Cheri Riley along with Lucy Garry Flinn arranged for this interview and photo shot on collecting and 
decorating in Atlanta for Today’s Custom Home magazine. Click here for a complete reprint of the article with photos of Dina Woodruff’s fabulous treasure of a home in Buckhead. Following is an exerpt from the article as originally published in Today’s Custom Home in the December/January 2008 issue:
…Another interesting global trend is heritage collecting. Newly wealthy individuals from Russia, Asia and Latin America are increasingly collecting works from their native cultures. Faberge eggs are returning to Russia as fast as ancient works return to China.
In today’s custom homes, these influences are being felt while traditional rules of thumb about collecting and designing interiors are being challenged, as mixing modern with traditional has gained popularity. “This is not a contradiction, but reflects the continuity of the human experience,” says Michael Shapiro, Director of Atlanta’s High Museum of Art. “This winter marks the third year of our partnership with the Museé du Louvre, and we’ve just debuted The Louvre and the Masterpiece. It is a very eclectic exhibition that combines 91 works from eight of the Museé du Louvre’s collections spanning a 4,000- year period with great antiquities, 19th century paintings – everything from Vermeer to Michelangelo. This non-chronological approach brings seemingly unrelated pieces together in a fresh, modern way.”
When you are renovating or designing your dream home, it is the perfect time to re-evaluate furnishings, art and accessories – to edit out the stuff you’re not absolutely passionate about and create a collection that not only complements your living spaces, but speaks to you and reflects your passions.
Dina Woodruff has been a patron of the arts and collector for years and recently finished a two-year renovation of her home on Woodward Way.
“I wanted to maintain the integrity of the original footprint of the house, while creating a better flow for entertaining, modernizing the kitchen and bringing the outdoors in with larger windows and more doors to allow more natural light.”
Collaborating with a stellar team of interior partners, including Susan Kingery, Monica Eith and Karla Morris, Dina has brilliantly combined Woodruff family heirlooms with works of emerging Atlanta artists and eclectic, fun pieces that are very reflective of her personal style and exceptional taste. By blending timeless and classic with modern and eclectic, the resulting interiors are truly original and breathtakingly beautiful. Dina also incorporated elements from her Brookwood Hills residence designed by Dewberry and Huff and Sheree Boyd.
“Dina has orchestrated this renovation like a maestro,” notes Cheri Riley, Founding Partner of Atlanta Fine Homes, Sotheby’s International Real Estate. “She has really respected the integrity of this historic home in one of Atlanta’s most desirable neighborhoods, while creating a thoroughly modern living space that accommodates all of her collections.”
Born in Columbus, Ga., Dina graduated from the University of Georgia, then moved to Vail to pursue
her passions for skiing and the culinary arts and to research opening her own restaurant. A visit home and returning to one of her favorite haunts – That Place – a funky store featuring an eclectic mix of locally designed jewelry, art and furniture, inspired her to open Peridot in Atlanta in 1989. She moved Peridot to its current location on East Paces Ferry in 1991, where she showcases the works of Atlanta jewelers, painters and potters.
Planning for Peridot and managing her enormous volume of volunteer and charitable activities take place in the solace of Dina’s office – a light-filled retreat with windows open to the soothing sounds of the James II water feature below. At the center of attention are two Rachel Idarra landscapes in oils peacefully depicting a pasture with cypress trees in the foreground.
“Trees are a core theme in my collection,” says Dina. “With magnificent branches reaching towards the sky, strong yet graceful trunks and deep roots grounded in the earth, trees are inspirational to me and a favorite subject for many different artists.”
The foyer, living room and formal dining room shimmer in a divine palate of satin, velvet and taffeta blues. The classical formality of a gold trimode mirror is off-set by a table plucked from a Miami gallery. It is a funky combination of an antique architectural base topped with an octagonal mirror set in iron. The blue velvet settee was designed by Susan Kingery.
French blue has always been Dina’s favorite color. The interior strategy was anchored by blue and is a marvelous combination of classically elegant, organic and modern elements, but comfort is key as Dina is always entertaining her son Wood’s friends and has a menagerie of beloved pets.
The formal dining room features many Woodruff family heirlooms, including Dina’s grandmother’s silver service and a wonderful antique mahogany spool high chair that converts into a stroller, which Dina dined in as a child. The English breakfront was her grandmother’s as well, and Dina has fond childhood memories of peeking through the glass doors to admire the china collection.
Using organic materials – wood, willow, slate, brick, fieldstone and strong oak ceiling beams – with natural textures and colors results in a sublime relaxation porch that truly brings the outside in and offers the ultimate in casual entertaining. The chandelier is made of antique wine barrel staves and is reflected in a mirror featuring an antique Asian iron gate. The Belgian wicker chairs are dressed with custom-monogrammed covers featuring a W on the front and fleur de lis on the back.
“I look for special pieces with some history and a good story behind it. I feel like this brings my home good karma,” says Dina. “Color, comfort and a mixture of textures, incorporating lots of natural light, natural materials and reclaimed beams work together to make a house feel like a home.”
Dominating Dina’s bedroom is her great-great-grandmother’s 18th century mahogany bed, elegantly draped in a floral Brunschwig & Fils bedcover. Cowtan & Tout toile covers the canopy, bed skirt, window treatments, chair and bench. The Aubusson carpet is topped with a New Zealand shearling rug. A series of six oil landscapes featuring trees grace one wall of the bedroom and reflect the four seasons as well as scenes by day and night.
A dramatic Todd Alexander oil painting of an ascending biplane flies above 13 year-old Wood’s bed. Flanking this whimsical work hang two pieces by Telluride artists Bruce Gomez and John Richardson. The horse print was a Christmas gift Dina bought for Wood as it reminded her of Willy, the horse he rode in Wrangler Camp. Dina’s Mom, Peggy, purchased the Bruce Gomez pastel of Bridal Veil Falls at the end of the valley of Telluride when vacationing with Dina there.
“I like to mix it up – whether it’s a family piece, or something fun and fresh I found buying for Peridot, or something special found antiquing in England with friends – if it has a story that puts a smile on your face, I bring it home,” notes Dina.
When asked if she had any words of wisdom to offer, Dina said, “Don’t hesitate to buy something if it speaks to you. If it makes you smile, you will find a special place for it in your home.”
For more information on Dina’s shop Peridot and her favorite shopping venues click here to read the whole article on Today’s Custom Home Magazine’s website.
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About the author: Cheri Riley is the Founding Partner of the Cheri Riley Group at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby's International Realty. She has overseen almost two billion dollars in residential real estate sales either directly or under her management. Her passion is uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary people.
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I’ve noticed a trend with the mix of old/new also – I love seeing exposed beams (even if they may be “faux beams”) in new construction today – it gives a room so much more depth and character in my opinion.
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