Located in downtown Knoxville on Market Square, Emilia is a simple, Italian restaurant that serves homemade pasta and seasonal dishes. It took over a former restaurant/night club that needed code upgrades to make it more functional. A staircase leading to the basement was removed to open up the space and create more seating. The existing exposed brick was painted white, and the black acoustic tile ceiling was replaced with white oversized acoustical ceiling tiles and stained timber beams to lighten up the formerly dark space while still providing a good atmosphere for conversation. The understated décor is continued across the dining area with a bar that is flanked with black granite counter tops and a herringbone wood plank front. Windows were also added at the kitchen to allow customers to watch the food preparation. Emilia’s earthy interior reflects the chef’s passion for farm fresh, made from scratch food.