Taciana Paulino has an eye for design, and she is sharing her knowledge and appreciation of contemporary style she developed in Brazil with residents of Northeast Florida.
Paulino opened Oca Studio, located at 330 A1A N., Suite 304, in Ponte Vedra Beach, around three months ago.
The new store features contemporary furniture and décor from across the globe, including Brazil, India, Africa, Europe and the United States. Paulino said Oca Studio’s style incorporates a lot of wood and other organic and natural materials.
Paulino has worked in the interior design business for 25 years, and opened her first store in Brazil. Hogar, which means home in Spanish and Portuguese, has grown into a big success, with about 20 employees.
“Everyone knows it,” Paulino said of Hogar’s popularity in the Belo Horizonte area.
Paulino visits Hogar about four times a year, but she said she has no plans to open any other stores, and is focusing on Oca, which is a reference to the native Indian huts in Brazil.
Paulino and her family moved to the First Coast around six years ago. Her son was a resident student at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, and when he decided to stay in Northeast Florida, the family decided to join him.
Paulino said she felt the First Coast would be a good fit for a shop like Oca Studio.
“I felt the need for a more contemporary look here,” Paulino said.
Paulino said so far, word of mouth has had a positive impact on her business.
“We have a lot of foot traffic,” she said. “There’s been a very good response.”
Paulino is also enjoying other aspects of living in Ponte Vedra, including mild temperatures, similar to her home country, and a more intimate atmosphere than Brazil’s Belo Horizonte area, which has a population of more than 5 million.
“There are very nice people around this area,” she said. “We have made very good friends here. We also like the tranquility of a smaller city.”