AT home with Jonathan Kent Adams

The state of Mississippi has been long known as a very southern state, one that is filled with vast farms, small towns, historic charm, and of course the mighty Mississippi River. Water Valley, the town Jonathan Kent Adams and Blake Summers call home, is a town just south of Oxford that was a major producer of watermelons, but has since become a bit sleepier of a place that fits Jonathan and Blake well. Their home sits a few blocks off the center of town, just a pleasant walk from restaurants, shops, Jonathan’s studio, and the folks that make this town feel like a bit of a liberal refuge in an otherwise staunchly conservative state

“Our style is whatever we like. We are a bit all over the place, so it’s hard for me to say a certain style. Blake is usually drawn to darks, earth tones, ornate, and brass. I am more modern, playful, and bright. What unites our style is our love for the pieces we both pick out. We usually contemplate something and then add it if we both love it.” Jonathan says of the style of their home

The house was built around 1910 and the pair bought the house from the artist, Coulter Fussell a few years ago. “I am hoping a little of her magic is still there for me to tap into.” She moved a street over and still makes work in Water Valley. Since taking ownership they have slowly made subtle changes to the house to make it work for their ever active lifestyle. Each year brings an array of projects to the house and property. 

Most items in their house were found at thrift and antique stores. Shops like The Depot, B’s Antiques, Helping Hands, Sugar Magnolia, and the Mustard Seed in Oxford have been a constant source of new additions to the home. Blake frequently takes trips after work to see what’s new or the pair will take little trips together to shop for new finds. Jonathan advises to check your favorite thrift and antique stores frequently for changing inventory and pieces you may have originally overlooked

“I am not sure a lot about the history of the house, our neighbor used to play in our yard and will tell me places where sheds or old walk ways used to be. I know there was a small addition in the 80s along with the vinyl siding. The addition is actually where our roof still leaks, tackling that will be one of our future projects.” Jonathan says of the house.  He says he thinks their favorite part of the house is how it sits on a hill and the evening golden hour light floods in each evening.

When asked why they decided  to move to small town Mississippi Jonathan says “because queer people usually leave and it’s cheap! We can afford to be creative without having to spend forty plus hours a week stuck in an awful job. We also want other queer people in Mississippi who may not have the access or ability to leave here know that other lgbtq people are here!”

Jonathan, a well-respected artist, has a studio a few blocks from the house. His work has been exhibited and shown in shows and galleries across the U.S.