantel, tucked a fall-scented candle on the counter, or even strung up a garland of bats and ghosts for a little seasonal fun. These small touches instantly bring autumn cheer, but they’re fleeting. In a few weeks, the pumpkins will be gone, and the ghosts will be packed away until next October.

That’s why we love focusing on elements that make a big impact and last year-round—like custom window treatments.

Much like the perfect scarf that completes your fall outfit, custom window treatments complete a room. They are not just functional, blocking light or adding privacy, but also deeply atmospheric. As the days get shorter and cooler, the right luxury drapery or layered curtains makes your home feel plush, cozy, and inviting.

Fabrics for Fall (And Beyond)

When it comes to custom curtains and plush window treatments, the fabric you choose sets the tone for the entire room. Autumn is the perfect season to embrace textiles that feel rich, textural, and warm. One of our favorites for fall window treatments is the family of woven and heavy woven fabrics.

Woven fabrics bring versatile texture and depth. In heavier weights, they add fullness and coziness in fall and winter, while still breathing beautifully in the warmer months. This makes heavy wovens a practical and stylish option for custom curtains that last all year. They also pair effortlessly with sheers for layered looks that add dimension and polish to any room.

At Rowan Hall Interiors, we never choose fabrics just for looks. The performance and quality of the fabric matter just as much as the aesthetic. Here are a few qualities we look for when selecting fabrics for custom window treatments:

• Weight and Drape – Heavier fabrics provide insulation and structure, while still offering the right fluidity for elegant folds and pleats.
• Durability and Stain Resistance – We seek out performance textiles that can stand up to everyday life while maintaining their beauty.
• Fade Resistance – Fabrics exposed to sunlight need extra protection to keep their color rich and consistent over time.
• Breathability – A fabric that feels cozy in cooler months yet airy enough in the summer ensures year-round comfort.
• Texture and Visual Interest – Wovens bring subtle patterning, depth, and a tactile quality that makes your window treatments feel custom and luxurious.

These details ensure that when you invest in custom window coverings, you’re not just getting something beautiful for the moment, you’re getting thoughtfully chosen materials that will perform beautifully and stand the test of time.

The Art of Layering and Framing

Layering is one of the best-kept secrets in professional design. Imagine Roman shades in a woven fabric layered beneath full-length velvet drapery, or sheers paired with heavy woven panels. This combination adds dimension, coziness, and polish.

Even better, custom window treatments act like a frame around a beautiful picture. By drawing the eye upward and outward, drapery makes windows look larger and more impactful. Instead of disappearing into the background, your windows become a focal point—an architectural feature in their own right.

More Than a Seasonal Upgrade

Seasonal décor is fun, but custom window treatments are transformative. Pumpkins and garlands of bats are temporary, but custom curtains bring richness and coziness every day of the year. They make your windows appear grander, your rooms feel more finished, and your entire home more inviting.

Our founder and principal designer, Alfie, often says that drapery is the jewelry of the room. Once installed, the space feels dressed, polished, and warm—ready to welcome you home through every season.

Ready to Make a Big Impact?

If you’ve been refreshing your mantel with gourds and swapping out pillows for autumnal tones, you’re already thinking seasonally. Why not take that same energy and invest in something that truly transforms your home? Custom window treatments in velvets or woven textures add warmth in fall, coziness in winter, and timeless style all year long.

Rowan Hall Interiors specializes in luxury custom curtains and plush window coverings that balance comfort, beauty, and performance. If you’re ready to cozy up your home with custom window treatments this autumn, schedule your consultation today. We’ll help you create a space that feels elegant, inviting, and truly tailored to you.

Market Magic Powers Knoxville Design
Why Our Market Adventures Make Staying Home the Ultimate Luxury

Every season, our Rowan Hall Interiors design team packs their bags and heads to High Point Market—the largest home furnishings trade show in the world. To many, it might look like an excuse to shop until we drop. To us, it’s an essential part of bringing cutting-edge design, practical luxury, and timeless style back home to Knoxville.

But here’s the real question: why should you care that your interior designer goes to Market?

Our Inspiration Can Become Your Dream Home

Market is where creativity is unleashed. Imagine walking into a room filled with chandeliers that glisten like jewelry, custom upholstery that begs you to sink into it, and furniture collections that rethink the tiniest details like how a cushion is welted or how a tassel trim is revived. Sitting on a sofa, running your hands across a new bedding line, or seeing artwork lit under gallery lights is a completely different experience than flipping through a catalog.

When we return to Knoxville, we don’t just bring back product options, we bring back fresh inspiration. That means your home benefits from ideas and pairings that surprise even us.

We Build Relationships That Serve You

One of the best parts of Market is strengthening our relationships with vendors and reps. When you’re investing in custom furniture or a one-of-a-kind light fixture, you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing we can pick up the phone and talk directly to the people behind it. If an issue arises, those connections make resolutions faster and smoother. Simply put, our network becomes your safety net.

We Curate Longevity, Not Just Trends

Yes, Market is where trends are unveiled. But our job isn’t to chase every new look—it’s to evaluate which pieces and details will have true staying power in your home. We balance what’s fresh with what’s timeless, ensuring your furnishings feel relevant today and beautiful for years to come.

This year, we’ll be exploring everything from mid-range dining tables and chairs (harder to source than you’d think) to new lighting lines, custom bedding, and artwork that makes a statement. We’re also hunting for ready-made pillows to complement our locally made favorites here in Knoxville. These carefully selected options give us flexibility when creating your home’s perfect mix of custom and curated furnishings.

We Bring Back Access You Can’t Get Locally

Knoxville is brimming with beautiful shops and resources, but Market takes us beyond what you can find on your own. Exclusive fabric lines like Thibaut and Fabricut, private showrooms full of textures and finishes, and one-of-a-kind pieces ensure your home will never look cookie-cutter.

By working with our design team, you gain access to custom upholstery, bespoke furniture, hand-selected chandeliers, and curated artwork that make your home feel uniquely yours.

How This Fits Into Our Process

First, let’s summarize the process, beginning to finishing touches:

Our 4-Step Design Process

1. Consultation — Define your vision and set expectations
2. Design — Create tailored plans, palettes, and presentations
3. Project Management — Order, track, and stage every detail
4. Installation & Reveal — Style your home to perfection

Our trips to High Point feed directly into our structured 4-step design process. In the early stages, we use what we’ve discovered at Market to build your vision boards, floor plans, and material palettes. By the time we get to the ordering and project management phase, we already know which vendors we trust, which products will perform, and which unique pieces will make your home shine.

It’s just one of the many ways we ensure our clients enjoy a smooth, stress-free design journey—whether you’re building new, remodeling, or furnishing a home in one of Knoxville’s charming neighborhoods.

Ready to Bring Market Home?

The Rowan Hall Interiors design team heads to High Point with a clear list, an open mind, and our clients top of mind. Every chandelier we admire, every dining chair we test, every artwork we fall in love with—those discoveries are waiting to be part of your home story.

If you’ve been dreaming of a home that feels both current and timeless, full of custom details and furnishings you won’t see in your neighbor’s living room, we’d love to help. Reach out to Rowan Hall Interiors today to schedule your consultation. Let’s bring the best of High Point right back to Knoxville, just for you.