SotaFlame
A new Minnesota, family-owned brand, SotaFlame, launched this summer and is heating up the electric fireplace industry, so to speak. It brings together the best of both worlds: the convenience and energy efficiency of electric fireplaces with the aesthetics and real wood logs of gas fireplaces.
SotaFlame
The company was born from the minds of Joe Kuefler and Paul Kilburg, close friends who spent nearly two decades each in the fireplace industry, when they saw an opportunity to approach electric fireplaces differently, with intentional design incorporating organic materials.
It starts with real, Minnesota kiln-dried oak logs that the team cuts and chars by hand in the Twin Cities, giving each fireplace the aesthetics of a gas one, whether it’s on or off.
“You see a sameness when you’re searching this stuff. We felt like we could bring more authenticity to the space,” Kuefler says. “An electric fireplace is part of the room even when the fire is off, and that’s where the realism can fall apart.”
SotaFlame’s first electric fireplace series, the Nordeast Linear Electric Fireplace, is named for the historic and trend-forward Minneapolis neighborhood, and features hidden heat vents that preserve a clean, uninterrupted view and a reflective flame panel that adds visual depth. LiveEmber™ dynamic motion brings movement to the ember bed, while built-in Soundscapes add an ambient layer to the experience. Wi-Fi app and remote control provide convenient personalization.
A slim-profile series, The Hyland—named after the Bloomington nature reserve—will debut this fall, and offers a smaller, space efficient option for homeowners looking to maximize square footage.
The Rise of Electric Fireplaces
Electric fireplaces have become an increasingly popular option for homeowners and builders looking to add a fireplace without the venting and infrastructure required by traditional wood or gas installations. What’s more, fewer newly built homes are incorporating gas fireplaces—according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Characteristics of New Housing, roughly 27% of new homes in 2025 included a fireplace, compared to about 50% in 2015. Kilburg notes that many homes that do have gas fireplaces aren’t utilizing them to their fullest.
“They are only used a half to a third of the year, and that’s in Minnesota, which is one of the colder states,” he says. “Other states, it’s off all the time, and they’ll vent it out the house because they don’t want it to heat the house, and that’s just wasting a lot of energy.”
Kuefler adds that more open floor plans and fewer interior walls in many modern-day homes can make fireplace placement more challenging, especially when gas lines or venting are involved. Heating is also a complication.
“Managing heat adds real complexity to a project, particularly when a fireplace sits beneath a TV, artwork, or other materials that need to be protected. In some cases, heat is simply redirected outside to solve the problem,” he says. “Electric fireplaces allow designers to create larger fire features without adding the same amount of heat to the room. They also give homeowners the option to enjoy the fireplace without heat, making the fireplace more of a year-round design element rather than something that’s only used when the room needs additional warmth.”
With simple framing and electrical requirements, electric fireplaces are relatively easy to install, and SotaFlame’s founders believe their products can strike that perfect balance of convenient and authentic.
Read this next: 5 Minnesota Fireplaces That Take Cozy to the Next Level
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