The front porch juts off of the home's foyer, which connects the public living space with the more private area housing the bedrooms and family room, and offers a glimpse of the New Mountain style found within the home.

The front door sets the tone for the mix of materials seen inside the home. The rustic tongue-and-groove pine door, custom-built for the property, is accented with bands of black, industrial metal and a heavy-duty kick plate.

This porch not only makes a great first impression, it's also specifically designed to withstand the harsh winter elements. The flat central roof can withstand more than 8 feet of piled snow. Pairs of thick 4-by-8-inch wooden beams along with steel supports make this roof strong enough to "park a freight train," says project contractor Mike Efstratis.

A stacked-stone water feature, constructed of boulders unearthed during the building process, features a hidden underground pump for a clean, organic look.