tastemaker series

Amalia Graziani

founder of callisto

Can you share the story of how Callisto came to life—and what you hoped it would offer that didn’t exist elsewhere?

I’d spent my career building and designing luxury spaces in high end markets, and was itching to create something that could reach more people, offered a nature experience and felt relaxed and inviting. The farm aspect of Callisto is very communal. We have our own farm, orchard and animals and also have three other farmers running their own operations in a free lease capacity. It’s a very collaborative project, where we partner with chefs, artists, brands and teachers for a wide array of experiences. It’s really rewarding to see people play and genuinely unwind here.

The Hudson Valley setting invites a slower, more intentional rhythm. How has being on the farm influenced your approach to design and daily rituals?

This project and land stewardship in general has really shifted my relationship with control. The scale is large, with 88 acres, 50k square feet of barns and land that’s diverse and wild. I came in with a clear vision and timeline, and the land consistently reminds me that I can’t enforce a rigid plan here. It’s a conversation with the land, and I see this coming through in my life in other areas. Less perfectionism and forced outcomes.

"A perfect end of day is spent harvesting in the garden at dusk, dinner outside as the sun sets, and a fire under the stars. Ideally, a long bath with Epsom salts and fresh, crisp sheets."

– Amalia Graziani

You describe yourself as an “accidental farmer” — what was the moment when you realized farming was something you wanted to pursue more seriously?

I fell in love with this property, which fast tracked my long term goal of owning a farm late in life. I wasn’t looking for something of this scale, but there’s a really special energy here. I felt like the choice was made for me when I stepped on this land.

What does a typical day look like for you across farming, design, development, and hospitality at Callisto?

Every day is different. On the weekends we run events, retreats, and oversee brand photoshoots. On weekdays I’m on construction sites or working on design consulting projects. Ideally I’m taking calls from the goat pen and having team meetings at a table in our vegetable garden.

SFERRA believes luxury lives in the details: a hand-cut hem, a precise stitch. What are the quiet details you obsess over in your spaces that guests might not immediately notice, but always feel?

This list is long, but I’m most particular about lighting and textiles in a home. Lighting can really make or break a space, more than anything else in my opinion. I could go on about the undertones of a cream paint or window placement, but without lighting it really doesn’t matter. I love at least three points of light in any room.

SFERRA linens often help people “reset” at the end of the day. What are some rituals at Callisto that encourage rest, reflection, or reconnection with nature?

I love the evenings here. We have dramatic views where the light changes through sunset and the stars are exceptionally clear.

A perfect end of day is spent harvesting in the garden at dusk, dinner outside as the sun sets, a fire under the stars. Ideally a long bath with epsom salts and fresh, crisp sheets.