Since Chalk Paint is at the top of the threads today, just wanted to thank you for the nice comments and add more details. I wish I had the time to take some better photos. Fireplace: In California's Central Valley, we don't have much cold weather. Our fireplace is gas and when we did use it, the gas bill went sky high even for the half dozen days we had a fire. If we sold the house, the fireplace is still there so not gonna worry about 'repurposing' this area for t.v. viewing. Chalk Paint Color: I bought a qt. of Paris Gray and painted the piece. Husband thought it was a little blah. I put some Louis Blue from a little sample jar I had on the middle door and he thought it was too bright. So I mixed Paris Gray and Duck Egg Blue about 50/50, then poured in a little of the Louis Blue all in a foam coffee cup. I painted that on and it seemed the right mix of blue and gray so it stands out but not too much. Distressing: I then coated the whole piece with Minwax clear furniture wax. Then, I took a little sanding sponge and hit the edges as well as a little on that middle door to distress it a bit. Then, I took a tee shirt and rubbed on some Annie Sloan dark wax on the distressed places, just a little at a time. I immediately followed by rubbing off the dark wax with the Minwax on another tee shirt as per instructions. When it looked distressed enough I just let it dry. The wood top: The top was a little scratched up on this old dresser but I used some RAF (Restore A Finish) on the top and cleaned it up good. No chalk paint on top. Left the original, just cleaned up a bit. When I get my living room restored from moving out my old t.v. and black armoire, and pictures re-hung, will post a finished photo. Why the Fireplace? My sofa has been angled for many years to provide a nice seating area and t.v. viewing. The last few months I've developed neck pain from turning my head a little to watch t.v. We needed some way to move the t.v. The ONLY viable option was the fireplace wall. This photo shows the former black armoire for the tv and sofa placement. It's an old picture, so furniture is a bit different now. Red

I think this will work with the small desk to fit on that wall. Besta is a whole system and I think you could get doors for it if you want covered storage. Ideally, the tv should be about 75% of the width of the tv console to create the proportions you see in the photo you posted. But I think function could certainly rule over form in this case. http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/80294503/

Related to my earlier post, do you have a music system? Are you going to get any additional electronics (e.g. CD/DVD/BluRay player, Cable box, etc.)? You need to accommodate those as well. All your examples involve the TV being mounted on the wall, which I like. You now understand the problem of getting a large console for your "home entertainment system" - electronic devices change and you don't want to have to change your furniture also!

I like that one. I'd bring in some color w/a great piece of art on that large wall (both of them, actually) or do some wood shelving on the wall behind the sofa. Some potted plants do great things to a space Similar room. see if you like how they decorated in this one. (you don't have to do as many plants if you don't like them, just look at the rug, pillows, accessories) heres how they did the wall behind the sofa. but on this other wall, I'd do a large picture. Your picture is so tiny it's hard to see anything black and white look nice w/the camel leather sofa. here are some other textures w/the pillows, a throw, diff rug, table gallery of similar looking artwork. (they are hung a bit too high though) This white topped round coffee table would be perfect for you style sofa. get a pouf too. layered rugs, white pouf, white pillows/throw. all added textures you could get a sisal or jute rug, and even layer the rug you like over it. just make sure it's larger, obviously. white shelf behind sofa, side chair, marble topped wood table, plant blue and green accents, light rug, metal/glass table Again, shelf behind sofa (don't hang it too high) don't know if you can do a pendant light anywhere. maybe in the corner next to tv? or above the sofa in the corner? I like this wood ladder shelf thing for the space next to your console. close look of accessories.