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Amazing Secrets for a Collected Eclectic Home with Alcione Miranda-Myers
Complementary. Guest Curations | PUBLISHED 08.19.22 | Tam Tran
Alcione Miranda-Myers grew up in Brazil. After working as a physical therapist for many years, she eventually made her way to Pittsburgh, PA to complete her masters degree. While there she met her husband. They now live in north Florida where she discovered her passion for interior decorating, thrifting, estate sales, auctions and occasional DIY projects.
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“I believe beauty is in the mix of styles, materials, textures, colors, the old and the new. Every room needs a mirror, lamps, some dangling crystals, a punch of color and texture and lots of personality,” explains Alcione.
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“A beautiful home should feel loved and collected, be comfortable and functional, but most of all it should reflect who you are and the things that make you happy.”
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With encouragement from her family, Alcione created her Instagram account @beautifulmixinteriors which allows her to share her passion for interior design. Her feed is now an exchange for decorating ideas and inspiration for other content creators.
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How did you become interested in pre-owned, vintage, and antique items?
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After moving to our new home in north Florida, I found myself wanting to make our home beautiful, elegant and unique. However, I wasn't satisfied with store-bought items because they often lack in quality and character and come with a big price tag.
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Thankfully I met a dear friend who introduced me to the world of thrift stores, estate sales and online auctions. Patiently, I began building my collections, acquiring pieces of furniture, soft furnishings, lighting and other home accessories.
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I love shopping in estate sales and local online auctions because I can find beautiful and unique items in a variety of styles. Many are custom made. High-end pieces are offered for a fraction of the original price. These vintage and antique pieces are made with better quality materials that were abundant at the time and with excellent craftsmanship. I also like to think that I am honoring the previous owners by giving old pieces new life and purpose.
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How would you describe your personal aesthetic/taste/style?
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My personal design aesthetic is an eclectic mix of styles, particularly traditional, French country and English country with a twist of chinoiserie. I love decorating with mirrors, crystal chandeliers, lamps, original art, oriental rugs, china plates, chinoiserie, blue and white pottery, and Staffordshire figurines.
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What is your favorite item you purchased through an estate sale or online auction?
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The mid-20th century French Giltwood Trumeau mirror with a hand painted oriental scene in my formal living room is definitely my favorite online auction find!
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I bid on similar mirrors before and was always outbid. Until one day I won this one! It's imposing at almost five feet tall! It is the focal point of the room, setting the tone for other elements I added to the room later.
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Get the Look … Alcione’s Guest Curation
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In this week’s edition of Complementary. Guest Curations, Alcione selects her favorite online auctions items to inspire you to create a collected eclectic style for your home. Here are her two curations for styling a living room and styling a fireplace
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Styling the Living Room or Family Room
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Styling a living room or decorating a family room goes beyond simply choosing a comfy sofa or a pretty coffee table. As one of the most trafficked areas of the house, living rooms and family rooms offer a unique peak into a homeowner’s design aesthetic. As the backdrop for cozy nights in and intimate gatherings, it’s important for living and family rooms to set the right tone and match the desired ambience.
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Alcione goes with a traditional French / English country feel with a touch of chinoiserie for this curation.
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Bombe Louis XV Style Italian Marquetry Table (item #: 221468)
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Vintage Carved and Gilt Mirror (item #: 221478)
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Attractive Trio of Blue and White Canisters (item #: 221830)
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Pair of Antique French Gilt Altar Lamps (item #: 221469)
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Mid 20th Century Hollywood Regency Lucite & Brass Hexagonal Coffee Table with Glass Top (item #: 219106)
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Original Oil on Canvas Landscape Scene, Signed by Artist (item #: 221541)
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Large Collection of Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage Green Dinnerware, Fifty-three Pieces (item #: 214717)
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Styling the Fireplace
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It’s summertime and your fireplace may be on a little vacation until the autumn and winter’s crisp cool air returns. There’s nothing more cozy than curling up next to a toasty fire with a great book or fine glass of wine. Whether it’s in your family room, your hearth can bring warmth and comfort for the entire household.
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So if need some inspiration to upgrade your existing fireplace style, this roundup of gorgeous estate auction items is for you.
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Beautiful Round Tufted Ottoman (item #: 220599)
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Hand-painted Chinese Porcelain Jardiniere on Carved Wood Stand (item #: 221809)
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Hand Woven Wool Area Rug - New (item #: 214929)
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Incredible Porcelain Bust of Lord Byron (item #: 221856)
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Grouping of Antique Books (item #: 221486)
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Styling/Buying Tip for BRG Newbies
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Have a budget in mind. When bidding online, have a budget in mind and resist the temptation of bidding well above it. Comparable or similar items (maybe even better ones) will often be offered in future auctions. Just be patient.
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Check shipping policies. Also, if you are bidding on an auction outside your area, make sure you read the company's shipping policies. Find out ahead of time how much shipping will cost you. For some hard to find items, it may be worth driving several hours to get your item. I drove a total of six hours to pick up my Trumeau mirror and it was absolutely worth it!
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Follow Alcione
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Want to find more home decor inspiration? Follow Alcione on Instagram @beautifulmixinteriors
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Brand ambassadors are always welcome.
Are you interested in becoming a BRG guest curator?
Apply here.
We'd love to feature you and your latest BRG finds on Instagram! Simply tag your photos with:
@blackrockgalleries and #myBRGstyle.
Click here for BRG's Image Rights Management and Usage policy.
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Brand ambassadors are always welcome.
Are you interested in becoming a BRG guest curator?
Apply here.
We'd love to feature you and your latest BRG finds on Instagram! Simply tag your photos with:
@blackrockgalleries and #myBRGstyle.
Click here for BRG's Image Rights Management and Usage policy.
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