Puerto Rican Designer Featured in New Design Book
Interior Design in Latin America features Casa Casual founder Gretchen Rivera-Lebrón’s two Puerto Rican projects in a 272-page hardcover.
Casa Casual founder Gretchen Rivera-Lebrón is the only designer from Puerto Rico featured in Interior Design in Latin America, released in the United States today. Published by teNeues and curated by design scholar Ana Elena Mallet, the 272-page hardcover examines contemporary spaces shaped by local history, craftsmanship and cultural identities. Rivera-Lebrón has two projects in the book alongside work from 28 design studios across 20 countries. The projects include a restored 1930s residence in San Juan and a contemporary coffee shop interior.
Design Through Local History
Rivera-Lebrón’s studio serves Puerto Rico and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Her projects draw on existing architecture, objects and personal histories, including Puerto Rican ceramics, furniture and art in the featured San Juan home.
Gretchen Rivera-Lebrón, founder at Casa Casual, said:
“A good designer knows a home shouldn't look like it was created all at once. Some of the most interesting interiors bring together objects from different generations, furniture with a history and art that means something to the people who live there. In Puerto Rico, we're surrounded by those layers of history. Rather than erase them to create something new, I believe designers should find ways to make them part of how we live today.”
Two Puerto Rican Projects
In San Juan’s Hato Rey district, Rivera-Lebrón transformed a 1930s residence into a contemporary home for a young couple while preserving its original architectural style. The owners’ collection of Puerto Rican ceramics, furniture and art brings together the building’s architectural past and their contemporary lifestyle.
A second project in Spanish Colonial Old San Juan draws on the island’s coffee culture. The interior uses pattern, atmosphere and modern design rather than conventional tropical motifs or recognizable Caribbean imagery.
Collected Interior Trends
1stDibs’ 2026 Interior Designer Trends Survey found that 85% of the 468 design professionals surveyed worldwide sourced vintage furnishings. Vintage and antique items represented an average of 36% of items sourced per project, the highest proportion since 2021.
Houzz’s 2026 U.S. Fall Design Trends Report identifies interest in layered, collected interiors that emphasize history, individuality and meaningful objects over standardized decorating styles.
An International Design Conversation
Rivera-Lebrón’s inclusion in the book places her work within a broader examination of contemporary Latin American design and the cultural influences shaping it. The book presents different approaches from across Latin America, showing how architecture, materials, craftsmanship and local traditions contribute to contemporary style.
Gretchen Rivera-Lebrón, founder at Casa Casual, said:
“Puerto Rico is a patchwork of beautiful contrasts and contradictions, and we have a rich tradition of furniture making and modernist pottery that few people are familiar with. Being part of this book is an opportunity to share that perspective with a much wider audience. I hope it encourages people to look beyond familiar design categories and discover just how diverse and expressive interiors really are.”
