Comments on Things That Inspire: The TV Dilemma: TV over fireplace?

I just came across your post as I was looking for ...

2011-09-05T20:25:15.560-04:00

I just came across your post as I was looking for a solution for the tv/fireplace in our soon to be built "guest" home. It only has one main living area so the tv will definitely need to be easily accessible. It will also have a fireplace for help in defraying winter heating costs. I have no problem with the tv above the fireplace design-wise, my problem is that whenever I visit people who have the tv in that spot, I always end up with a kink in my neck from the horrible viewing angle. Does anybody else deal with this and if so, have you found any solutions?

Can someone please tell me in these photos (where ...

2011-02-12T12:26:25.778-05:00

Can someone please tell me in these photos (where there are not cabinets to the left and/or right of the fireplaces,) where do you put the AV equipment like the cable box, DVD player, etc.? I like the picture of the rec room in the basement with the little half-door,but what are other options? We are building a home ane would like to leave the stone fireplace open on both sides, but I haven't a clue where to put the av 'stuff.' THANKS!

I just came across this blog post because I, too, ...

2010-08-05T22:39:38.418-04:00

I just came across this blog post because I, too, am struggling with how to redesign the family room with both a TV and fireplace.

A very interesting solution popped up in the most unlikely place while I was shopping for bedroom furniture, though. Some of the newer bedroom dresser mirrors use special glass and have a slot in which a flat screen TV can be inserted behind the mirror. When the TV's off, all you see is the mirror. When the TV's on, the picture shines through. It does reduce the clarity of the TV image, so it would probably be better for a formal living room with a not-often used TV.

first time viewing first time commenting. I found ...

2010-07-07T23:57:05.365-04:00

first time viewing first time commenting.
I found your post because I am dealing with this dilema right now.

We bought a home that only has a dining and a family/living with a fireplace in the corner, windows on one side, and a built in cabinet on the other. the only place we have for a tv is either above or next to.

I am going to pick next to. I decided to put a long entertainment console no higher than 2 and a half feet and have the 52 inch flat screen above it like a picture.

Why I ended up choosing this option is that most of these flat screens have ports where you could install your flash drive. We will install our nicest pictures in the flash and have it viewing when we have guests. Its an option I think I can live with.

I will come back and post later to let you know how this worked.

I did a sort of tongue and cheek post about this a...

2010-03-05T07:01:01.407-05:00

I did a sort of tongue and cheek post about this around superbowl time, link below. Our family room is part of a very open floorplan and the room has a fireplace. We had a custom entertainment unit built with a lift that conceals the TV when not in use....and there are bookshelves behind it. That said, if I were building from scratch, I'd consider concealing the TV behind a motorized screen/art. (Check out the company "VisionArt") Assuming I could get the frame flush with the wall....I don't like the look of a box attached to the wall...to me, it is too obvious you are trying to hide something. Our TV is 52".....and I really felt strongly that I didn't want it in plain view. We have other seating by the fireplace for reading, etc. So, there are sortof two focal points to the room depending on which way you approach it. I am enjoying reading everyone's opinions. There is no "right" answer, is there? (http://www.maddiegdesigns.com/superbowl-sunday-tv-vs-aesthetics-who-wins/)

Being in the Audio/Video industry I can tell you t...

2010-02-09T11:22:37.908-05:00

Being in the Audio/Video industry I can tell you that dealing with TV's is a lot easier now than it was 8 or 10 years ago! They are getting easier and easier to deal with as they get lighter and more attractive.

As an ASID member we are very understanding of our clients needs and the desires of the designer. We often end up between the client and the designer which is a situation we try and avoid.

One of the biggest issues we deal with is budget. A moving art frame, with a TV that is sunk into the wall looks absolutely amazing. (Vision-Art for example) The problem is that the TV costs $2500 and the Vision-Art and Installation cost over $8k. That is a big investment to hide the TV - but one which is definitely worth doing for aesthetic reasons.

