Welcome to Knoxville!
An interior designer's guide to an East Tennessee move

Knoxville is home to the Tennessee Volunteers, Dolly Parton and your favorite interior designer, Rowan Hall Interiors. From Market Square to the Sunsphere, our town is full of iconic spots, historic architecture, and mountain views. Knoxville’s central location to much of the US is as ideal as the Southern atmosphere. It’s no wonder folks are flocking from all over!

Relocation Station

If you’re contemplating moving to Tennessee from out of state, it might be the lack of state income tax that grabbed your attention. Coupled with the lower cost of living compared to many other states, relocating to the Volunteer State tends to be a financially sound decision for many people. Whether it’s a move to kick off your retirement years or the decision to raise your family here, Rowan Hall is here to be your trusted Tennessee interior designer!

In Knoxville, there’s no need to sacrifice city life or the great outdoors. A quick hour car ride takes you to the Smoky Mountains where you can enjoy the great outdoors and get familiar with our region’s national park. Downtown Knoxville’s eclectic atmosphere, restaurant scene and walkability will give you the city feel you might be searching for. There is something for everyone in our diverse town, which is what makes Knoxville special. Catch views of the Smoky Mountains from a rooftop cocktail lounge or enjoy the city skyline while paddle-boarding down the Tennessee River. Better yet, try both in one day!

New to the Neighborhood

Downtown Knoxville

Bruce McCamish photography

The Tennessee Theater, Old City, Market Square… Downtown Knoxville is a unique and eclectic scene that combines all the best parts of our town. If you’re one of the lucky ones who snags a Downtown loft in one of the beautiful historic buildings, your new space might need a few upgrades to truly feel like home. Whether your kitchen and bathrooms aren’t quite up to par or you’re looking to furnish your cool new digs with pieces that belong, Rowan Hall’s team of experts will make it feel like yours.  

Sequoyah Hills

via KAARMLS

Sequoyah Hills is that neighborhood in Knoxville. One hundred years ago, this part of town was one of Knoxville’s first suburbs. After a century of growth, the streets of Sequoyah are situated minutes from the Downtown scene, the University of Tennessee’s campus, and the convenience of Bearden. The homes in this coveted neighborhood are full of character and charm, and most are pretty well-kept for their age. If you’re looking for a fixer-upper in this perfect location, you’ll need Rowan Hall’s expert designers and project managers to bring back the glory days!

Rocky Hill 

via lakeshoreparkknoxville.com

Rocky Hill is another coveted region of Knoxville, and one drive down Westland Drive will have you understanding why. This neighborhood is centrally located, and its proximity to Lakeshore Park, Bearden and West Town Mall is only one of the reasons families are flocking here. If you’re moving into the 37919 for the quiet, family-friendly community, great schools, and convenience to West Knoxville businesses, Rowan Hall’s team can help in a multitude of ways. Maybe you need help seeing potential in an outdated rancher, or maybe you fell in love with a charming cottage that needs some TLC. You’ll be glad you contacted us to bring your vision to life!

There are so many other unique neighborhoods throughout Knoxville, and you really can’t go wrong with wherever you choose! In future blogs, we’ll introduce you to Farragut, Tellico, Maryville, and the rest of the Knoxville-adjacent locations we work. Stay tuned to our Instagram and Facebook to be alerted when we break down the next East Tennessee hot spots.

An RHI Welcome Home

Moving to a new place is exciting and a little bit overwhelming. There’s so much to discover in Knoxville, from your new favorite park to where you’ll do your grocery shopping. In the midst of a relocation and exploring your new city, you could throw in trying to get settled into your home, or you could leave that to the experts! The best part about working with Rowan Hall and our tried-and-true 15-step process is that you don’t have to lift a finger. We bring it all together (down to stocking your silverware drawer, if you wish), so you can focus on getting to know your new town.

Rowan Hall will also ensure you’re moving into a completely unique and custom home. Knoxville has many beloved furniture stores around town, and their pieces are beautiful but quite popular. Another perk of working with our interior design firm instead of shopping with the rest of Knoxville is having furniture that was custom designed for you and your lifestyle. We work with trusted vendors from around the country to design pieces that were created just for you, and we curate artwork and accessories that will speak to you and make your space stand out above the rest. Learn more about our interior furnishing projects here.

Caffeine Fixes, Cocktail Flights and Lemon Cookies

Since you’re hiring Rowan Hall’s design team to take care of all the details within your home, you’ll have time to get out and enjoy Knoxville! After a lifetime of living in here, Alfie knows all the hidden gems. You can hit the Knoxville staples like Calhouns and Copper Cellar, or you can live like the locals do and visit the Rowan Hall team’s favorite spots. Who better to get recommendations from than a few ladies with impeccable taste?!

Good Eats

Chez Guevera – Their name may have changed 20 years ago, but Knoxville natives still know this eclectic dive as “La Paz.” Amazing food and the best salsa verde north of the Alamo! 

A Dopo – Pizza, gelato, wine… There’s not a bad thing on the menu. Make a reservation to take your honey, and don’t forget to ask for extra sweet hot!

