It's a temptation that many homeowners inside the Perimeter have given in to of late: The urge to tear down that outdated, mid-century, three-bedroom brick ranch and start over from the ground up.

That same thought occurred to Sam and Molly Portis, who looked at their 50-year-old one-story home and knew it was time for an extreme makeover. But they didn't want to do a drastic rebuild and change the streetscape of their Dunwoody neighborhood, where split-levels and modest ranches are the norm.

Hyosub Shin/Staff

Sam and Molly Portis completely transformed their 1950s Ranch into a contemporary one-story.

Hyosub Shin/Staff

Even with a raised roof, the home still blends with the character of the neighborhood.

Hyosub Shin/Staff

An earlier overhaul changed the small, galley kitchen into an open area with a breakfast bar, granite counters, a five-burner stove and built-in refrigerator.

"But the house had a dumpy look," said Molly Portis. "We wanted to make it more attractive, with a steeper roof and more appeal."

The couple, who own a remodeling business, decided to stay in Dunwoody and work with the footprint of their existing house. And just as the cobbler's kids had to wait on their own shoe repairs, the project didn't happen overnight.

"Yes, it took a while to get to our own," admits Sam Portis with a laugh. But both he and his wife are pleased with the final result — a complete change from the original house, but one that doesn't overwhelm other homes on the street.

The massive makeover also gave the couple a chance to make changes that will allow them to live in the house for years to come. With teenage twins about to head out for college, the couple will be empty-nesters looking for an easier lifestyle than one that requires constant home maintenance. Through their work on clients' homes, they knew all the ways to turn a house into a home where aging owners can live most of their senior years. They often install aging-in-place features in their remodels, from grab bars and no-step showers in the baths to wider doorways and hallways throughout.

"We learned a lot just by being out there, doing it," said Molly Portis. "We've always tried things out in our own house before we offered it to customers. A lot of people like us are staying in Dunwoody because it's a nice place to retire, but there are also people looking to have a master on the main floor, wider doorways and less maintenance."

Another factor in their decision to work with the original footprint was the kitchen, a revamped space that the couple reworked about five years ago.

"We'd already redone our kitchen and were very happy with it; we didn't want to tear everything down," said Molly Portis.

That overhaul changed the small, galley kitchen into an open area by taking over part of the garage. They angled a breakfast bar below pendant lights; installed granite counters, a five-burner stove, a built-in refrigerator and a desk area. Old white cabinets gave way to cherry and glass-fronted ones. Cork flooring was laid and sealed with polyurethane. Three casement windows now offer expansive views of the lawn that gently slopes down to a lake.

Eating into the garage area also gave them room for a home office and a second master for their visiting elderly relatives. And there's a well-lit studio for the couple's budding artist, 17-year-old Paul. On the other side of the house, the couple closed in an old porch to expand the master bedroom and to add bookcases to the left of the den's stacked-stone fireplace.

The latest makeover took eight months to complete and involved massive changes to the exterior. The project started with raising the roof about 18 inches and giving it a more contemporary look with 35-year architectural shingles. The exterior then got the low-maintenance treatment, with concrete shingles that don't require annual painting; stacked stone accents; and energy-efficient, vinyl windows that won't need repainting. The soffits and trim were also made with easy-to-clean PVC materials that won't rot. Even the deck posts of a new side porch are made of PVC that won't require constant upkeep.

While the house was being rehabbed, the couple also dug up the old driveway and replaced it with a circular pebble drive. The stones make a porous surface that will allow water to seep through and won't crack, requiring major repairs later on.

"Hopefully, everything we've added is maintenance-free," said Sam Portis.

The improvements included a slate-floored front porch, bay window in the living room and a new travertine floor in the foyer. The new garage, set at a 90-degree angle to the main house, was high enough to add a rec room for the teens, with dormer windows and slanted roof lines, and an exercise room.

Inside, the living and dining rooms are about the only spaces that haven't been dramatically changed. Both still feature 8-foot, stippled ceilings and hardwood floors. The foyer opens through a wide doorway into the den, where red leather club chairs and a beige suede sofa invite guests to linger in front of the massive stone fireplace. Above the mantel is a framed quilt made by Molly Portis' great-grandmother.

The last renovation a few years ago also gave the couple more room in the master. Sam Portis used an existing closet to create a framed headboard niche, with storage cabinets and shelves behind the head of the bed. Double closets were added to either side of the bed. The master bath was reworked with a spa tub and separate shower, but that is the next room slated to undergo a transformation.

"We never use this big tub," said Molly Portis. "And it would be much more practical to have a large, walk-in, tiled shower with a removable spray. That's our next goal."