Yes, see the newspaper on the far wall? That's our TV in exact dimensions. I asked my husband to help with designing our new home and he mocked up his TV visible from the kitchen...so far, that's all he has done in "designing" for us, LOL!

Seriously, there are some great new products out there. This one by HP called the Touchsmart was designed with kitchens in mind. It's compact, easy to use and you can load schedules and calendaring, recipes, view videos, send off that last email while your pasta is boiling, etc.

Many people choose to undermount their TV (this is in a friend's kitchen):
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I like the undermount, but forgot to ask where her keyboard is--or maybe it's just a tv, I'm not sure.

I would prefer something that swings back and up and could be hidden if I didn't want it dangling down.

Here is a link that might be useful: Touchsmart Computer

We had originally planned to mount our TV under the cabinet, but decided not to b/c of (1) under cabinet lights and (2) we wanted the flexibility to move it around if we wanted to. Oh, and my DH couldn't find one big & small enough could be mounted that way; they were all either too big or too small.

We also considered putting it inside the cabinet over the refrigerator, but decided it would be too high to see from the peninsula.

Lastly, we have almost no wall-space in the Kitchen.

So, we ended up putting it on the counter near the sink but visible from the entire Kitchen, including the peninsula. We have plenty of counterspace now so it isn't an issue. In our old kitchen it was in the corner of our "L". The corner wasn't very useful b/c of the kitchen layout, so it was a good place for it.

Keep in mind that if you have a box of satellite or cable and/or a separate DVD player, you will need a place for them where their remotes can be used (i.e., behind a glass door, on an open shelf, or on the counter (ours stands on edge behind the TV)).

It's b/w the sink and wall ovens.

(Please forgive the typos...I didn't proof read very well!)

We wall mounted a flat screen on a wall adjacent to the laundry room, then put the TV receiver on a shelf in the laundry room. You can use an infrared setting for the remote to function through a wall or cabinet, so you can hide the electronics well. We designed an empty wall opposite the eating bar for just that reason. sorry no pics yet.

We have a small TV on a counter in what is kind of the "desk" area of our kitchen though we have no desk - by design. As far as a computer goes we use a wireless laptop that is stored in a drawer when not in use.

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I have both. The TV is at the back end of the peninsula, and it swivels, so I can watch from the kitchen side or the table. My computer is usually on the small desk built in next to the hutch. I print out recipes when I'm ready to use them, that way I don't worry about spilling. If anyone else is in the kitchen watching TV, or the grandchildren at the table, coloring or playing, with the TV or DVD on, tying the TV up with a recipe wouldn't work.

I got idea here on GW to get an iMac for the kitchen and I absolutely love it. I have TV, Internet, DVD, everything right at my fingerprints. wireless keyboard and mouse are terrific. Using it right now!

TV is going on counter in corner - satellite box in basement - infrared remote setup.

BUT - Johnliu - please, please tell me that you are an author in real life (and if not, why the heck not) and where I can buy your books!!

I put in a 26" Sharp. I also pre-wired for surround sound, but haven't been inclined to put in any speakers.

johnliu, you are cracking me up! I am seeing all sorts of wirey spidery paraphernalia arising from your iMac hub! Sounds like you're getting it under control though.

I will have a desk area in my kitchen because our office/central command omputer room is upstairs, so I need a good way to corral incoming mail/bills on the main floor. I have a 10" Dell mini that I will keep on the kitchen desk.

In addition, I will be hanging a large flat screen tv (42 to 46") on the wall by the kitchen table. (If it were only my DH, we would still have a single 20" black and white tv!)

sombreuil, I am trying to figure out the sound to the tv. Do you get sufficient sound out of your tv?