Kefi – If you see our marketing manager having a cocktail flight on a Friday night, no you didn’t. Kefi is the best Downtown spot for a girls’ night out, and you might spot a local celeb or two!

Point B – All you need to know is that they have a french fry sampling board. This new West Knoxville eatery is a fun and delicious go-to.

Hard Knox Pizza – With 3 locations around Knoxville, Hard Knox is always the right idea. If you can’t decide what to order, just pick the one with the best name. You can’t go wrong!

Caffeine Kicks

K Brew – One everything bagel and an iced latte, please! It’s Knoxville’s favorite coffee spot for a reason, and thankfully, there’s always one close by. 

Honeybee Coffee Co – We won’t name names, but one of our team members can never turn down a brown sugar macadamia milk latte from Honeybee. Give it a try and let us know if your life is forever changed.

Sweet Treats and Grocery Go-Tos

Market Square Farmers’ Market – Fresh flowers, seasonal veggies and maybe a baked good to reward yourself! We love the Nourish Knoxville markets for giving us a chance to support local farmers and vendors, and it’s a fun time for all.

Ham ‘N Goodys – If you haven’t tried their lemon cookies, you’re not a Knoxvillian yet. Consider Ham ‘N Goodys your official initiation!

Goodness to Go – When Alfie’s son, Jackson, went to the Episcopal School of Knoxville, he had the best school lunches in America. Now, the same ladies who ran that cafeteria are feeding Knoxville! Stop in for a quick, homemade dinner when you’re in a pinch and thank us later.

Butler & Bailey Market – Despite many grocery chain options in Farragut, Alfie and Mitch drive a short 25 minutes for their weekly shopping at this quaint, locally-owned grocery store in Rocky Hill. They love the quality produce, local products and friendly staff so much that it’s worth the trip!

We hope you enjoyed this breakdown of our favorite city! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the know with all things Rowan Hall Interiors. We love sharing our projects as they come to life. If you have any questions for our interior design team, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Have ideas about a potential project? Book a discovery call with Alfie. And if you’re ready to hop on board with our amazing team, schedule your initial consultation to get the party started!

Moving to town? Click the button below to meet your new favorite Knoxville interior designer.

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Hardwood Floors and Their Alternatives
How Rowan Hall chooses what flooring material is best for your home

Hardwood floors have been a preferred choice for homeowners for years for a reason. Their natural beauty and durability make them a great investment for any home. Over the years, engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring have been greatly improved to be fabulous hardwood floor alternatives. Each option is a popular choice for different reasons and has its own unique benefits. Today we’re breaking down the pros and cons of each and how Rowan Hall’s team of expert interior designers decides what flooring is best for your home.

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are a classic and elegant choice that have been popular for many years. They are the gold standard here in the Southeast, and are almost always a great investment.  A few benefits are that they are made from solid wood, so they can be sanded down and refinished multiple times.  We have a lot of options for selecting custom stain colors, and can do sample patches on the actual floor in real time to see exactly how a particular species will take the stain and look in the home.  Another benefit of real hardwoods is that they are relatively easy to match up later if a client decides that they’d like to add hardwood floors to a hall or bedroom three years down the road.  Basic red and white oak planks are readily available in East Tennessee and can be added with ease.  Our Knoxville interior designers are big fans of hardwood, and we select this option for clients with the main priority of adding value to their home. 

One of the main drawbacks of hardwood floors is that they are vulnerable to moisture and can be damaged by water. Living in East Tennessee, we experience humidity that prevents certain hardwood choices from working. Wider planks are susceptible to the moisture in the air and can buckle easily, limiting our options as interior designers in the humid Southeast. Hardwood also requires regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. While our expert design team wouldn’t select hardwood for a client who prefers low maintenance materials, it is often the best option for a timeless, luxury look.

Engineered Hardwood

A great alternative in humid Tennessee is Engineered hardwood, which is a hardwood lookalike made up of a thin layer of real wood on top of a plywood base. This makes it more resistant to moisture and better suited for areas with fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels. Because of its ability to withstand our crazy climate here in East Tennessee, engineered hardwood is a great option for our clients. 

One of the main benefits of engineered hardwood is its durability. It can withstand heavy foot traffic and is less likely to scratch or dent than traditional hardwood floors. This makes it a great option for our clients who want to live in their homes without worrying about delicate hardwood floors. One of the many benefits of working with Rowan Hall’s interior designers is that we get to know your lifestyle and make the best decisions based on our expertise and how you live in your home. .

The only downside to engineered hardwood is that these floors can be sanded and refinished a limited number of times due to the thin layer of real wood. This means our clients can’t change the color of their floors every ten years, but with our Knoxville interior design team selecting the perfect engineered hardwood for each project, they won’t want to!

Check out our Tellico Lake house renovation blogs to see engineered hardwood in action.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

The final option for a hardwood alternative is Luxury vinyl plank (LVP). This newer option is designed to mimic the look of hardwood floors without the upkeep of real wood. Made up of multiple layers of vinyl, LVP is highly durable and resistant to scratches and dents. While our designers tend to stray from this option in an entire home, sometimes it is the perfect choice for a bathroom, kitchen or basement. 