The other issue we face is when hiding a TV destroys the quality of the picture and/or sound. Design isn't the only importance to a homeowner - function cannot be forgotten. Because the TV's picture and sound quality only matter to the homeowner that aspect is often totally lost on the designer.

Done right a TV can look great in the right space. All it takes is a little creativity and of course... money.

If anyone needs ideas let me know. You can also check out our blog where we frequently cover design related issues at http://www.digitalhomelifestyles.com/blog/

I saw this on youtube and it totally hides the tv ...

2010-01-22T15:12:47.379-05:00

I saw this on youtube and it totally hides the tv above a fireplace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmQtTCrxZkw

My comment is a little late but I did a post on my...

2010-01-20T21:46:52.627-05:00

My comment is a little late but I did a post on my blog about tv's over the fireplace - I don't have much choice in terms of layout in my house so my tv is over my fireplace. One of my favorite inspiration photos of great interior designers who actually have tv's in their spaces is one of the rooms in windsor smiths home featured in house beautiful: http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/windsor-smiths-home

I like tv - well sometimes i downright love it. And in our home there really wasn't any great place to to put our tv where it could be both out of site but still easily accessible. Plus our home is 1400 square feet so we don't really have the luxury of having rooms set aside just to look nice.

I love this post. I'm coming around to the ide...

2010-01-19T23:49:12.398-05:00

I love this post. I'm coming around to the idea of TV screens over fireplaces. I used to be opposed to it but more often than not I don't have the option! I love all of these ideas and will come back to this post in the future! Thanks for sharing.. xoRH

I actually really detest a TV above a fireplace. N...

2010-01-19T00:00:26.663-05:00

I actually really detest a TV above a fireplace. Not only does it really take away from what should be the focal point of the room, but the placement is often too high for optimal TV viewing.

That said, I don't see a lot of reason to tip toe around a TV in a room. The two I have in our house are out in plan view (though one is admittedly upstairs in the den/designated TV room). I would though like to find a slightly less intrusive spot for the TV in our bedroom (and yes, I know a ton of folks detest a TV in a bedroom!!).

Hi - I'm with Avery...thanks for featuring our...

2010-01-17T21:50:38.145-05:00

Hi - I'm with Avery...thanks for featuring our media cabinets! In addition to placing artwork in the cabinet doors, we also do a fair amount with mirror. I'd be happy to help with any suggestions or more photos. If you're familiar with any of Barry Dixon's work we've done numerous media cabinets for him. Thanks again so very much.

i was right! it is!!!!

2010-01-17T06:08:45.588-05:00

i was right! it is!!!!

where did you get that picture, 10th from the bott...

2010-01-17T06:08:34.267-05:00

where did you get that picture, 10th from the bottom ???? I swear that looks like Gary Delabatte from the Howard Stern show's house!!!! baba bouy! where did you find it?

Great post! Visually the TV above the fireplace i...

2010-01-15T22:41:19.059-05:00

Great post!

Visually the TV above the fireplace is a non-compete with the focal point. BUT, a neck cramp is sure and with 3 young children it will be hard on them. I personally would not place it there. DH wanted to do that in our house and I just would not. Ours is visible, do not like it, prefer it to be hidden in an armoire but that does not work in our current family room.

Of the images you posted the TV behind the screen is a great option. I do not care for the chevron cabinet above the fireplace in one of the last images. I do like it framed...a friend of mind did that and it really is nice.

A fireplace in the family room is so nice because that is where most of your time is spent and it's so cozy on a cold night and everyone would enjoy it more there than in the LR (not to say NOT to have one in the LR). I wouldn't want everyone 'schlepping' on my LR furniture and in the FR it's more accepted!

Remember you are going to LIVE in your home and you want a comfortability (is that a word?) as well as an elegance. As your children get older, their friends will want to hang out (although you will probably have a space for that) and they always want food so it's nice to have a 'kid friendly' area near the kitchen AND where you can monitor the activities!

