Clinton Smith
That Clinton Smith became Senior Editor for Southern Accents at age 30, is a sure sign he's headed to fulfill his destiny.

Since the age of five, the young Clinton is remembered to have displayed the remarkable skills of junior designer and architect — building paradigm models (to scale!) of imaginary houses, drawing floor plans with his crayons, and landscaping his grandparents’ garden — carrying his sand pail filled with seedlings and bloomers — planting them in artful arrangements.  Growing up in his parents’ 1938 Greek Revival house in rural east Texas, the young Clinton was surrounded by mannered elegance.

“Southerners are serious about houses,” Smith says. “There is a lovely legacy of classicism and an over-arching traditionalism in the South that’s unlike anything in the rest of the world.  But Southern style is not defined by a geographic region.  It’s about a sense of place: the gracious lifestyle, hospitality, and the love and passion Southerners have for their homes and collections.”

When he’s not at his desk, writing or sorting through scouting shots, Smith is on the road chronicling the best in Southern style. Whether rediscovering the time-worn classics of New Orleans or beholding the nouveaux, Smith looks for the original, unique and the one-of-a-kind.

“I am constantly traveling for pleasure and for work, but I do find that the rural South, with its still verdant countryside, is a tonic for my soul,” says Smith.  Even the world's most glamorous locations fail to completely capture his heart, as he is forever faithful to Dixie.  During a trip to the Cote d'Azur last fall, Clinton found himself pining for the autumn foliage of his native South, so this year instead of the grand European tour, he has taken a lakeside cabin in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains.

As a student at the University of Mississippi, Smith studied under the famed Dr.Samir Husni, known as “Mr. Magazine," recognized as the world's leading expert on consumer magazines.  While studying at the Oxford campus of "Ole Miss," Smith continued to develop his reverence for architecture from Oxford's many antebellum buildings.  Studying architecture and design, and becoming learned in the medium of magazines, Smith's thesis combined his two passions:  A business plan for and a prototype of a regional home and garden magazine.  Earning his degree, Smith's early avocation never waivered.

Smith’s first job at a shelter magazine, was as Assistant Editor of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. Within six months, he was promoted to Senior Editor.  In just over a year, the magazine was awarded the Gold GAMMA (the Magazine Association of the Southeast) for Best Design.  The following year, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles was honored by GAMMA with five more awards. 

Smith, too, was recognized for his feature story on the latest trends from the International Home Furnishings Market.   During his tenure at Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, the magazine's revenue doubled.

Smith has always been an early adopter of new media, especially how it affects the design industry.  He founded Atlanta's first daily style and design blog, and is the recipient of the Media Award from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Georgia Chapter.

Smith comes to Southern Accents having written countless stories on design, travel, lifestyle and media trends.  From child prodigy to polished authority, Smith's life has been a continuum of the study and celebration of Southern life and design.  We predict the young and handsome, multi-talented ClintonSmith will land the top job, Editor-in-Chief, at a major shelter book before he turns forty.  A remarkable achievement no doubt, as undoubtedly, it is his destiny.

WHAT DIRECTION IS YOUR STYLE COMPASS POINTED TO?

Inspiration:  My sweet mother, Susan.  She always — and still does — keep a pretty home.  Her passion for home magazines inspired me to forge my own path in this industry.

Accessories:  My decorating tastes run pretty timeless, but I get caught up in trendy accessories — coral, rock crystal, and more coral. Thank goodness they’re inexpensive.   For something more substantial, I love J. Roaman in East Hampton; it is furniture as art that you can actually live with. Other favorite shops for great finds: Mrs. Howard in Jacksonville, Fla; Revival in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Lush Life in Atlanta; and Antony Todd in New York

Fabric:  I’m obsessed with “Russell” by Albert Hadley for Hinson. The scale of the print, the brown-and-ivory color combination — I love it!  I want to cover every surface with it. The new No. 9 collection from Jim Thompson is pretty special, too.

Gardening:  I want a small patch of land to experiment with heirloom roses; their fragrances are divine, and most are resistant to pests and disease. 

Colour:  Apparently, gray is the new black, but I've just painted my living room a soft pumpkin color.

Books:  I was thrilled to pick up a copy of the brand-new Decorating Ideas That  Work by Heather J. Paper, and see my name in the dedication.  What a thrill.  I also contributed to shopping guru Suzy Gershman’s new tome, the Best of Everything, due out in April 2008.

Hotel:  The Cinq-Mondes Spa at the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne is heaven on earth.

Restaurant:  Although the prepared foods section at Whole Foods is my second home, I prefer more intimate, under-the-radar places for dining: Lucien in New York, Herbsaint in New Orleans, and Woodfire Grill in Atlanta. 

Entertaining: I love the porcelain from Mud Australia. You have to feel it, touch it, to experience it.

Vacation:  In the past two months, I’ve been to North Carolina twice, rural Virginia, the Great Smoky Mountains, New Orleans, New York, and Washington D.C.  So, home is my vacation!

Museum: I’m partial to the Renzo Piano-designed, third-floor contemporary and modern art galleries at the recently expanded High Museum of Art in Atlanta. The Neue Gallery in New York is a gem of a museum, and their online gift shop is superb.

Art: To me, design is all about the mix, so I love to see contemporary art in classically-designed spaces.  I love the drawings of interiors by Shara Hughes and the nail polish series by Scott Ingram.  I just discovered Troy Bennett’s communication towers series, but how do you choose just one?

Music: About four years ago, a Finnish magazine editor gave me Kaanaanmaa, a CD of Finnish hymns by Saxophonist Jukka Perko.  It’s simply hypnotic and is my favorite for both relaxing and working at home.