Artisans of Sun Valley | How Old Goats Hard Goods Elevates Idaho Luxury Partner Website

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By Lori Currie

In the shadow of Bald Mountain, the unassuming studio of Old Goats Hard Goods sits on the north end of Main Street in Ketchum—a humble setting for a company that has become the secret ingredient in the construction of some of Idaho’s most coveted custom homes.

“We’ve spent the last several years cultivating relationships with the absolute best fabricators across several continents. Our value is in knowing exactly which partner’s capabilities are a ‘best fit’ for each project and then managing every detail, from design to delivery.”

–Ethan Petro, Owner, Old Goats Hard Goods

On a chilly February morning, Ethan Petro, who owns Old Goats with his wife Joni, was reviewing a new drawer system from Germany. “We are not just supplying cabinets,” says Petro, who acquired Old Goats Hardware (which was founded in 2006) and rebranded it as Old Goats Hard Goods in 2019. “We’re creating family heirlooms that happen to store your things,” he says.

This commitment to permanence has led Old Goats to establish exclusive partnerships with some of the world’s most renowned cabinet craftsmen—from luxury German manufacturers to Italian artisans whose veneering techniques have remained unchanged for decades. 

“We’ve spent the last several years cultivating relationships with the absolute best fabricators across several continents,” says Petro, while flipping through the drawings of a kitchen island that is bound for a lakefront property worth $25 million. “Our value is in knowing exactly which partner’s capabilities are a ‘best fit’ for each project and then managing every detail, from design to delivery.”

“Ethan and his team consistently demonstrate innovation, adaptability, and a keen sense of style, making them an invaluable resource. Our years of collaboration with them have been exceptional.”

-Colton Martini, Owner, Camp Martini

Piece by piece, these meticulously crafted details have cemented Old Goats’ reputation for excellence. With a business driven almost entirely by referrals from top builders and designers across the Mountain West, every thoughtful element in their projects further strengthens their standing.

“When you work on homes of this caliber, there is no room for cookie-cutter solutions,” remarks Petro. “We’ve spent considerable time building out a strong team with the ability to harness the precision needed to source components for an entire home while overseeing a global supply chain. We’re not sourcing products globally to find the cheapest solutions; we’re sourcing to find solutions that are the best fit for the project.”

In the custom cabinetry space, it is not just a well-connected network that distinguishes Old Goats Hard Goods. It is also their meticulous integration and attention to detail. Their material boards showcase extraordinary finishes, hardware, and other samples from renowned manufacturers at their three design studios in Montana, Idaho and soon Utah. “This part is everything,” says Joni, as she inspects sample materials from local and international partners. “Whether it means getting a specific German hinge system or working with a French Canadian for an inset project or sourcing materials from Belgium, it is all quality-controlled and coordinated by us.”

“We believe that luxury isn’t defined by expensive materials — it is about the combination of materials in the right setting,” Joni continues. “We had a recent beautiful project with Camp Martini in Montana where the wood was taken from old European wooden rail cars. The client loved that the space had a high level of design, coupled with a one-of-a-kind finish. That balance is something we orchestrate whenever possible.”

And the effort is always appreciated. “Ethan and his team consistently demonstrate innovation, adaptability, and a keen sense of style, making them an invaluable resource,” says Colton Martini of Camp Martini. “Our years of collaboration with them have been exceptional.”

What sets the building process in Idaho apart is the cooperation that exists between trades. In other markets, there is always a sense of hierarchy between builders, architects, and craftspeople, but Old Goats believes success comes from the close working relationships of the designers, builders, architects, and craftspeople.

“Working with Old Goats has always been seamless for our team–great products, strong teamwork, and clear communication make all the difference. Our values and culture align, ensuring an exceptional result every time.”

–Kevin McDonald, Owner, Concrete Alternatives

“The real magic occurs when everyone is unbothered by their ego,” says Ethan. “We do not want to just be a vendor; we want to be a partner that helps collaboratively with design and integration.”

“Working with Old Goats has always been seamless for our team¾great products, strong teamwork, and clear communication make all the difference,” says Kevin McDonald, owner of Concrete Alternatives in Kalispell, Montana, who has partnered with Old Goats on several award-winning projects where concrete countertops and custom cabinetry required perfect coordination. “Our values and culture align, ensuring an exceptional result every time.”

“If you’re building a house and nothing goes wrong, you’re not building a house—you’re having a dream,” says Ethan. “Every single project will hit snags. The difference between good and great is how you handle those moments.”

“The Old Goats team took our drawings and brought them to life. We had opportunities to review options within their visualization programs, refined the details collaboratively, and had site walks to ensure our visions were being executed as hoped. Having a trade partner who is passionate about the details ensures we are in good hands on the construction journey.”

–Emily Gilbert, Emily Gilbert Designs, Fort Worth, Texas

Old Goats has become adept at working through issues. This problem-solving mindset is now one of their most valuable attributes among builders. During a recent mountainside project, they were waiting on some veneers from Italy that were going to be three weeks late. Rather than halt progress on the job, the team fabricated temporary solutions that allowed other trades to continue working without disruption.

Old Goats Hard Goods is experiencing remarkable growth, driven by increasing demand year after year. This surge coincides with Idaho’s rapid expansion, as luxury homes continue to spring up across the state. In the coming year, the company will take on projects spanning from Deer Valley to the British Virgin Islands. With additional design studios and staff in Hamilton and Bozeman, Montana, as well as Park City, Utah, they are strategically positioned to meet the evolving needs of their clients.

“Approximately 50 percent of our clientele builds from afar,” Joni says. “We have clients we have never met in person and have only interacted with them through video calls and digital renderings.” This relationship requires an unusual degree of trust, especially when facing hurdles during the construction phase of the project.

“Old Goats has been instrumental in executing our visions for our mountainside project in Whitefish,” says Emily Gilbert of Emily Gilbert Designs, a Fort Worth, Texas-based interior designer with several projects in the Flathead Valley. “Ethan and his team continue to push the envelope with creative finishes, storage details, and unique installations. The Old Goats team took our drawings and brought them to life. We had opportunities to review options within their visualization programs, refined the details collaboratively, and had site walks to ensure our visions were being executed as hoped. Having a trade partner who is passionate about the details ensures we are in good hands on the construction journey.” 

“Approximately 50 percent of our clientele builds from afar. We have clients we have never met in person and have only interacted with them through video calls and digital renderings.”

–Joni Petro, Owner, Old Goats Hard Goods

“The Mountain West has always drawn people looking for a sense of authenticity and place,” remarks Petro. “We strive to always be able to look at this landscape and create spaces that deserve it, spaces that will serve as the setting for family gatherings and places for memories to be made for years to come.”

The real luxury of homes lies deeper than their square footage and features. It resides in the imaginative design process and in the craftsmanship of artisans who understand that their work lives on long after the install. In a world increasingly defined by mass production and speed, Old Goats Hard Goods stands as a reminder that some things—craftsmanship, integrity, and a commitment to place—remain timeless.

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