The house has always been majestic,
from its location in a prominent historic district in Florence. But it was beginning to show its age when the Collins family purchased this grand old home and hired Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins, ASID to redo it. The result is a comfortable showplace, perfect for a growing family and for entertaining. The house was built in 1917 by the Gullette family, and was later occupied by the Wynn family, “and the bones were strong,” said Anne Leslie. Brooks Collins, a financial advisor, and his family purchased it in August of 2007, and in the past three years have redone or reconfigured every part of the home. “Every door and window was tagged and numbered,” said Anne Leslie, “and we did the whole house with historic preservation in mind. We wanted to make it energy efficient, but we wanted it to be true to the neighborhood and respectful of its historic tradition.” Anne Leslie opened up interior spaces and gave it light and air. The dining room is surrounded by French doors that let light in from almost every angle, and interior walls were moved to capture and take advantage of the light. Bathrooms are breathtaking in their use of natural stones, including marble and granite. The kitchen and family rooms flow together to create a huge space for entertaining, and the new driveway leads to a guesthouse and garage in the backyard which can also be used for overflow entertaining. The Collins family has two young children and are expecting a third, so the attic was reworked to create play space for the kids that will change and adapt with them as they grow. Anne Leslie had a real understanding of the family’s needs, because she has young twins of her own! Best of all, for Anne Leslie, this project was like returning home. Her parents live at the opposite end of the street and were the driving force behind the formation of the Walnut Street Historic District, so working on the Collins home had special meaning for her; Anne Leslie grew up just a hop, skip and a jump away from this house. That was a few years ago, before she left for Salem College, where she earned a degree in interior design; she worked in New York for 14 years before returning to Birmingham, where she lives now.
Facing page: The dining room is designed for lingering—the upholstered chairs make for long, leisurely dinners. The living room, right, is the perfect combination of elegant and effortless. Above: the exterior of the renovated Collins home.
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