You’ll be instantly charmed by this downtown Fargo storefront and delightfully surprised when you open the door to McNeal and Friends. There are so many beautiful things to look at; you won’t know where to start. You also may want to move right in. Most of what you will see are exclusive lines generally found in larger cities; the owners travel to Atlanta and New York twice a year to hand pick each item in the store. Lux linens from Peacock Alley, exclusive scents from Nest, delicate china by Michael Aram, also items from Hickory Chair and California lines like Noir and Oly Studio, make up just a little bit of their lavish inventory. At a glance it is easy to see that these items were chosen with great care and an innate appreciation for the finely crafted and more refined textures.
Desirae Putnam
Desirae has a degree in Interior Design and found herself in a chance meeting with Shelly and Rondi that evolved into a career.
Rondi McGovern
Rondi, a co-owner along with Shelly, uses her degree in Business Economics to handle the business aspects of Mcneal and Friends.
Shelly Neal
Shelly is the owner, designer and hand picks each accessory and furniture piece in the store, giving them some of the most exclusive lines in the area.
Personal opinion
Neal likes strong architecture to drive the project while texture and a neutral palette is icing on the cake that easily makes way for pops of color and unique accents. Desirae suggests investing in classic pieces that will withstand time and use accent pieces and color to refresh them.
Timeless trends
Shelly said reclaimed woods mixed with metals are still strong features, along with more refined lines in upholstery and furniture. As you can see, utilizing a neutral palette with subtle splashes of color make for an elegant backdrop.
Quiet opening
Sisters Rondi McGovern and Shelly Neal opened McNeal and Friends on June 1 of this year. They opened with the hopes of bringing the latest and most exclusive lines to the area. They have created a designer’s dream of textiles, dishware, colors and exquisite artwork.
Design Studio
In the back of the store, you’ll find the studio where Shelly and Desirae run the interior design aspect of the business, working with predominantly residential clientele.
Irresistibly Italian
This dishware is one of their most exclusive lines from the Italian company, Vietri. It is made by Tuscan artisans, using traditional 13th century techniques with antique embossing tools to create intricate details on each handmade shape.
Jon Offutt
This landscape scene pottery is by Jon Offutt, who happens to be a cousin to Shelly and Rondi. The artwork behind the pottery is called “Pheromone” by Christopher Marley. Each piece of his incorporates natural artifacts like insects, minerals and botanical.
Sitting in style
These identical arm chairs by Lee Industries complement a rich cabinet complete with beautiful table top accessories by Michael Aram.
You can visit McNeal and Friends at 506 Broadway N, Fargo.