I will be interested to hear what your final decision is. So many decisions!

xx

i'm not so big on the hide the tv.. everyone h...

2010-01-15T15:19:27.110-05:00

i'm not so big on the hide the tv.. everyone has one.. as long as its not an ugly one.. just embrace it and find a nice place for it..
the tv in the fireplace though creative was a bit awkward too.. looking down all the time is going to eventually give you neck pains.

Thank you for all of the comments, everyone! I hav...

2010-01-15T07:16:46.451-05:00

Thank you for all of the comments, everyone! I have enjoyed reading each and every one.

I must admit, I am torn. But, I feel very well armed to discuss this with my project team.

One of my readers emailed me that she decided to not even put in a TV in the family room - she has two other places for TV viewing in the house, and because there is no TV in the family room, it is now a place where the family gathers to chat, to visit, to play games.

Another reader emailed me about 10 more wonderful pictures of TVs above fireplaces - I wish I could have included them in this post!

Still other readers, like commenters on this post, emailed that they ended up removing the flat screen from above their fireplace as the viewing angle was just too difficult.

I seem to recall seeing an image - maybe it was from Vincente Wolf - of a TV on an art easel. Maybe I will have to look into that solution!

Whatever I end up doing, I sincerely appreciate all of the great feedback! I will have to do a post in a few years with the post where I was thinking about an issue, then a picture from the house - how it turned out!

technology and good looks come together, finally. ...

2010-01-14T23:53:10.293-05:00

technology and good looks come together, finally. great ideas.

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe I have not left y...

2010-01-14T23:50:26.689-05:00

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe I have not left you a comment yet. I am so swamped I cant even remember what I have and havent done! Beautiful and informative post as always.. and I have found another thing to admire about you... you are very on top of responding to comments. I wish I was more like you...

As a photographer, I would rather not see a tv, because on camera it shows up as just a huge black space... anyway, you have a lot more "design educated" people offering better advice, but I thought I would throw in my 2 cents :)

I want to live in the Weiss house!

2010-01-14T21:54:46.318-05:00

I want to live in the Weiss house!

Loved this post because the TV really is a dilemma...

2010-01-14T20:42:16.929-05:00

Loved this post because the TV really is a dilemma in most of our homes! And you're right--it's hard to find many helpful examples in magazines because you so rarely see any TVs at all.

My parents recently bought a house that has a "deep" mantel over the fireplace intended for a TV. However, it was built for the older TVs and doesn't really work for a flat-screen. This is the problem with building in a space for the TV--technology changes, and then you're stuck.

I don't personally care for TVs over the mantel because they always seem too high to watch comfortably. Sometimes it is the only good option for a room, though.

in my LR- conceal, in my FR/ hangout space-reveal....

2010-01-14T17:03:33.563-05:00

in my LR- conceal, in my FR/ hangout space-reveal...

I think it all just depends upon the person's thoughts but must say that hidden tvs are my preference unless that's the main funcyion of the space.

you must check out vutec's art screens!!! http://www.vutec.com/artscreen_systems/

xoxo

That real inspre me! xoxo

2010-01-14T13:25:50.590-05:00

That real inspre me!
xoxo

I love the TV where it replaces the fireplace, but...

2010-01-14T09:48:51.811-05:00

I love the TV where it replaces the fireplace, but not above it. I believe the heat from a fireplace would be detremental to the health and longevity of your TV.

Great post about a popular dilemma - especially fo...

2010-01-14T09:15:59.585-05:00

Great post about a popular dilemma - especially for old houses! Ours is behind closed doors in a corner cupboard in the family room - but we also hid one in the paneling over a fireplace for a customer who insisted. Looks great - when the doors are closed!

Have you seen the tvs that are framed mirrors when...

2010-01-13T23:05:18.607-05:00

Have you seen the tvs that are framed mirrors when they are turned off? my friend has one above her mantle. let me know if you want the photo- she has one posted on her blog.