Our team of experts opt for LVP for our low maintenance clients who value practicality. This waterproof flooring option is perfect for families with kids and pets who are still spilling milk and tracking in mud. Our interior designers truly think of everything! We get to know our clients, and we’re passionate about making their home a customized place that fits their every need.

We’ll Choose the Right Flooring for Your Home

Choosing new flooring can be overwhelming. There are an abundance of options at many different price points with pros and cons galore. Every client has different needs and desires for their home, which is why our team of Knoxville, TN interior designers prioritizes a relationship with our clients. We can’t craft the perfect home for you if we don’t know how you live! We spend time getting to know your current stage of life and create a home that can grow with you. 

Knoxville interior designer and founder of Rowan Hall interiors, Alfie Rowan, created a fifteen-step process that allows us to do just that. We begin with an initial consultation where a member of our team will come to you and begin to learn your lifestyle. No need to tidy up for us! We want to see how you actually live, so we can create a home that feels comfortable and luxurious all at once. 

If you’re ready to update your home with new flooring, custom furnishings or new window treatments, contact our team of expert interior designers to bring your vision to life in a way that suits your lifestyle best. We’ll consider your budget, design preferences and future needs to create a home that exudes effortless sophistication and attainable luxury.

Click the button below to schedule your discovery call today!

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Call in the Experts
Make Rowan Hall Interiors your Realty team’s trusted design resource

It’s no secret that realtors are staying busy in the current housing market. In Knoxville and all over Tennessee, we are seeing folks flock to our great state. Although the traffic has never been worse, we are thankful to all those realty teams for putting people in new homes that need renovations, furnishings, custom window treatments and more! We know that with all the homebuyer competition around town, the pickings may sometimes be slim. When your clients aren’t seeing exactly what they’re looking for, they need a little bit of inspiration from your devoted Knoxville interior designers at Rowan Hall.  

Every successful realtor keeps a trusted and talented designer in their back pocket. A design expert is a crucial resource, so realtors don’t have to concern themselves with anything but what they do best: buying and selling homes. After 20 years of full-service design work, Rowan Hall Interiors has the knowledge and expertise to be a vital asset to your team. We’ll leave the buying and selling to you while we make your homes (and you) look good.

Whether you are helping your clients on the buying end or selling side, having Rowan Hall’s team of designers in your Rolodex is just what you need to close those tricky deals. Call us in a pinch or bring us along for the whole process. Here are some ways our team can help.

When your Buyer has “Spending Problems”

When your clients are having a difficult time envisioning what could be, our design team is here to help. Maybe they’ve fallen in love with a fixer upper in Sequoyah Hills, but can’t quite wrap their minds around renovating. Perhaps you can see that the Tellico Lake house is perfect for your clients, but it requires a designer’s eye to show them the home’s true potential. We can explain potential furniture layouts, give ideas for easy DIY fixes, and even provide renderings that show a home’s full potential.

When you have hesitant clients who need a fresh eye and expert ideas in order to pull the trigger, Rowan Hall can step in and provide vision and insight. Buying a home is serious business! It can be intimidating and emotional, and sometimes it’s difficult for clients to envision themselves in a new space. Our expertise might be just what your client needs to become happy homebuyers.

And When your Seller has Some Staging to Do

Some homes sell themselves. Some homes need a little bit of extra love. From staging to minor updates and quick fixes, selling a home can be taxing and competitive. A trusted interior designer can help bring those tricky homes past the finish line. Although Rowan Hall does not stage homes, we do offer walkthroughs and staging reports that clients can implement on their own to get their homes market-ready. 

We can provide insight into current trends that might catch the eye of a potential buyer, give paint color advice, provide layout renderings to maximize the space, and more. You’re the expert at buying and selling, and your Rolodex of experts are there to help you do just that. Set yourself up for success by connecting with our team of Knoxville interior design experts to give you the best looking houses on the market!

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You Trusted Resource

From design consulting to marketing collaborations, we want to help you find the best ways our designers can elevate your business. Whether your clients are Tennessee born and raised or transplants from California, when you’re in need of a Knoxville interior designer, we’re here to make dreams come true. Contact us today and let’s discuss how our design team can help you succeed. We want to be a valuable resource to your team, and we can’t wait to help you thrive!

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Realtors, let’s connect! Click the button below to get in touch with us. 

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You Build, We Design
5 Reasons Why Builders, Contractors and Remodelers are partnering with Rowan Hall Interiors

From custom home building to renovating, a well-designed home will elevate the look of any builder’s portfolio. Rowan Hall’s full service interior design team has 20 years of experience bringing homes to life with every intentional detail. We are a Knoxville design firm that goes beyond beautiful custom window treatments, luxurious furniture and fabulous accessories. Although we are experts at the finishing touches, our team is also an asset long before your windows are ready for their custom draperies. New construction selections are made easy (and beautiful) when Rowan Hall gets involved, and renovations reach their maximum potential with a team like ours.

Whether you are a builder looking to advance your business or a contractor who would rather leave the endless details to a team of designers, we’re giving you 5 reasons why partnering with Rowan Hall Interiors is the way to go.

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