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!
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