Handsome Buckhead townhome exudes formal air

Private Quarters

Clinton Rice felt a kinship with the previous owners of his Buckhead townhome.

They decorated the residence with furniture and antiques, including items from one of his go-to spots, Scott Antique Market, held the second weekend of every month in Atlanta.

“That’s something we like to do on the weekends as well,” Rice said.

Rice introduced a formal flair to the townhome with traditional furnishings, ornate framed artwork, blue-and-white accessories, and patterned Japanese and Chinese porcelain.

Snapshot

Residents: Clinton Rice and Michael Mock and their French bulldogs, Buck and Rose. Rice works for BankSouth Mortgage and owns Clinton Lane Rice Design; Mock works for Brand Bank.

Location: Buckhead's Margaret Mitchell neighborhood

Size: 2,500 square feet, two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths

Year built/bought: 1974/2014

Architectural style: Traditional

Favorite architectural elements: Curved staircase and barrel ceiling

Interior design style: Traditional

Favorite interior design elements: Accessorizing with Oriental porcelain. Rice also incorporated a blue-and-white color scheme and porcelain when he decorated the Georgian Library at The Cloister at Sea Island for Christmas at the Cloister: A Holiday Designer Showcase in 2015.

Favorite artwork: Oil painting of the Savannah marsh by Elaine Oye Burge.

Favorite piece of furniture: The Maitland-Smith dining room set from Mathews Furniture.

Favorite outdoor feature: Charleston-style courtyard, which has brick walls, Frontgate furniture, and a container garden with plants such as hydrangeas and ferns.

Resources: Furniture and rugs from Scott Antique Market, ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center) and estate sales; accessories from B.D. Jeffries and Boxwoods Gardens and Gifts.

Decor tip: Visit estate sales for unique pieces, whether you want to splurge or want a deal. If you are on a budget, go the first day — typically Thursday — but then wait for Saturday or Sunday, when items are marked down by 25 percent or more. "Try to get there as early as you can and preview everything. I would suggest trying to go Thursday and seeing if it's the price you want. If not, if I want it, I'll wait, and if it's still there, it's meant to be," Rice said. A lattice-back chair in his foyer is one of his favorite estate sale finds.