Studio City Ranch makeover

To give the interiors a more modern feel, Leiaghat removed the wall between the living room and den and covered the existing red brick fireplace with gray stucco.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

Contemporary accessories from CB2 mix with vintage glass and art.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

In the dining room, Leiaghat kept the room’s original wainscotting, painted the walls a vibrant blue and white, and added modern furnishings.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

Leiaghat removed the paneling and bookshelves from the library in an effort to open up the interiors and bring in more light.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

The modern interiors are a sharp contrast to the home’s traditional storybook ranch exterior, which features a porch, a swing, a red brick-lined pathway and diamond pane windows.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

The master bedroom.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

“It wouldn’t make sense for me to buy a ready-made house,” says Sam Leiaghat. “I found a gem in the middle of Studio City.”  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

In the galley kitchen, Leiaghat preserved the windows and charming Spanish floor tile and removed the appliances and shelving. “I wanted to make it clean and easy and user--friendly,” he says of the kitchen. True to his love of vintage, Sam uses an antique dining table as a kitchen island.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The backyard today.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

A vintage record player adds some charm to the dining room.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)