Old Meets New in Designer Anthony D’Argenzio’s Cosy Cabin

Welcome to The Makers. Each week, we celebrate innovators, artisans, and crafters of all types by taking you on a private tour of their creative spaces. For this instalment, we tour Anthony D'Argenzio of Zio and Sons revamped cabin in Hudson Valley, Zio Cabin.

2022 saw Bed Threads tour the homes of 50 creatives, each of which had a unique style that was the perfect extension of its respective owner's personality and style. One such abode which boasted design flair in spades and showcased the skill of merging the old with the new was entrepreneur and highly sought-after real estate and design connoisseur, Anthony D'Argenzio's This Old Hudson property in Upstate New York.

The Founder and Creative Director of bespoke creative studio, Zio and Sons has once again sensitively restored a home, adding his signature style of old-world charm meets the 21st century with his latest cabin renovation.

When Anthony came across the 1970s log cabin located near the Hudson River, it was neglected and in poor condition, requiring a full revamp. "...the vintage log cabin wasn’t my typical aesthetic or era, but I was drawn to the home's unique characteristics and saw it as a perfect canvas," he shares with Bed Threads Journal.

After a thoughtful revamp, Zio Cabin now exudes a cosy yet sophisticated aesthetic, offering that restorative quality one craves from a home in the woods. Each room has been expertly layered with a mix of vintage, antique, and modern pieces.

One of the most spectacular elements is the reclaimed wood beams that run throughout. These bring rustic charm and country style to the abode and retain its log cabin authenticity. And while it may be cosy in nature, it's anything but stuffy thanks to the high ceilings, light-coloured walls, and large custom windows and glass doors by Sierra Pacific which fill the home with plenty of natural light. Sophisticated neutrals are used from the modern boucle sofa in the living room to the charming Zio and Sons x Cle Tile collection featured in the bathroom and kitchen.

All of the vintage artworks hung throughout are from his personal collection and have been sourced globally over the years. Custom lighting designs have been imagined by Anthony using antique reclaimed materials and mixed with Hudson Valley Lighting to give the space a contemporary feeling.

Both the bathroom and primary bedroom feature the Zio and Sons x A Street “Artisan Plaster” which adds to the old-world feeling with that modern twist. The latter space is clad in Olive Stripe and Sage linen, a material that works so perfectly with the home's look and feel.

Overall, the cabin reflects Anthony's design philosophy – that every detail in a space matters. From the chosen materials to the renovation decisions to the scent that fills the room, each element has been painstakingly thought out to create something entirely beautiful and unique.

Below, take a tour of Zio Cabin and read about the one thing Anthony thinks completely transforms a space every time, how he achieves the 'old world-meets-modern' aesthetic, and his exciting upcoming project.

Shop Anthony D'Argenzio's Edit.

What is currently inspiring you?

Art and travel continue to inspire me. I'm drawn to old-world patina and charm.

How do you combine your creative needs with the desires of a client?

Good question! Design is all about problem-solving and balance.

What is the one thing you think completely transforms a space every time?

Lighting! Hint: Zio and Sons lighting collection will be dropping soon.

What are some of your favourite antique stores?

I love the hunt in less polished salvaged shops. But also can get into more curated designer-type shops. Really depends on my mood, the budget, and how much time I have to source.

Now, the home stuff. How long have you lived in your home?

One year

How did you initially know this was the space for you?

Zio Cabin was inspired by the original wood itself – in Frank Lloyd’s words, “the most humanly intimate of all materials”. Built in the 1970s using log and reclaimed wood beams, the vintage log cabin wasn’t my typical aesthetic or era, but I was drawn to the home's unique characteristics and saw it as a perfect canvas. Zio Cabin is rich in character – especially texture – and features an open, comfortable layout.

Did you do any renovations or make any big changes after moving in?

Yes, a tonne! It was a major renovation that took almost two years of work.

What was the thought process behind the way you’ve styled the interior?

I wanted to create a comfortable, cosy home that features space for entertaining and play organisation, functionality, and the opportunity to showcase the collections I’ve been working to design over the last few years.

The cabin’s unique sense of place guided my design decisions for the renovation process. The log home, neglected and in poor condition, required a full restoration.

I took on the challenge to remap the space and flow that would honour the rustic roots of the historic cabin – but with a pointed modern spin that tested the boundaries of my quintessential “old-world wonder” design approach. 

What are your top tips for those wanting to bring the “old world” vibe into their home even if it’s modern? How do you create that bespoke feel?

Get creative with unique design solutions. For this home, I had to learn to surface mount with the solid wood beams instead of having the flexibility of drywall.

Think hand-cut and hand-laid flooring, handwashed, whitewashed walls, reclaimed materials, and hand-selecting vintage pieces.

Our Zio and Sons x A Street “Artisan Plaster” is used within and gives the home the old-world feeling with a modern twist.

How do you combine beauty and function?

Through the mix of materials and good design.

For more from Anthony follow him @zioandsons

Photography by Meghan Marin. Styling by Laura Woolf.