Spanning Victorians to Edwardians, designer Anthony DArgenzio has made a career of restoring neglected old-world gems, either peeling back layers to reveal the original structure or adding back character thats been stripped away. But when he and his wife, Hillary, began looking for their own countryside getaway during the pandemic, they met an unlikely matcha dark and dated 1970s log cabin in Upstate New York. This era and aesthetic is not my go-to, Anthony says. But we just fell in love with the openness of the house and were drawn to all the wood and texture. Gathering inspiration from various rural countrysides such as Upstate New York, the U.K., and Southern France, their dream was to carve out a lighter, airier living space for hosting visitors and hanging out with their daughter, Havana. Each region has different qualities in how they use materials suited to their environments, says Anthony.ZIO AND SONSHomeowners Anthony and Hillary DArgenzio with their daughter, HavanaThe couple spent months romancing some of the cabins more rugged features: widening windows to let in more light, whitewashing the heavy log walls with a half-water, half-paint (All White by Farrow & Ball) formula, and adding texture with a mixture of matte and shiny tile, reclaimed marble, and timeworn antiques. I love a mix and match of elements and wanted to add a little bit of soul that you cant get when everything is all new, says Anthony. Their work wrapped up in November 2021, just in time to light the first fire and welcome family for Thanksgiving. This cabin has surpassed our expectations of being cozy and comfortable, Anthony says. Its our rustic Upstate fantasy.See Inside More Cozy Cabins:Charred Wood Style ZIO AND SONSZIO AND SONSThe cabins warm welcome begins with a 4-foot-wide hickory Dutch door. We went bigger with the door because we wanted it to feel heavy and like a statement piece, says Anthony. The dark-stained exterior gives the cabin the look of shou sugi ban (a Japanese charred wood technique) and punctuates the door and cedar-trimmed windows. We tested more than 10 different blacks, and this was our favorite because it didnt have a shine to it, says Anthony. We wanted it to look contemporary, but didnt want it to feel too trendy.Get the Look:Exterior Paint: Black Arborcoat, Semi Solid Finish by Benjamin MooreStreamlined FurnishingsZIO AND SONSIn what had been the cabins heavy trophy room, the couple created a light-filled family room by adding small windows. A round iron chandelier accents the rooms vaulted and beamed ceiling. The comfy sectional, paired with a handmade oak stump side table and wood-and-iron coffee table, makes this a favorite spot to curl up and read or watch TV.Get the Look:Round Iron Chandelier: Kendra by MitziSectional Sofa: Relaxed Saguaro Sectional by AnthropologieDetails with CharacterZIO AND SONSAmong the cabins charming quirks are the floorboards, which vary in width from 6 to 12 inches. For a lighter Scandinavian feel, Anthony sanded away their original sealant, then used a water-based clear-coat finish. Here, straight-back hickory chairs surround a Shaker-style table in the dining area. RELATED: 85+ Best Dining Room Ideas to Make Your Entertaining Space More Inviting Cozy SurroundingsZIO AND SONSIn the early evenings, the cast-iron stove sends out a glow from its slate and fieldstone perch. I liked the idea of a cream colored stove that gives the space a lighter, brighter country look, says Anthony. A pair of modern striped cushion wingback chairs adds a playful twist on tradition. Anthony began collecting stoneware crocks years ago; many were made in the Hudson Valley area.Get the Look: Chairs: Rodger Accent Chair from Layla GrayceCast-Iron Stove: For similar, Country Living Freestanding Electric Fireplace by Hearth BrandsRELATED: The Best Cabin Decorating Ideas Thatll Turn Your Home Into a Cozy, Collected EscapeAged SurfacesZIO AND SONS In the powder room, Anthony gave a nondescript space some character by adding a ledge that bumps out from the wall and accenting it with zellige tile. Here, the couple sanded the cabins logs and left them natural to contrast with the tile. A chippy cabinet protected by a clear-coat sealant was transformed into a vanity topped with a simple porcelain sink. Unlacquered taps and brass pulls give the small room some sparkle. Get the Look:Wall Tile: Weathered White Octagon and Sea Salt Bouchon zellige tile by Zio & Sons x Cl TileTone-on-Tone Texture ZIO AND SONSZIO AND SONSBlush tile of Anthonys own design adds a dusting of light color in the kitchen, where exposed piping and rustic antiques bring primitive country elements together. Who would ever think pink tile in a log cabin? But its a subtle pink and it added that little bit of color in a wood space, Anthony says. Wide one-inch grout lines connect the thin brick floor tiles, a design idea Anthony derived from a cottage mudroom he saw in the United Kingdom countryside. Topped with reclaimed marble, a drawer-filled, circa-1910 printers table serves as a storage-friendly island. We wanted it to feel like something you would see in a candy shop or European caf, says Anthony. On the right, the bottom half of an old hutch finishes out the kitchen cabinetry on one side of the stove. The cupboard stores larger pots and pans and serving dishes. Half of the kitchen has new custom millwork, but I wanted to work in antiques and add a little bit of soul, he says.Get the Look:Vent Surround Tiles: Moroccan Vintage Rose and Sea Salt Bouchon zellige tile by Zio and Sons x Cl TileFloor Tiles:Foundry Flats brick in Sand Cast by Cl TileCurved LinesZIO AND SONSThe curves of the iron bed, vintage frame above, and the gold 1840s mirror (a find from one of Anthonys favorite Hudson, New York, shops, Red Chair on Warren) contrast with the bedrooms angled ceiling and rough-hewn wood beams. To add depth and warmth, Anthony covered the walls of the bed nook with wallpaper that resembles the look of aged Venetian plaster.Get the Look: Wallpaper:Artisan Plaster by Zio and Sons for A-Street PrintsShimmering Modern Accents ZIO AND SONSZIO AND SONSSet against marble trim and matte marbleized terra-cotta floors, the zellige tile adds shimmer to the primary bath. Bronze accents on the bridge faucets, lighting, and mirrors contrast with the lighter colors, while the tub filler adds instant age to the modern freestanding tub. An antique French light fixture floats above the tub.Tour More Cozy Cabins: