HOME &DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEITH ROCKE

The North Atlanta “second home” of Merrie Beth and Bob Donehewis both a showplace and a showcase for this fascinating couple’scollections of fine, rare and beautiful decorative arts and artifacts. Forthis well-traveled twosome, “If some is good, more is better!”

Collectorshe Donehew home is surprising, because thewell-manicured traditional exterior does notreveal its contents. It is fabulous, becauseMerrie Beth’s designer’s eye for blending andcombining an excessive array of designe l e m e n t s ,

somehow works. The result is alavish residence that both Boband Merrie Beth Donehew andtheir adored canine, Buell,share with pride and comfort.Married for 25 years, theDonehews purchased the now45-year-old home in 1992when they began renovatingand decorating – a processwhich Merrie Beth, a highlyaccomplished interior designer,admits is always ongoing as thecouple continues to collect andexpand. Also impressive is thatthis is not their only residence,as they spend their time equallyin the beautiful Cape San Blas,Florida, home they built a fewyears ago.

Dinner parties abound at the

Donehew home, where their culinary skills are rumored to equaltheir fabulous eye for design. They are “people people” anddelight in a house full of friends and family. And this home wasdesigned for entertaining. In spite of museum-quality collectionson display in every room, each space is anchored with user-

friendly plush and comfortableseating. There isn’t a vantagepoint in the home that doesn’toffer a feast for the visualsenses. In the warm months,the enormous kitchen andFlorida room allow guests to“spill over” to the lovely poolarea and tennis courts beyond.The meticulous landscape ispunctuated by a charming andimpressive collection of gardensculptures and statuary.

The Donehews are drawnto the intricate details, color

OpulentHOME & DESIGN

The

BY EILEEN FREEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEITH ROCKE

TTHE DONEHEWS’ DRAWING ROOM IS A TESTAMENT TOMERRIE BETH’S BELIEF THAT “PATTERN REQUIRES PATTERNTO CREATE VISUAL BALANCE.” THIS ROOM IS A SHOWCASEOF BEAUTIFULLY DISPLAYED COLLECTIONS IN A SETTING OFPOSH AND PLUSH UPHOLSTERED SEATING AS MERRIE BETHHAS COMBINED 27 DIFFERENT FABRICS, A VIBRANTLYCOLORED PERSIAN HERIZ RUG AND ARABESQUEWALLCOVERING INTO A WARM AND WELCOMING ROOM.

IN THE HOME OF MERRIE BETH ANDBOB DONEHEW, THE CENTRAL HALL(PREVIOUS PAGE) IS A GRAND ROOM,BOTH REGAL AND FUNCTIONAL AS THEPERFECT LOCALE FOR FABULOUSBUFFETS. ON EITHER SIDE OF THEFIREPLACE ARE LARGE ARCHEDDISPLAY AREAS OF MERRIE BETH’SADORED COLLECTION OF VIBRANTLYCOLORED, INTRICATELY DETAILEDMOROCCAN POTTERY (LEFT).

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ABOVE LEFT: AN 18TH CENTURY FLORENTINE EBONIZEDCABINET FEATURES PIETRA DURA WHICH IS THE INTRICATE ARTOF INLAID MARBLE DESIGNS THAT DECORATE ITS SURFACE. THISIS AMONG THE MOST PRIZED ANTIQUES IN THE DONEHEW HOME.

ABOVE RIGHT: THE DONEHEWS ADORE SEATED DINNER PARTIESWHERE THE PLACE SETTINGS AND CUISINE ARE AS IMPRESSIVEAS THE AMBIENCE OF THIS REGAL ROOM.

LEFT: IT’S A DOG’S LIFE (UNLIKE MOST DOGS’ LIVES) FOR BUELLDONEHEW, WHO DOESN’T EVEN KNOW THAT OTHER DOGS DON’THAVE DESIGNER CUSHIONS AND BENCHES FOR THEIRPERSONAL COMFORT IN NEARLY EVERY ROOM OF THEIR HOME.

OPPOSITE PAGE: THE MASTER SUITE IS EXQUISITELY APPOINTEDFROM CEILING TO FLOOR, RICHLY COLORED IN BOLD SHADES OFBLUES AND REDS, AND ANCHORED WITH A BREATHTAKINGNOURISAN SCULPTURED CARPETING OF 100% NEW ZEALANDWOOL.

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and patterns in their exceptional collection of Moroccan artifacts, ranging frompottery to exquisitely inlaid furnishings. They have repeated the classic Moroccandesign elements in architectural details throughout the house withoutoverwhelming the warmth, color and comfort of each room. Fabulous French andItalian antique cabinets and tables are also mixed in with the similar designelements of intricate inlay. One of the guest rooms features a magnificent 18thcentury Florentine ebonized cabinet with exquisite marble inlaid decorations,known as pietra dura.

The drawing room features a 1906 Parisian Gaveau piano and severalexpansive display cabinets, one housing a stunning collection of cobalt bluecut crystal, and a larger one loaded with amazing porcelains including a raretea service hand decorated with the likenesses of Napoleon and Josephine.

Shortly after Southern Seasons visited the Donehew home, Bob and MerrieBeth were off on a European vacation where they will without a doubtdiscover something new and wonderful to add to their collections at theirtwo Southern homes.

LEFT: BOB AND MERRIE BETH DONEHEWREALLY LIVE IN THEIR HOMES, WHICHARE AS WARM AND COMFORTABLE ASTHEY ARE OPULENT.

FAR LEFT: THIS BIRD HOUSE IS TOTALLYCAST IN CONCRETE AND IS ONE OFBOB’S FAVORITE ACQUISITIONS, WHICHHE DISCOVERED AT RED BARON’SANTIQUES.

BELOW: THE KITCHEN AND CENTRALLIVING AREAS OF THE DONEHEWS’ATLANTA HOME FLOW DIRECTLY TO THEPOOLSIDE AND TENNIS COURTS BEYOND,BOTH ARTFULLY NESTLED INTO THEHEAVILY WOODED LOT, WHICH IS WELLAPPOINTED WITH MANICURED GARDENSAND INTRIGUING STATUARY.