A Spanish ranch in Los Angeles rediscovers its character with a warm and modern update

When interior designers—and partners in both life and business—Amanda Leigh and Taylor Hahn of House of Rolison took on this project in Fryman Canyon, Los Angeles, the greatest challenge they faced was “bringing soul back to a house that had lost it.” Despite being located in one of Hollywood’s most storied neighbourhoods, the five-bedroom Spanish ranch had been, as Leigh and Hahn describe it, “diluted by years of piecemeal additions.” Built in the ’80s, years of renovations since had stripped the revival property of its character.

But luckily for the homeowner, it is the central mission of House of Rolison—the studio responsible for the stylish homes of Sabrina Carpenter and Blackpink’s Lisa—to bring cohesion and spirit back into homes that lack it, and to create spaces at once liveable and inspiring. Thus, it was principals Leigh and Hahn who were singularly equipped for the job of transforming the home back to, and beyond, its former glory.

”It can be difficult to remove elements that once seemed valuable but actually take away from the integrity of the design,” the designers explain of their approach, which involved the thoughtful consideration of what to leave, and what to remove, during a restoration. When Leigh and Hahn stumbled across a set of old architectural plans hidden away in the house, they found invaluable insight into the earliest intentions of the design.

“Those drawings became a touchstone, reminding us of the home’s foundation and guiding us as we reimagined it,” they say. “Rather than layering on yet another chapter of renovations, our focus was to strip back, edit, and restore a sense of clarity so the home could stand whole again.”

Putting lifestyle at the forefront of the project—and the client’s love of the ranch’s Spanish bones—the design duo worked from the inside out. “Our vision was to reimagine this as a Spanish ranch with a modern sensibility. We wanted to preserve its character while giving it new life through light, openness, and detail,” they explain. This included reworking the exteriors, utilising a cobblestone hardscape as an homage to traditional Spanish design.

This stonework was softened with new landscaping, leaning into the suburb’s lush and verdant surroundings, and resulting in a distinct sense of Californian ease. Since the scale of the 5,200 square feet property is felt the most in its large outdoor areas, Leigh and Hahn ensured the indoors and outdoors connected seamlessly through a series of tiered patios, creating a sense of layered flow designed to suit both family life and entertaining.

As for inside, the designers worked with colours at once earthy yet elevated. “Calm, earthy, and quietly luxurious, so every space feels connected yet distinct,” Hahn and Leigh say of the chosen palette. Layering these warm neutral colours with natural stone and organic wood, they added carefully placed accents that brought depth and texture to the central spaces, without overpowering the architecture.

“It was less about introducing something new, and more about revealing the home’s best version of itself,” the designers explain of how they delicately excavated the space’s lost charm. Expansive skylights and windows were added to let the natural light wash over the vaulted wooden ceilings, giving each room the soulful and grounded sense it was missing. A curated selection of fine art, custom furnishings, and accessories from Olive Ateliers rounded out the richly tactile interiors.

At the heart of the home is the kitchen, and it’s the space the designer pair are most proud of. Here, custom oak cabinetry is paired with leathered marble countertops and decorated with Spanish revival lantern pendants. But the pièce de résistance? A custom arched hood, wrapped in dark, Los Angeles-made Zia Tiles, that anchors the room. “It’s both a showpiece and a gathering place, designed to feel warm and functional while carrying a strong architectural presence,” they say.

But it’s not the only room that got the bold, Zia Tile treatment. One of the house’s most memorable features is one of the six bathrooms, wrapped entirely in the artisanal clay shapes.

“The space is a study in geometry, with mustard-yellow and Carrara marble tiles laid in alternating stripes that shift direction across the floors and walls. The effect is immersive, and stepping inside feels like walking into a piece of art,” says Leigh and Hahn. Along with the elevated shower, it’s the rooms’ balance of playfulness and refinement that has made it one of the most beloved design moments of the home.

In the end, the final result is a home that balances its Spanish heritage with Californian modernity, and prioritises everyday living as much as sophistication. One that feels, as Hahn and Leigh sum it up succinctly, “warm, expansive, and full of life.”