Arete Frame Gallery

I've been to Arete several times and have always been delighted with both my experience in the store and the framing job. The staff is kind, helpful, and patient. Bethany doesn't mind spending an hour and a half helping you pick out the perfect frame; Holly & Redouane make sure you can stay within your budget. They all have great ideas that make your art look wonderful. Plus, the cat, Pickles, is adorable and friendly :) I had some art from Uganda that I needed framed and the staff at Arete made sure it looked beautiful! The frame complemented the art and the matting was perfect. Bethany even took the time to make sure the frame and mat matched my wall color. I will definitely be returning to Arete again and again. I highly recommend this frame shop! more

For almost 20 years I have been going to this wonderful framing shop tucked away on Iredell and always filled with charming, knowledgeable, helpful folks (Holly, Redouane & Bethany) who know design and what choices best frame your treasures---and are willing to spend time going back and forth with you to find them! In addition to their tremendously informative assistance, Arete has fabulous frames and loads of gift items in a delightful homelike atmosphere. You owe to yourself to try them out...and may find yourself thinking: How did I ever frame anyplace else? more

I have done business with Arete Frame for over 10 years. I have always found them to be helpful and reasonable in the work they have done. I am an artist/photographer and they have mounted entire exhibitions for me. When I sell photography to New York collectors I recommend Arete to them and they have never been unsatisfied with either the quality or price. Last month I had an exhibition at the Durham Art Guild and a very large photograph, 44""X64"", fell from the wall. I was in Washington at the time and a call to Arete prompted them to go to the arts council, retrieve the photograph and repair by the time I returned to Durham. I have always found them courteous with me and other customers. Pros: Nice warm and friendly shop. Cons: Parking on Iradell Street is sometimes tricky. more

I needed a rush job done on a simple drawing. I called Saturday and spoke to a woman who quoted me $65-75 including a mat and frame and said it would be no problem if I dropped it off Monday to have it ready Wednesday. When I went into the store, the lady I spoke with wasn't there; her husband tried to charge me $132 for a mat & frame. I said that wasn't what I got quoted...I looked at ""cheaper"" mats and ""cheaper"" frames...the guy wasn't helpful at all and kept giving me grays that didn't match the gray-tones of the picture. He piled stacks of mats on the table and had me go through them myself. He finally told me that they just don't do framing in 2 days, that it takes 2 weeks. When I said that wasn't what the lady said on the phone, he said, ""Well she's not here""...I said I'd be taking my business elsewhere, thanks. Cons: rude, unhelpful, unknowledable, unwilling to work with customers more