I will have to disagree on the focal point being the tv. When we invite friends over we can enjoy being outside or inside. There are TVs both places. It can be on or off—on for game day college football. We never just sit in the great room on couches and just talk. We do that in the kitchen/table area, which is open to great room or we are outside on covered deck/pool area. Our fireplace is actually not our focal point. The tv is. We rarely watch tv but when we do we don’t want to have to turn our heads or strain our necks. We only build about half a dozen fires a year so why should that be our focal point? It’s where we can see it and hear it but it’s not the focal point. I’m sure some people think our room layout is strange and don’t like it but that’s ok by me. I saw a beautiful room similar to ours in a home magazine with fireplace to the side and the tv in center and loved it so we did it. What I think is weird is the tv in the corner beside the fireplace. Everyone has to turn their heads to watch it. Ones above fireplaces you usually have to look up to watch it. So we are happy with our layout and love our room with tv on or off.

How about this concept, when you have guests and want conversation just don’t turn on the television!