We are also building a new home and plan to have the tv over our gas fireplace mantel. Our builder ran the tubing from above the fireplace to the basement and then from the basement up to the study, which is where the components will be kept. I believe we were only charged $50, so yes, $300 sounds excessive. This Tuesday we have Best Buys Geek Squad coming over to look at our setup and recommend a tv size for our space. We plan to have them do the install. One thing that we were told at BB was to have the outlets (power and tube) located toward the top of where the tv will be installed. Of course, ours are located right in the middle of where the bracket would be installed. We'll see how that is dealt with.

I had the same problem with my tv.. and I ended up buying a taller console. I don't like anything "busy" around the viewing screen. Lifting the screen was perfect and made a big difference. Plus, I like the viewing angle better now too. An idea for your mantle-- I have two pictures resting on the mantle but overlapping. My situation/tastes are a little different but I think the basic idea could still work for you. Both my prints are matted with a lot of "white space" and they are somewhat related (both are B&W. One is a landscape and the other a tree) I also have a vase on the mantle with.. hahah don't laugh.. interesting "sticks" from the yard-- one of which hangs over the artwork. I think it pulls together pretty well and it addresses a big design hurdle (the entire wall above the mantle is a mirror plate). Your room is really cozy and personal.. I think you'll be very happy with a painting your daughter made just for you. In the meantime I think adding some height and matting your existing prints and putting them in larger frames will definitely make the mantle area more visually interesting. Good luck!

In this project (pictured) we used an electric fireplace, which have different clearance issues compared to a wood or gas fireplace. We ran wires up the wall behind the entire unit (the unit we constructed was done in two pieces, so that the fireplace unit below can be removed if ever the electric fireplace needs servicing) For the tv, you need to allow for a plug behind the television (check the specs of your tv bracket/arm to see where the best place is for the plug) as well as the cable (if applicable) For this project, we also installed the cable box directly to the back of the tv, physically attaching it vertically using Velcro, and then ran a satellite eye from the cable box to peek out over the top edge of the television so the remote signal would reach. We also allowed enough clearance around the tv for heat to escape from the tv, and so that you could grab the edges of the tv and pull it away from the wall (on the arm). If you make the surround too close to the size of the tv screen, you could have issues, especially when the tv breaks and you need to replace it, as tv's vary in size. For the depth of the surround, we made sure the tv when affixed to the wall would be within the "box" of the surround, as opposed to making the surround just a couple inches deep and having the tv stick out further than the surround. Hope this helps you!

I would consider an "L" arrangement of the room so that you could either face the TV or the fireplace. If not, a corner fireplace is another option, which is what I have in my family room. But in that case, your current fireplace will probably not work unless you make a triangle shaped top for it. But they aren't that expensive so I would just sell that one, in that case, and buy a corner electric fireplace. I know they make them because I have shopped for one recently for a bedroom space. Another option is to put shelving units on either side of the fireplace and put the TV on one side. I have that arrangement in one of my guest bedrooms, albeit the shelving units are on either side of a dresser, but it still works. This won't work too well if the TV is huge.