| A modern Gem in the Uptown Skyline |
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| Written by Scott Lindsley | |
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When Jeffrey Smith decided to purchase a space uptown for a second home, he knew there were a handful of criteria that he and his wife would require. It had to be centrally located, have good outdoor space and good space for entertaining, and have a suitable layout to display their collection of fine art. The result met their needs and became a work of art itself.  The Smiths ended up in a 3-bedroom, 3-bath penthouse condominium in Settlers Place, on the corner of 6th and Church. The original building was built in 1907 as the Carolina Medical College. After a few different uses, it fell into disrepair, a fate shared by many older buildings in center city. In 2002 plans were drawn up to build luxury condos on the site. The Medical College building was saved and incorporated into the plans. It was joined with a new building to create Settlers Place, which takes its name from the adjacent Settlers Cemetery. The combination of old and new worked seamlessly and the grand entrance of the old building serves as the main entrance and lobby of the complex. When the Smiths bought the condo it was two years old. They took the existing floor plan, moved walls, added batting to the walls that adjoin the hallways to insulate against sound (and lively entertaining), and remodeled just about everything. From the exotic woods used for panels and flooring, to the custom Euro-style kitchen, this condo exudes luxury but finds a balance between comfortable living and visual elegance. The moment you enter, stepping out of the private elevator from the parking deck, you know you are in for something special. The foyer is round, with granite floors and dark-grained Wenge wood from Zaire paneling the walls. Turning out of the foyer, you see a wall of environmentally friendly bamboo paneling at the end of the living room, a floor-to-ceiling double fireplace encased in aqua-frosted glass, and an office separated from the living room by a wall of glass. ‘Open and airy’ doesn’t begin to describe the space. Large walls of glass windows bring the outside in and complement the sophisticated and contemporary style the Smiths have created. Sculpture and paintings are located tastefully throughout the condo and beg for a closer look. In the glass-enclosed office there are seven paintings, each depicting the artist’s vision of the seven deadly sins. [A few of those might be evoked in the visitor: envy and lust for obvious reasons, sloth because you just might not want to leave.] Attention to detail is found throughout this city home, including a wall in the master bedroom that appears to just be bamboo paneling, but each panel is actually a cabinet door; this clever and practical solution covers the entire wall. The master also has a private balcony—there’s another balcony off the dining room and kitchen. Views include Discovery Place, Tryon Street, the length of Church in both directions, and across 6th to Fourth Ward Park.  This home isn’t the primary residence for the Smiths, but it has been their home in the city for two years. They enjoy the easy walks to the Blumenthal, Bank of America Stadium, plenty of fine dining, and everything along Tryon. It has served its purpose well: a place to display a fantastic art collection, entertain friends, and a place to sit atop a beautiful, historic building and watch the city grow around you. ~ Scott Lindsley |
