Nestled on the shores of Prior Lake, Minnesota, this modern lakefront home is designed to maximize the surrounding natural beauty, with sweeping views framed by expansive windows. The property supports everyday routines with welcoming open living and kitchen spaces, complemented by wellness features such as a gym and a sauna as well as places to unwind, like a state-of-the-art cinema. Stone and wood accents appear throughout the interior and exterior, further enhance the home’s contemporary aesthetic while reinforcing its connection to nature.
The challenge
The homeowner needed a home automation system that would support third-party integrations, multi-room entertainment, and a unified user experience without overwhelming the home’s strong design sensibility. Discreet control options were essential, yet the system still needed to impress with its capabilities while delivering an intuitive and effortless user experience.
The solution
Admit One Home Systems was engaged during the design phase to create a smart home with intentional technology integrations that would organically blend in with the architecture. The Crestron Home® OS was selected because it offered the right mix of customization, scalability, and intuitive control to unify lighting, entertainment, climate, shading, and other systems into one platform.
The technology
Crestron Home OS serves as the foundation for a home that places entertainment, design, and simple control at the forefront. The Crestron system brings together standard controls like video distribution, whole-home audio, tunable lighting, motorized shading, climate control, and security, along with unique outdoor features like the fountain and sauna lighting, which are all accessible through one cohesive interface. With control available through the mobile app, Crestron touch screens, and custom-engraved keypads, each family member can easily access scenes, content, and environmental controls tailored to their preferences. Flush-mounted touch screens and custom-engraved keypads have been recessed into wood, stone, and drywall to serve both functional and aesthetic purposes.
Entertainment plays a central role in the homeowners’ lifestyle, and it was important that the system reflects that priority. The great room features a 97-inch TV paired with tall custom speakers that complement the vertical lines of the surrounding windows. Beneath the floor, two large subwoofers disguised as HVAC returns deliver theater-grade bass without disrupting the room’s design.
Crestron DM NVX® AV-over-IP technology provides video distribution throughout the home, giving the homeowner full flexibility to route any source to any room while ensuring the system remains scalable for future needs. In the dedicated cinema room, a 174-inch projection screen surrounded by custom speakers creates an immersive environment that rivals a commercial theater. Crestron DM NAX® Audio-over-IP distribution extends audio throughout the home, including bathrooms and closets, allowing entertainment to follow the homeowner seamlessly from space to space.
Lighting scenes further personalize the ambiance, including the playful “Windows Glow” mode, where each room illuminates in a different hue. Additional lighting details, such as baseboard lighting and custom bedroom fixtures, bring warmth and depth to the homes’ environment. Even the bedroom TV was engineered into a custom bed frame lift, appearing only when needed and disappearing into the furniture when not in use. In the sauna, Crestron lighting control highlights the hand-carved woodwork, adding depth and atmosphere to the wellness space. Daily operation is effortless from mobile phones, with scenes like “All Off” controlling lighting, shades, audio, temperature, and entertainment with a single tap. The homeowners rely heavily on the Crestron system throughout their daily routines, and the personalized capabilities have allowed it to adapt naturally to their lifestyle.
The results
Crestron transformed the home into a responsive environment that balances performance with simplicity and enhances every moment, whether the homeowners are entertaining guests or enjoying a quiet night in. The flexibility of Crestron Home allows the system to evolve alongside the homeowners’ needs, making last-minute additions possible without requiring extensive programming or a system redesign.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
