SFGate

Interiors International, Inc. It looks as though it was made that way to house an old style TV. Build out the back wall and put the TV back above the fireplace.

frenchreno If you could put lighting in there to illuminate a sculpture or vases? Or half a shelf and fill the look with 2 levels of pictures...

frenchreno Nook! Not look!

hauwas thanks for your suggestion.like i said covering the hole permanently is not an option unfortunately and so is placing the tv above the fireplace because of the furniture placement and layout of the room. will make it uncomfortable to watch tv. thanks again

hauwas like the idea of shelves.. actually thought about that, but then how will that look with the little shelves directly below the nook? they are really too smalland deep to house any kind of decor and be visible

andrealicata Install a couple of puck lights overhead inside the nook, and hang a glass shelf halfway up. Put some art glass or other object on the shelves and highlight the space instead of trying to hide it.

andrealicata See if you can find any boxes that fit into the holes meant to house the equipment. Or you can make one from cardboard and cover it with a funky fabric to add some color.

frenchreno Of course I see what u mean - can u knock them out? I have seen small half sized shelves which u cld place intermittently and fill up the bottom area w pictures. Otherwise - could sliding baskets with writing paper or letters fit in - it actually looks a bit small but may work.

Wow Great Place I'm curious, is there a reason covering the hole permanently is not an option? Is this a rental unit that won't allow you to make those types of changes?
It would be a relatively simple fix, heck, even adding doors to cover the hole would be an improvement. These "nooks" were a popular feature in a lot of homes, but went by the wayside when flat screen televisions became the norm. They were designed specifically to house a deep TV, which is why there is power and a cable outlet there.
I would have an electrician in to remove the power, and then drywall the hole so it becomes a flat piece of wall, no trim, no accent, no special treatment, and this way, you won't have an odd box fighting with the TV and the fireplace for attention.

Peg Silverwood Bring the existing flat screen down to eye level and place is on a half round table with shelves. Take the shelves out of the bottom of the inset. This is a pretty deep space so add shelving in various depths but not a lot of shelving. Find what you want to display and go from there. If it were min. I would find the money to completely remove it and smooth out the wall.

Wow Great Place Oh, and if that is truly not an option, paint the entire inside of the box, including the trim, the same colour as the wall to help it disappear. Add one large sculpture or vase or urn, and try to ignore it.

Hope Frenette Lower the flat screen and put a large mirror over the hole. The mirror frame should be interesting and rest on the mantle of the fireplace. The reflection in the mirror of the opposite wall will give the illusion that the hole has been closed up.

hauwas thanks everyone! great ideas! yes it is a rental and that doesnt allow for any dry walling...

Wow Great Place Darn it! I would still ask the landlord.....might be helpful to show him this thread as well, so he sees how the rest of us feel! LOL

hauwas lol!

hauwas hey! how about one large cabinet door to cover it? can provide extra storage and i can put my mirror over it too! what do you think?

Peg Silverwood Since it is a rental. Get a very large and luscious plant and position it in the center since you have electrical you can get some lighting that could be attached behind the plant and illuminate it. Put two very nice candle sticks large and chunky on each side on the Fire place mantel. ;D