Hi Maria, I have a TV over my fireplace (50 inches) in an alcove, but no stone. It worked out nicely due to blind luck .... 1) TV's change very fast. If you have an Alcove the dimensions of the alcove and the TV may not match later because the TV you had in mind is no longer made. A newer model may have slightly different dimensions. So if you go this route make your alcove larger for some spare room. Also note when you mount that tv, the installer will need about 2 inches all the way round. This is because the TV is put in, then sinks down onto the mount. The alvoce was built two years before we got the TV. And it fitted perfect!!! Blind luck. 2) If your building codes allow it, have a 3/4 inch piece of Plywood where you want to mount your TV. Fasten this to your studs. This is so that it the TV mount can take the weight. Note code may dissallow this due to fire codes because it is too close to your fire place. In that instance maybe some sort of steel ... not sure. Your cultured stone will hide all this. 3) Put in all the wires: Power --- make sure you have a surge protected socket. Position this socket high up. Above where you think the mount plate should be. Why? You do not want your power cable dangling down and showing below your TV. Not too high up because you want your TV to hide this. Coax cable for the TV picture -- Position high above mount plate. But not too high so it is hidden by the TV Decide where you want your cable TV box, and DVD player etc. RGB, two of these component video from the TV to DVD player place L-R Audio, four of these, to DVD player HDMI cable, two of these to dvd player S-Video, one of these to dvd player Video, one of these to dvd player Put these cables in now because they are a big bunch. The whole bunch will cost you about $US 300. You need like the 30 feet ones. You can get these from Pacific Custom Cable. No need for Monster cables which are a rip off. I know this is alot of cables and it is expensive. But, now is the time, after that stone vener is up you are never going to change it. I think this about covers it. Good luck. Warmest regards, mike. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.pacificcable.com/

I would not do it. It puts unnecessary strain on your neck or forces people to lie back like the dead and it's hard enough to teach my kids to not slouch. You might not think the neck thing matters but we all get old .. if we're lucky. It also makes me feel like I'm in a bar, an airport, or a bad restaurant. Sorry, if that offends anyone, it's how I feel and so far all of my clients have agreed without needing any persuasion.But that doesn't mean it's wrong to do it. Only the owner's family needs to like it. To me it's just not that difficult to put the TV to one side with the great adjustable brackets now available. The proper height of a TV is easy to determine, just sit on a couch, look straight ahead, and have someone measure the point you feel comfortable looking at. Perhaps take an average of your family members. If I had to do it, I would at least put the fireplace box tight to the floor, the mantel low, and be able to enclose the TV when not in use. These things are not pretty. It would also help to recess it and tip it downward for better viewing and less reflected light. I was in an Italian restaurant in the 60's called Charlie's that had multiple gas fireplaces recessed into the wall above seated head height. Would that work?

Hi aduncan Thank you checking with me! I had a deadline for yesterday and didn't cehck the boards. I haven't signed up for notifciations too. I happened to check the boards and saw this in the first few pages. The information which you guys gave me was very useful. The installer also suggested the same thing and a IR repeater/finder so that we could use a remote in front of the TV while the setup will be hidden on the other side of the TV in the office room. We don't have a closet close by and he gave this suggestion which I liked. He suggested to add ethernet jacks in a couple of places in the house and gave me suggestions for a speaker bar to be placed on top of the TV. He said that it will be thin so I don't have to worry about the looks. He suggested using a sling box to view the video content from the DVR. But that could be used for viewing the content only on a computer not on a tv. I could go to the route of satellite connection with multiple DVRs for that. All in all, it was a great meeting. He hasn't given me the quotes yet though! I can decide what I want then.

You might also want to consider a recessed outlet kit (see link below). These kits take any decora outlet (110v or low-voltage such as coax cables) and make them recessed. They also have a cover you can use that you can drill a hole through for your cable and make a very clean look. We used them in our home theater and they look great. Here is a link that might be useful: Recessed clock outlet kit