Building, decorating, and furnishing a new office from scratch is a daunting process in the best of times. So when a global pandemic threatened to render one client’s move impossible, InterOffice was there to get the job done.

Angie McCarthy, a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial, was scheduled to move into her new Fargo office in March 2020. 

McCarthy had worked with InterOffice Workspace Experts Jolynn Kaldor and Sheila Hanson to identify a color palette, draw up floor plans, and select furniture for the new space. The project had gone off without a hitch; all that was left to do was deliver the furniture and install a few finishing touches. 

Then, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Having just returned from an international vacation when the first travel precautions were imposed, McCarthy was forced to quarantine for the entire week of the move. As a business owner, it was difficult to relinquish control during such a pivotal time; fortunately, McCarthy knew she could trust the process to Kaldor, Hanson, and the entire InterOffice team. 

“I felt confident that everything was scheduled and would get done in my absence,” McCarthy said. “All my staff had to move were their own paper files. InterOffice did everything else. They allowed me to focus on supporting my team during that difficult time.”

”The space itself is light and neutral, but the accent wallcovering, light fixtures, and furniture provide a modern flair.

Angie McCarthy

Even before the pandemic turned the entire process upside down, this project had already proven to be a unique one for InterOffice. 

“We normally give the client a couple of different color options to choose from and they select from one of those options,” Hanson said. “With Angie, once she selected a color palette that she liked, we ran with it. She had a lot of input as to what she wanted including a few upgrades to help warm up the space such as lighting, wallcovering, art, and area rugs.”

McCarthy came to InterOffice with a very particular vision in mind, and it was up to Kaldor and Hanson to bring her vision to life. She wanted clean, classic lines and a neutral palette, with pops of color and modern touches. Warm grays and rich brown wood form the basis of the office, while Ellary chairs from Paul Brayton and artwork from Leftbank Art tie in the Ameriprise blue.

As an avid traveler, McCarthy would bring photographs of elements she admired in hotels and businesses around the world to serve as inspiration. One particular photograph led Kaldor and Hanson to the navy and gold-patterned Calabria Silhouette wallcovering from Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering, which would later become the focal point of McCarthy’s reception area.

McCarthy’s wish list also included decorative fireplace tile and hanging pendant lights, to give the office a cozy, intimate feel. 

“The reception area is very welcoming with the double-sided fireplace and porcelain tile in a carrara marble pattern,” Kaldor said. “The space itself is light and neutral, but the accent wallcovering, light fixtures, and furniture provide a modern flair.” 

On the other side of the fireplace is McCarthy’s favorite part of the office: an entertainment and collaborative space dubbed The Commons. A full kitchen is built around a solid quartz counter, while Lumin barstools from Sit On It and swivel chairs from Paul Brayton provide a variety of seating options.

For now, The Commons primarily serves as a gathering space for team lunches. But McCarthy has a bigger vision for the space; when it is safe to do so, she hopes to host a variety of public events, like monthly trivia nights for charity. 

While the ongoing pandemic has prevented the Ameriprise team from taking full advantage of The Commons, it did not stop McCarthy from creating the office of her dreams.

“We spend so much of our lives at work, it’s important to have a place where you can feel comfortable,” McCarthy said. “No matter how many hours a week I spend here, I can take pride in this office. It’s a place I want to be.”