4 min read
Abigail Marcelo, founder of Casa Marcelo, will tell you that home has always been her safe place. It's a simple, even common, statement, but for a first-generation American of Panamanian and Dominican descent who spent the majority of her career as the only Black and Latina woman in nearly every room she worked in, it carries real weight. That feeling—of a space that holds you, reflects you, and says you belong here—is exactly what she sets out to build for her clients.
Her design education started early, on the vibrant streets of Manhattan, where her electrician father took her and her siblings along to marvel at some of the city’s most iconic landmarks—the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and the World Trade Center. A design degree from New York Institute of Technology came next, followed by prestigious stints at Ethan Allen and two prominent architecture and design firms, HLW and Verderame|Cale.
The vast breadth of her knowledge was undeniable, but it didn’t stop Marcelo from feeling isolated in an industry that often prioritized surface-level depth and treated “sameness” as a strength. “Being the only person of color at many studios, I often felt unseen and as though I had to work five times harder to prove myself,” Marcelo says. “So I channeled that energy to become even more exceptional.”
It was her quest for inclusion and depth that led Marcelo to found her namesake firm, Casa Marcelo, in 2020. “I felt that I could create homes and spaces that made my clients feel seen, comforted, and embraced,” she explains. “My home has always been my safe place, and I seek to provide that for my clients, who at the start were also mostly people of color.”
To Marcelo, the crux was simple: a home should honor the culture, history, and values of its occupants, not be a polished version of someone else’s life. Today, Casa Marcelo has no signature aesthetic, and that’s by design. Every project bends toward the client, shaped by who they are rather than what's trending. Whether she’s pulling inspiration from a homeowner's favorite music or incorporating subtle references to cultural traditions, Marcelo’s goal remains the same: to create homes where people feel fully represented. “There is something about being authentic in your home,” she says, “that changes everything.”
Get to Know Abigail
House Beautiful: What do clients hire you for that they can’t get anywhere else?
Abigail Marcelo: Music is the driving force behind my design process. Playlists, albums, and even single compositions often set the emotional tone for a project and quietly shape its direction. Many of our clients are from creative or artistic backgrounds and deeply appreciate this layered approach. Recently, we have begun asking clients at the outset about their favorite genre, song, or artist. I translate those influences into spatial rhythm, materiality, and mood, allowing each home to carry its own distinct cadence.
HB: Is there a historical era, culture, or art movement that informs your work?
AM: Culture is always the starting point for me, particularly the culture my client comes from. Heritage, geography, and personal history inevitably shape how someone wants to live, and I find that honoring those nuances leads to interiors that feel deeply authentic.
Historically, I’m continually drawn to mid-century design. There is a clarity and quiet confidence to that era that still feels incredibly relevant. Its emphasis on proportion, material integrity, and functional simplicity gives it a timeless quality. It has endured not because it resurfaces as a trend, but because it was grounded in thoughtful design principles that continue to resonate today.
HB: What’s the smartest inexpensive decision you’ve made in a luxury space?
AM: Layering lighting. In a recent project, we paired floor and table lamps with architectural overhead lighting to create warmth and dimension throughout the home. That layering softened the scale of the rooms and made them feel far more inviting.
HB: What has been the biggest shift in your business in the last year?
AM: I’m now partnering with my former thesis professor and architect, Charles Matz, to be able to bring integrated services to our clients and offer clients a comprehensive experience. Together, we have also allied with Hyalite Builders so we can take it a step further. I am thrilled about the prospects of new builds and full home renovations that will come into play.
HB: What’s your most recent “jackpot” moment in a project?
AM: Our most recent “jackpot” moment came during our Spectacle Symphony project. The home spans 7,000 square feet, and from the outset, we knew the true star was the panoramic mountain view visible from nearly every room. The landscape transforms beautifully with each season, so our goal was to design in quiet deference to it. By selecting low-profile furnishings and grounding the interiors in warm, natural tones, we allowed the view to take center stage. The result is a home that feels expansive yet intimate, where the outdoors becomes an ever-changing work of art.
