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

This is exactly how I love a home to feel: collected over time, full of beautiful old things, a little imperfect, and completely personal. The photography is gorgeous, and this is one of those books you’ll want to leave open on the coffee table.

DESCRIPTION

A beautiful study in how a house becomes more meaningful with time.

In Past Forward, artist and antiques dealer Barbara Adkins opens the doors to her family’s nineteenth-century Greek Revival farmhouse in Alabama, a home that has been lived in by five generations and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Over decades, Adkins thoughtfully revived the interiors, gardens, and grounds while preserving the history and character that make the property so special.

Inside, you’ll find rooms layered with patinated antiques, heirloom pieces, rustic textiles, collected objects, flowers gathered from the property, and beautifully imperfect details that make every space feel deeply personal. Moody photography by Hector Sanchez captures not only the interiors but also the gardens, outdoor rooms, and rhythms of gracious Southern living.

It’s part decorating inspiration, part story of preservation, and part love letter to collecting well.

Details

• Author: Barbara Adkins
• With Susan Sully
• Foreword by Bobby McAlpine
• Photography by Hector Sanchez
• Hardcover
• 240 pages
• 150 color photographs
• 8.5" x 11"
• Publisher: Rizzoli
• Published September 15, 2026
• ISBN: 9780847877195