I've seen cabinets with electric lifts that raise and lower the TV. You might find using one of these is simpler than trying to purchase the mechanism separately, but I've included a link to a company that offers several different kind of lifts at the bottom. How tough the install would be all depends on how the floor framing is done. If the joists run parallel with the FP, it *could* be fairly simple: you'd just need a structure in the basement to support the bottom of the cab/lift mech at the appropriate height. I'd do a rasied hearth, though, so the TV would be 18 inches or so off the floor for more comfortable viewing. It would also allow the hinged board that covers the retracted tv to be disguised amid the moldings around the hearth. I think you'd also need the whole installation to meet FP codes, so that it would be safe to raise the TV while the FP was burning, even though you wouldn't normally want to. It may be possible, with a gas fp, to use some sort of mechanism that would turn off the gas supply when the fp raises, or prevent the tv from raising when the fp was above a certain temp., though I'm not sure that would satisfy code requirements. Here is a link that might be useful: TV lift company

LMAO. I would strongly argue it's coincidence.....however there IS a tiny bit of physics in there, as the knot may be acting as a sort of poor person's choke despite the lack of a ferrite or amorphous iron core. I created my own with a video camera power supply that had a lot of hum, by winding a spiral of the cord up a ferrite rod til the hum disappeared... There is a proper formulae for creating chokes but they are more for filtering noise than 'protection' but most good surge protectors incorporate chokes - and good mains chokes are wound around a donut-shaped core, rather than a straight one. However, as I indicated , lots of things that shouldn't work, often do. HOWEVER- as for the knot in the cord - has nothing to do with any 'straight path' and is more likely to do harm than good, if it damages the insulation or inner stranded wire, it could overheat and cause a fire, similarly, coiling or knotting a wire also (in ac power-land) causes a 'transformer effect' which will create noise, and potentially heat, therefore again a fire risk. If you have a lot of electrical problems/burnouts, you either have loose neutrals in your house (not uncommon) a poor supply from the poco (rare) or above ground lines in a lightning-prone area. A decent surge protector will help but mostly by preventing your death in a lightning strike - I have provided tech support to many customers who were victims of lightning strikes - a line conditioner is better, and an UPS that provides line conditioning and switchover to backup power when poco power is subpar is ideal, however, they will not necessarily protect equipment downstream in all cases but increase your chance of survivability in a catastrophe. Amongst recognised/respected brands of surge protectors etc the warranty/insurance may be worthwhile (surely keeping/preserving receipts is not rocket surgery) but for the most part I suspect the warranty/insurance is a gamble for the company, for every 10,000 units they sell, they might get one claim. Many household insurance policies protect against electrical damage. Personally, I'd start with a whole-house surge protector. Remember that surge protectors are consumables and need to be replaced periodically, when and if they do absorb a big surge, they may fail completely (but have hopefully saved devices down the line) For those tempted, "Monster Cable" type premium cables/suppressors 'audiophile power cables' do not work. Their benefits are purely subjective. There is no scientific evidence they work. Don't be sucked in http://hydrogenaudio.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t29989.html I have no doubt Monster cable et als surge protectors etc are nice quality products but I would not pay the premium. Nor would I buy audio cables at the dollar store. Here is a link that might be useful: Choke theory

It's similar to that but fancier. I used to have it bookmarked on the framing website that made it. I'll see if I can locate in my spare time (ha ha). They also used it in an ad in back of magazines (Architectural Digest, Southern Accents and/or Veranda) for several years. This isn't it, but pretty: This post was edited by allison0704 on Mon, Apr 8, 13 at 15:39

Call your cable company and ask if they have a smaller more attractive box if you have had it for more than a year. Can you post a picture of what you see looking from the sofa directly forward? Could you just put the TV right there in that area, it looks wide and then put a screen behind it. I have added a link. You could put pictures across the top row and maybe just solid color paper or something in the others. Good luck and please post when you decide what functions for you. Here is a link that might be useful: photo screen divider