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Home Decorating

Need help finishing recessed area for TV

15 years ago

I haven't been here for a while but always appreciate the good decorating ideas from the members of this forum. I need help finishing my great room. The second and third pictures in the link below show the recessed area in our great room for the TV. I am trying to figure out how to finish this. The first picture shows our kitchen cabinets--the kitchen is visible from the great room. Do you think I should finish the recessed area to look like a built-in and use the kitchen cabinets for the built-ins? Or should I just trim out the recessed area and then put a premade entertainment unit in the recessed area. The house is prairie/craftsmans with a contemporary edge, but most of my furniture is scandinavian and I would probalby use a scandinavian design entertainment unit (about 24" high) if I followed the second option. Thanks for your help!

PS--is the rug in the great room too small?

Thanks,

Carolyn

Here is a link that might be useful: The recessed area

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Comments (6)

caminnc
15 years ago
I can't see your link.
yayagal
15 years ago
Only the picture with the refrigerator is there. I can't see the other two. Please resend them.
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carolyn53562
Original Author
15 years ago
Try this link

Here is a link that might be useful: TV recess
Shannon01
15 years ago
I would build it in. It is competing with the fireplace right now. I did something really similar to my last house but have no pics of it, sorry. We had a large projection tv so we built cabinets across the top to house the components and a few nicknacks. We made a simple frame around the actual tv using 1x4 which we routed the edge to make more decorative. You could paint all white to blend it or I would use the wood like the cabinets to match.
les917
15 years ago
I would build it in, and finish the wood so that it matches the trim in the room and on the fireplace. I would leave the top box open, just trim out the edges, and add lighting in there and use it for display.

I would also love to see you add trim running up the sides of the fireplace above the mantel, to define that area.

Love your room!

Oh, and I don't think the rug is too small, it appears in proportion to the seating you have. You just need to get the front legs of the furniture on it, so that it feels connected. I would also move it away from the fireplace just a bit.
carolyn53562
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the replies! I thought built-in might be the way to go, but that purchasing an existing entertainment center might be easier. Our kitchen cabinets are quartersawn oak. Do you think it would be ok to go with slab quartersawn oak doors for the built-in to give the space a little more variety?

We are working on the fireplace too. We are going to fully face the front below the mantel in wood (so there is no white drywall). I had thought of putting trim up the sides of the fireplace above the mantel too, but it's a two-story great room and I'm concerned the trim might make it look to tall and skinny. Maybe we'll give it a shot.

I'll try to post a picture tomorrow, but my real problem with the rug is that it has a symetrical design. I have the center of the rug lengthwise centered with the tv nook. However, that means that the center of the rug widthwise is not centered with the fireplace. Do you think that that gives and off balance feel to a room? The link below has a not very clear picture that shows how the rug is centered/off center. I really like the rug--the colors are perfect for us and the pattern works well with the kids/dog/cat.

Thanks!

Thanks.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rug

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