OP here: It worked good! The Sanus VisionMount VM400 full motion wall mount for $40 off Craigslist works EX-CELL-EN-TE!! Feels as solid as a rock! Oh, it also has the option of pivoting/folding up towards the left or towards the right, which in our case, where our stud was not centered on the wall, was the perfect offset to make the tv pretty nicely centered (the actual mount on the tv is around 3" offset). Like the 20" extention capability & 180 degree swivel feature too. Also, the Sanus website has an installation video which was more helpful than the written directions. So yeah, it worked out well, thank goodness! Thanks to all who responded!

Please read down a few posts for a similar post with information regarding your question. Several of the big box stores that offer installation found out the hard way of the problems with over the fireplace installations and don't allow their installers to perform it anymore. As an example, you can view the restrictions on the Costco website for TV installation services that they offer through a third party installer. I'm willing to bet that if Best Buy would do it, it would be a separately quoted, expensive installation, with several disclaimers. Monoprice can be a good source of product at a very good price. I've found their wall mounts to be good quality but highly recommend purchasing higher grade mounting hardware, such as the lag bolts, locally. The heads on the bolts appear to snap off far too often while tightening.

Appreciate the ideas! A couple thoughts: we are not going to make any structural changes (ie. removing the bar). The chairs are not keepers and do fit under the bar for what it's worth. I definitely like the idea of something more streamlined and open vs. leaning into a more formal and structured built-in style. Also worth noting that we do not have any sort of media units (DVD players, etc.) as they are all integrated into either the TV or hidden.

ok great. much better. so right now the tv is just floating on the wall. you ned more than just adding more 'stuff' to the wall. you seriously need a console to go under the tv, (please, please, lower the tv! for that size tv it should be about 46-50" from the floor to the CENTER of the tv. ) This Besta hack (ikea) would actually work out great. can you do this? this one is BEsta, and i'm not sure what the ikea model they used below. you can find it online under "Ikea hacks for TV consoles" look at the tv height, this is how you want yours. Here are identical room layouts to give you ideas on what to use and how to arrange things. if you have the room, you might be able to do an entire wall unit. this would take care of putting something on the walls. Logan, 5 piece entertainment center. these cost a bit more, but they do give you storage and decor options for that blank wall. you could even build one yourself if you can DIY the depth on this cabinet isn't that large. you could absolutely do something like this, and top it with a butcher block cut to fit the top. just lower your tv bracket. These are probably simple base cabinets linked together to form a type of floating media unit. this is another Ikea hack. they made it into a floating media cabinet and either painted the wood on top, or you could use a remnant from a quartz or stone piece. here's another one, but in a smaller length. they've built some bookcases to go on the sides So, another option is to get a dresser or vintage storage piece, paint it, and use it for your console. this one you can buy off of wayfair or other places, and do the pictures around it. lots of ideas...like any of them?