The problem that I see with a permanent installation such as the one you've posted is that you are then limited on the size of television. Who knows what the future will bring in television/speaker design? Otherwise, this idea seems similar to the drywall niches next to fireplaces that I see in a lot of spec-built houses, although better looking. It does solve the problem of competing focal points, but I think I would rather have the fireplace and the television in separate rooms. I think I'm in the minority, though, in my preference of having a living room without a television.

Hi Fun2Bhere,

Thanks for your comments. I do agree that having the TV in a separate TV room away from fireplace room (i.e. great room) is a good compromise. We want two TVs in our house. One will be down in the basement rec room, and the other we want upstairs. The only room on main level that is really large enough to have a TV and some seating is the great room. We do have a living room which we are using as a playroom for the younger kids. It is very narrow so does not work well for sofas TV etc.

Carol

I have a friend who has a set-up somewhat similar to the article you posted except that it's not stone and doesn't have a hearth. They are pretty happy with the lay-out, but did have to have some carpentry work done when they changed out their television for a wider screen. Luckily, she had planned for that in advance, so the outer dimensions didn't have to be changed, just some of the decorative wood framing.

Have you decided against your idea of the shelves for your plates and the television on an articulating arm?

Honestly, I don't like it...that is a massive installation of stone which looks cold and hard and can easily be a scale issue for your space. I much prefer your original idea of fireplace surrounded by case pieces....warmer and more flexible.

Hi Annie and Fun2BHere,

Fun2BHere,

Thanks for the reminder that a combo unit will pose restrictions on TV changes in the future. Yes, we are still considering the TV with pull-out, rotating arm. Just not sure what is best.

Annie,

Thanks for your honest opinion. We have tried to make work your suggestion of having a TV on built in with the fireplace in centre and the display in the corner. However, there is very little room to start a corner unit, and the plates end up on the other wall. Later tonight, I will get my DH to post a plan of the whole area. It is quite large 13" W by 19" deep (not including an extra 3 foot are area to pass by to get to staircase). The long wall has lots of windows on it. There will many kitchen cabinets close by and also a tall dining room china cabinet, so I thought the stone might be a welcome relief from all the wood cabinetry. But, I don't have a designer eye.

I appreciate your input. Please check tonight for a copy of our floor plan.

Carol

Hi again,

Here is a link that shows our floor plan - just in case this clarifies the space better. Overall the house is 2900 square feet.

Here is a link that shows our basic great room/dining room plan (and a bit of kitchen). It also shows the staircases going upstairs and downstairs (they are stacked). The staircase coming from upstairs finishes around 43 inches from the east wall so I think the plan is inaccurate in this way. There is 167 3/4" available from south wall to east window along the fireplace wall. However, we should probably avoid going right to the east window with built-ins to avoid crowding the entry to bedroom staircase. The fireplace wall is east, and the window wall, therefore is south.

The built ins that you see in this drawing all show lower cabinets only, with no uppers to display anything.

Let me know if you have any more ideas or any more opinions on the stone fireplace/tv combo.

Carol

great room floor plan

Does anyone else have an opinion on this combined TV/fireplace unit. Is this a scale issue for a great room that measures 13' X 19' (measurements do not include a passage way to the bedroom stair case, nor the dining room that is beside and open to it). Will a large expanse of stone be too harsh?

Thanks for any further opinions.

Carol

I would agree that designing a permanent solution to house today's television might turn out to be a future white-elephant. Years ago, many homes were built with a deep niche over the fireplace to place a tube television. Changes in technology come so quickly, who knows, televisions 5 years from now could be projected onto a blank space without need for a physical television unit at all, or even projected into air, hologram-style. I would do the case pieces, which can be easily altered for whatever your needs are at the time.
Dee

I love your inspiration picture and don't feel it would overwhelm a room of that size. It looks like a traditional hearth from 100+ years ago. I would much rather have built in detailing than try to add character after the fact with accessories. I wasn't a huge fan of your orginal sketches. Those cabs seemed more basic and bland.
Sure, technology changes, but unless you are a first adapter and always want the hottest newest tv on the market, you can easily live for years with a built in that may, eventually be dated. Just work with your carpenter to deign a cabinet with some flexibility for replacing electronics.

From what I see/hear this has become a pretty common installation. What I wonder: if the TV is used enough to warrant being in that room at all..how often will those doors be closed? If the TV is used by the family on a daily basis the doors are for the few times there are guests present. Day in day out those doors will stand open and be a nuisance. For me function always wins and the expense of the cabinet/doors etc is not worth it. I would mount a flat screen to the wall and move on.

Hi Dee, Angc, Arcy and other GWs,

I continue to struggle with how and if to place both a TV and fireplace in the same room. I also really want a window seat on the wall adjacent to the fireplace, and decorative display around the fireplace. You can see the room by clicking on the link above entitled great room floor plan.

Thanks for the recent comments; your ideas are all helpful. Arcy, mentioned I should just mount the TV on the wall. Hmmmm, the best wall might just be the stair case wall. Then I could have my fireplace centred with builts-in for decorative display and also my window seat. Not having to squeeze the TV into the remaining space between built-ins and window seat could have visual advantages. The TV would have a 6 foot south window facing it in this location, so we would definitely have to do a low glare TV which I have learned are available. Not to sure what to do with the corner between the built-ins and the window seat -- any ideas here? Would this work at all?

I would love your follow-up comments to this idea, please and thanks.

Carol