Past Forward: Reviving an Old Southern House with Collections, Antiques, and Passion

An atmospheric portrait of a historic Southern house brought back to life through one woman’s artistry and stewardship.

When Adkins inherited her family’s nineteenth-century Greek Revival Alabama farmhouse—lived in by five generations of her family and listed on the National Register of Historic Places—it became the canvas for her singular eye. A gifted collector and beloved figure in the design industry for her antiques store, Black Sheep, Adkins revitalized the house, gardens, and grounds over the ensuing decades, leaning on her deep appreciation for thoughtful historic preservation and Southern decor.

Every room reflects Adkins’s instinct for artful interiors: heart pine floors underfoot, patinated finishes on storied antiques, flower arrangements foraged from the grounds, and everyday objects curated with connoisseurship. Layered vignettes, rustic textiles, and heirloom pieces elevated to the status of art create interiors that feel both collected and deeply personal. A powerful sense of place pervades the surrounding landscape as well, where seasonal color, historic plantings, thoughtful outdoor rooms, and a new summer house enrich the property’s character.

Throughout the book, Adkins shares insight into the rhythms of gracious Southern living—from porch sitting to receiving guests to collecting with intention. Illustrated with beautifully moody photography by Hector Sanchez, the resulting book is a moving story of a family house shaped by time, narrative, and the woman who cared for it.

Barbara Hamby Adkins is an artist, collector, and the founder of Black Sheep Antiques in Harpersville, Alabama. Bobby McAlpine is a renowned architect. Susan Sully is the author of twelve books on architecture and design. Hector Manuel Sanchez is an interiors and lifestyle photographer.