We spent an eon agonizing over how to incorporate a computer into the kitchen -- the computer is where we get all of our recipes, all of our music, as well as all of our news/movies/info/entertainment. We came _this close_ to buying an i-mac and putting it on an articulating arm mounted to the side of the pantry (which is next to the prep area). Our thinking was that it could face someone seated at the island for t.v. or could be used for recipe sites in the prep area, while also being able to play music or podcasts over the in-ceiling speakers. In the end after visiting the Apple store and talking at length with an APple guy (who happens to be a lawyer by day and about to embark on his own kitchen renovation), with his help we went an altogether different route, although the new i-macs are beautiful, we realized that we'd rather search for recipies (and music, and everything else) on our individual laptops while seated in the living room and then carry the laptop into the kitchen as opposed to doing this while sitting or standing in the kitchen. By our way of thinking, the hours that the kitchen computer would get used would not be enough to justify buying a new computer for the job, and most of what we wanted it to do could be better done on a laptop (and I'd argue even better done on a brand spankin' new i-book, but so far no dice). Thus this is the route we chose instead:

1 - speakers installed in the kitchen ceiling (and living room ceiling too)and wired to the back of the pantry, we had our electrician put an outlet inside it
2 - a shelf installed in the pantry that holds the following: 2- powered amps (0ne for each set of speakers), and an Airport Express that my laptop (or any computer in the household) that allows me to opt to play through the in-ceiling speakers (I-tunes, or Pandora mostly, but could play anything the computer can get to).
3 - a slate lazy susan (ordered from Amazon) to hold a laptop on the island while cooking, the thought here is that it keeps it up out of spills, and also turns as the cook changes positions while cooking.
4 - as for the t.v., there are lots of small, high-res lcd t.v.'s at Sam's Club/Costco that would do the job and fit nicely in a small space for less than $300, it didn't seem to make sense to buy a dedicated computer to primarily be a t.v. (at 3x the cost of the t.v.). We don't actually watch t.v.(just Netflix, I-tunes t.v. shows and Hulu) so it hasn't been an issue, but if we did, say want t.v. going while in the kitchen, II think I'd buy an inexpensive one rather than buying another/dedicated computer to be a t.v. (though that could be done as well).
5 I'd till like to add a wireless keyboard and mouse tothe laptop because they're under $100, cute as a button and would allow me to not worry about having messy hands on the keyboard while cooking.

Although the island is still under construction, the speakers, amps and airport extreme are up and running, and we're...

We mounted a small flat screen over our peninsula, adjacent to the dining area. The outlet and cable hook-up are behind it (on the green wall). We have wireless, so the laptop travels all over the house.

Ideally I would've prefered an office, but as our kids get older I want to be able to see what they are doing on the computer. What's also great is that my DH bought me bose speakers for the computer so I can listen to music while I cook. It's also great if I need to look something up for a recipe while cooking.

Here is a link to a previous thread. Has some PICS and other info !

Here is a link that might be useful: previous

Thanks for all your advice, pictures --- AND HUMOR. Looks like most are keeping TV and/or computer separately. Would probably use the TV the most and only occassionally the computer so perhaps the best bet is to bring the wireless laptop in only when I need it. Then the only decision I have to make is whether to mount a small TV on the wall or stand it on the counter. It will be easy emnough to bring in the cable hookup and our condo supplies basic with HBO so I wouldn't need a box unless I needed more premium channels. Much less complicated and flexible this way.

Our TV is viewable when seated at the island or when at the sink & cooktop. We scratched the original plans to have cabinets doors that close around the TV when not in use. We have wireless in the house so I use my laptop if I need a recipe off the computer.
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In our case, the iMac is mine, mine all mine. And DS uses the wireless laptop for homework, games and whatever. I can keep an eye on him in the dining room doing his homework, and using the computer, since it's open to the kitchen.

I just came across this laptop station from Ikea. It is steel, wall mounts and is available in white and red. I thought someone out there might be interested in incorporating it into a kitchen design...especially if they need to save $$ on cabinets.

Here is a link that might be useful: here's the link!

We have an under-mount multipurpose unit suspended from an upper cupboard. It has a small drop-down, swivel t.v. screen. We can turn it so that it faces whoever wants to see it, but screen can be snapped up out of sight when not used. It also has a radio, which we use more frequently, and a DVD player which can also be used to play CDs. This is great for listening to books on CD, which we check out of public library. There is also a clock and a timer.

Similar units are for sale today by many brands; ours is 3? years old. Remember that if you're planning a room with a t.v., you will need cable connection and/or converter box unless the unit is very new.

We used to have a free-standing little t.v. sitting on top of refrigerator. The undercounter unit is much less conspicuous and easier to access. Generally, we don't watch t.v. in kitchen, we listen to it. (T.v. watching is in another room.) If this unit died, I think we'd get a similar one. We have laptops but don't use them for these purposes.

I would enjoy good speakers in kitchen, but DH does not.