See Inside an Apartment Transformation at Uptown’s The VUE

Summer Tubridy, founder of Onyx Interiors, has renovated four units at The VUE over the last seven years. At 51 stories, The VUE (Vertical Urban Experience) has 395 units with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic city views. The uptown high-rise is the tallest apartment community between New York and Miami and home to some of the most luxurious urban homes in Charlotte. 

When Tubridy’s clients leased their 2,500-square-foot apartment on the 51st floor, the young married couple had just a few pieces of furniture from their college days, and they’d never worked with a designer before. “They wanted to start fresh with all new furniture and make it next-level special,” she says. “They wanted to upgrade for their married life.”

Tubridy recognized the “clean lines and vibrant energy” of their uptown abode, but the balcony was the biggest she’d ever seen at The VUE. “It was 15 by 20 feet of raw concrete, so we had it turfed so they felt like they had an outside space,” she says. “As soon as you walk into the front door, you see that beautiful pop of green. It’s not something you’re expecting on a 51st-floor high-rise.

LIVING ROOM

“This room was a challenge. It’s very long, so we broke it up into two seating areas. They wanted plenty of seating to entertain, so we added two sofas, an oversized daybed, and additional seating near the kitchen. We had to experiment with several furniture arrangements. With the TV placement, I thought it would be awesome up against that right wall. They’re paying so much for this view, but this way, they can still watch TV and see the skyline.” 

What’s What

Coffee table, Arteriors
Chandelier, Regina Andrew Detroit
Lamp, Kelly Wearstler
Blue suede chairs, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Sofa and loveseat, Downeast Home
Sideboard, Restoration Hardware
Shelves, CB2
Area rug, Ben Soleimani
Cowhide rug, Loloi
Art, Leftbank Art

BEDROOM

“We installed two mirrors on the walls, each 6 feet tall, to accentuate the height of the room. There was a horrible ceiling fan that we took down and replaced with that chandelier. The rug is a fairly distressed floral pattern, but because of the color tones in it, it leans toward contemporary. It has viscose to give it some sheen and a touch of glam. The clients weren’t too keen on mixing and matching furniture, so we stayed with the same collection from Restoration Hardware.”

What’s What

Bedding, Serena & Lily
Bed and side tables, Restoration Hardware
Rug, Loloi
Chandelier, Worlds Away
Lamps, Arteriors
Velvet bench, CB2
Art, Wendover Art Group

DINING ROOM

“This is my favorite; you can see the balcony and the whole uptown view from the dining room. I love that chandelier, the way it has a triangle look to it. It brings the focal point down to the dining table. It’s a tighter space, but they wanted six people to sit there, so we went with a round table. I wanted to bring in a bit of black to give it an edgier feel. The table is a black cerused oak, and you can see grains in there. The artwork has a subtle graffiti effect. It gives it a little urban flair.”

WHAT’S WHAT
Dining table, Worlds Away
Chairs, SUNPAN
Rug, Ben Soleimani
Chandelier, Arteriors

BALCONY

“It was a raw concrete slab with a center drain, so putting a rug there wasn’t going to pull it together. They really wanted to have a patio, but something low-maintenance. Once we found the turf, it set the tone for the entire space. They wanted outdoor seating for entertaining, so we made sure to bring in various seating styles. You can open the sliding glass doors so everyone can flow in and out. It’s like a small yard with no maintenance.”

What’s What

Dining table, sofa, and chairs, Four Hands
Dining table, West Elm
Concrete coffee table, CB2
Faux boxwoods, NDI