The Heart of Modern Design: A Custom Fireplace Journey in Prior Lake

Nestled in Prior Lake, Minnesota, Lance Anderson’s home is a showcase of modern architectural design, filled with organic materials and innovative features. The lighting alone grabs attention, but the real centerpiece of this home is the fireplace – a Stellar design that marries function and aesthetic in a way few other pieces can.

A Vision Takes Shape

Lance set out with a clear vision: bring natural textures and unique features into his home, things he hadn’t seen done before. He challenged his team of architects and builders to create a space that was not only modern but also rich in material contrasts. The architectural style of his home, described as "mountain modern" by architect Dan, is defined by a stone feature that runs both inside and outside the house, grounding the entire design.

But it wasn’t just the materials that made this project stand out. Lance had an idea for a wall that would incorporate a 100-inch TV, seven-foot speakers, and a seven-foot fireplace – all in one sleek, unified space. Pulling off this design without making the wall look cluttered or disjointed was no easy task. Stellar was the only solution that could rise to the challenge.

The Fireplace: A Custom Marvel

Stellar’s team understood that to achieve the seamless look Lance wanted, the glass of the fireplace needed to align perfectly with the TV screen. Not only that, but the fireplace had to be specially sized to match the TV and the speakers. "It was super important to this design for me that the glass of the fireplace and the glass of the TV were on the same plane," Lance explained. The cantilevered design of the fireplace, which brings the glass forward from the wall, isn’t typical, but Stellar’s expertise made it possible.

Customizing the fireplace allowed the team to avoid any filler pieces, instead sizing the opening perfectly to match the TV and speakers. As Ross from Stellar noted, "Being able to customize the fireplace means that we can size the opening to match the TV, size the height to match the speakers, and extend the front on the fireplace so it all looks like it’s in one seamless plane." This attention to detail gave the accent wall its standout feature, with finishing materials that run right up to the firebox.

Engineering Precision Meets Design Ambition

But beyond the visual appeal, there was an incredible amount of engineering precision required to make the design work. The fireplace needed to be both functional and safe, especially given the amount of heat generated. As Ross explained, Stellar’s design ensures the heat is safely pulled away from the room while maintaining the beauty of the flames.

With up to 140,000 BTUs, the fireplace produces what Ross likes to call "bouncy happy flames" – vibrant and uniform across every inch of the seven-foot design. The burner system feeds each linear foot of flame individually, ensuring a consistent burn whether the fireplace is seven feet or much larger. This sophisticated design allows the fireplace to be used year-round, whether in the cold of Minnesota or the heat of Texas or California.

The Fireplace as the Centerpiece

For Lance, the fireplace isn’t just a functional piece; it’s the heart of the home. "The fireplace is kind of the center of the home, right? Everything revolves around that. You sit around it. It’s just a nice element to have the fire in the home," he shared. Whether it’s turned on during dinner to create a warm atmosphere or used in the evening without generating too much heat, the fireplace is an integral part of the home's design and daily life.

In the end, this project was a true collaboration between Lance, his architects, builders, and Stellar. "It really was a collaborative effort," Ross noted, reflecting on the attention to detail and coordination required to make the fireplace wall a success. And with Stellar’s seamless integration of engineering and design, this fireplace isn’t just another fixture – it’s a bold statement of modern living.