This latest project from House of Rolison may be one of the firm’s crowning achievements
Words by DAVID NASH
Photography by NILS TIMM
Among its creeks, green spaces, and winding narrow roadways, the Hollywood Hills hide a lush labyrinth of homes. Nichols Canyon might be the quintessential neighborhood defining celebrity-centric living for nearly half a century — after all, it was memorialized in an aptly titled painting by David Hockney in 1980 that fetched more than $41 million at auction in 2020.
If that record-breaking work was a triptych, it’s possible the farthest right panel would have included the historic French Normandy–style home recently gut renovated by L.A. design firm House of Rolison. Built in 1948, the 3,000-square-foot two-level home exudes old-world charm with a contemporary twist owed to principals Amanda Leigh and Taylor Hahn. “When we found it, it literally was just this kind of unassuming big rectangle,” Leigh says. “And it might sound funny, but that’s just what we wanted — a big sterile box.” They thought it had great bones and high ceilings, but, as Hahn explains, “It had gone through many rounds of renovations that you could tell were piecemealed together, and it became boring and dated, like all the life had been stripped out of it.”
Built in 1948, the 3,000-square-foot two-level home exudes old-world charm with a contemporary twist.
Reviving the four-bedroom, four-bathroom manse meant tearing it down to the frame. “It actually came together in such a cool way,” Leigh says. “We ended up moving the front door so it could be a showpiece that before was tucked into a little corner.” The pair reached out to Wendy Chambers at Pasadena Architectural Salvage, who had an “incredible” solid carved wood door to replace the previous nondescript entrance. “Before, it was glass and horrible — like, just a typical French door that didn’t look at all like a front door,” Leigh says. “I’m trying to think what it looked like before,” Hahn adds. “It’s really a bad sign if you don’t remember; in fact, it’s probably best!”
The feel and flow of the interior entry also changed. “Before, you would kind of enter to the side, and where the front door is now there was a powder room that ate up so much of the space in the living room,” Leigh says. “We swapped them so you could walk directly into the main, cozy living area instead of into a dark corner.” Other updates included new oak flooring that connected spaces seamlessly through intricate metal inlays, all new windows, Carrara marble, custom woodwork, bespoke ironwork, and plenty of panache. Says Hahn, “It all gives [the entire home] really nice dimension and texture, which is what it was calling for — and a bit more of the old-world charm it deserved.”
Exterior Facade
Exuding all the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the 78-year-old home nestled on a 7,000-square-foot terraced hillside lot, with sweeping canyon views, has been layered in modern European craftsmanship. “Before, the roof was boring and flat, and then we put the crown on it — it was such a pain and so expensive, but so worth it,” says Leigh of the architectural detail that cost more than $50,000 to achieve. “It’s not just a decorative element; you have to frame it, waterproof it, put each column in, skim coat them, and run two different types of drainage — it’s no small task.”
Living Room
It was important to preserve the home’s architectural character, which included the fireplace as a focal point. “We love a paneled wall,” the duo agrees. Leigh adds, “The fireplace was off-center to the room and we had to figure out a way to still have ample built-ins and space without making it look off-center, because the fireplace needed to feel central.” They used the custom oak paneling as a tool to incorporate hidden cabinetry and reach their aesthetic goal.
Kitchen
“We took everything out of the existing kitchen except the hood and, actually, we used it as the inspiration for the new kitchen design,” Hahn says. “It’s simple and refined, but elegant at the same time.” Fully reimagining the culinary space also meant integrating it seamlessly into the home’s connected main living areas while highlighting the beauty of the exterior gardens. “With the gridlines of the windows, we wanted them to play well together with the paneling on the walls and the kitchen cabinetry — it’s the subtle things that tie it all together,” Leigh says. “I mean, the view into the side yard looks like a picture.”
Dining Room
Separated only by a custom-designed Carrara marble island, the dining room is a natural extension of the kitchen with ample natural light thanks, in part, to a large window framing the side garden.
Powder Room
The moodiness of this first-floor powder room has been achieved through dark Roman clay walls, custom patterned Zia marble tile flooring, bespoke wood paneling, vintage lighting, an RH vanity, and an oversize Lulu and Georgia mirror.
Office
“Oh, this was really fun,” Leigh says. “We wanted a space that if somebody had younger kids, they could have a small room next to the master that, while we turned it into an office, could be a nursery or playroom.”
Primary Bedroom
For the primary bedroom, the designers created a second door for symmetry and to allow for more natural light with access to the terrace. “Marvin does this really cool thing where they’ll design a window that is a door system, so it’s actually a fixed door and the grid lines and everything match,” Hahn says. Adding to the ambiance, custom cabinetry and a paneled wall reflect the design firm’s thoughtful and holistic approach to detail.
Primary Bathroom
“We really wanted the room to feel like a long, full primary suite, so we moved the tub — raised it onto a deck with the arch sort of enveloping it as a focal point,” Leigh says. Small elements like the polished nickel hardware from Waterworks make a big difference in the overall space marked by custom wood cabinetry and Carrara marble.
Guest Room
An ideal retreat for visiting friends or family, the generously sized guest rooms offer a touch of quiet luxury with views of the grounds surrounding the home.
Guest Room
A restful space for guests has been achieved through new oak flooring, new windows, and plenty of charm.
Guest Bathroom
“That pink stone — I’m obsessed with it,” Leigh says. “We actually searched for so long to find that stone. The main guest bathroom offers the warmth of a spa with an updated art deco feel.
Sauna
Under the outside deck is a custom designed sauna that adds a spa-like feel to the expansive property.
Backyard
“We ended up putting in more of a lap pool so that you had as much yard space as possible,” Hahn says. A firepit and an outdoor kitchen are a natural extension of the pool area ideal for entertaining all year long.
January 14, 2026
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