I would not do it. It puts unnecessary strain on your neck or forces people to lie back like the dead and it's hard enough to teach my kids to not slouch. You might not think the neck thing matters but we all get old .. if we're lucky. It also makes me feel like I'm in a bar, an airport, or a bad restaurant. Sorry, if that offends anyone, it's how I feel and so far all of my clients have agreed without needing any persuasion.But that doesn't mean it's wrong to do it. Only the owner's family needs to like it. To me it's just not that difficult to put the TV to one side with the great adjustable brackets now available. The proper height of a TV is easy to determine, just sit on a couch, look straight ahead, and have someone measure the point you feel comfortable looking at. Perhaps take an average of your family members. If I had to do it, I would at least put the fireplace box tight to the floor, the mantel low, and be able to enclose the TV when not in use. These things are not pretty. It would also help to recess it and tip it downward for better viewing and less reflected light. I was in an Italian restaurant in the 60's called Charlie's that had multiple gas fireplaces recessed into the wall above seated head height. Would that work?

A few things: First oruboris, what do you mean about the painting retracting to hide the TV, can you elaborate in detail please? Second the first thing you have to decide is wood or is it gas. Wood fireplaces can get much hotter especially all around the fireplace and up the wall. I would suggest using thermal measurements by a professional to decide whether or not it is a good idea, because you don't want anything to catch fire and this is a thing that you might even want to ask the local firehouse about. It's not a game and it's not something you want to mess with, because you can catch your house and others on fire. If you have a gas fireplace it can be much safer because they burn cooler than that of wood fireplaces and they are controlled. You can ask actually ask the company how hot they can get, where wood fireplace depends on the wood, how much wood, what else is burning, and how it's burning in the fireplace's condition. I suppose it's possible to build a great shield around the fireplace to protects the television from to much heat but it would be a serious endeavor, and one that needs planning, and testing before anything is put up above the fireplace. After all you're not only putting together this for you but you also are putting it together for future owners or possibly current owners or people that are not familiar with how much wood put the fireplace for example. Even with most shielding I probably could build a fire in a fireplace that would melt a TV. Again the gas fireplace is different and controlled. But you still have to think about all the heat, ergonomics, recommended distance, recommended viewing angles etc. You also have to think about speaker placement, surround sound, the studs/wires etc in the wall to mount the mount for the TV, etc. It for gas you can just take a little temperature gauge, or a thermometer that is portable and put it above the fireplace in different positions take measurements. If you have made it cool enough with a mantle or/and a heat shield and you don't mind the TV being a bit high, go for it. However check with the manufacturer of both the fireplace, and TV, make sure that they can approve it. You might also want to check with the builder of the house to make sure there's nothing in the wall that could be damaged. Then again if you have the ability and still want to them go do it. I personally do not have the ability so I would have to have somebody do it, so I would call a professional. I'm in the same position. I'm going to have for new house and I don't know whether to get a fireplace and then put a TV there or not get a fireplace and just put a TV in the regular area that be a fireplace with a better viewing area, better ergonomics, and a better atmosphere for television watching. But it will not be very romantic. That's why I asked about the retractable painting. It might be an idea to hide the TV and pull it out and if there's a mount that allows it to come out and then down. Then you could have the best of both worlds as long as you don't turn on the fireplace with the tv in the down position. Of course you would have to try to hide the TV behind the painting or a hole in the wall and that probably won't work with the fireplace there. So for me it's either have the TV or have the fireplace. Otherwise it just seems too much one area. If I had a wood fireplace I would just not do it. You also have to think about all the other electronics such as the cable/satellite box or the Xbox or the receiver (or and, and, etc). That kind of rules out the TV over the fireplace because where would you put all these other boxes?? HP

Could you elaborate a little on how the power supply and various cables connecting the TV to cable box, Roku, DVD player, etc. were handled?

I think we can all agree that tv over fireplace is not the best idea. I am planning to lower the mantle at least 10". That will lower the tv probably closer to 20" since it is mounted several inches above the mantle now. That shoud take care of the sore neck issue. It does get uncomfortable when sitting in certain spots now. I think of the tv like any other appliance. I am trying to work around it as attractively as possible. It is our home, not a showroom. Thanks funkyart for that affirmation! We're looking for televisions over the next couple of weeks. I would like to find one as simple and streamlined as possible. You're right that a 55" tv won't be 55" wide. Once we find the right set, we can sit it on the mantle while we plan the mantle and surround. I love our trim and woodwork. The builder did an really incredible job. This room is a little too done though. I look forward to simplifying the fireplace area a bit. I like the traditional lines in the inspiration photo a lot. I had already figured out the right paint color (BM Caldwell Green) last year. Thanks so much for everyone's input!