SFGate

Ironwood Builders Sharon, there are many flat screen mounting systems that tilt the unit towards you for proper viewing angle. Removing the fireplace seems a bit extreme! Let's give some others a chance to weigh in, OK?

sharon4u1 that hole is over 2' deep so I don't think a tilting bracket for a TV is going to do the trick. You're still only 6' away. It's like sitting in the front row of a movie theatre....

Darzy Keep the gas fireplace! How about embracing the asymetrical design of the fireplace and tv? I agree to "plug up" the big niche. You don't have to do stone, but you could arrange something like this:

sharon4u1 That stupid hole... you could fit a family of 3 up there! Anyway, I was just thinking I would like to add some depth to the room so that the TV wasn't so close up! (??)

mveasey That's what I thought, place the TV diagonal, to balance the area.
Other option, is to board that area and emphasize the fireplace only. Then do a low console next to the red chair on that wall. By the way, the chair is beautiful, but it looks very cramped into the corner.I would maybe find another spot for it...

Darzy Can you put the tv on the right wall? More pictures?

fangprintz Close in that "pit"! Why is that so large anyway? Was it once covered? It might need to be covered again, as it gives you way too much room to load up such a small area. I think you might be feeling claustrophobic as there is an awful lot going on in one room.
Placing the TV on a tilt/swivel mount to the right of the fireplace on that ledge would allow you to open up some wall and floor space. There's just so much to look at in this room at one time-open it up a bit, and allow the room to breathe. The fireplace is awesome though-how nice to be able to sit back and nod off on the couch while looking at the flames dancing...much better than TV anyway!

sharon4u1 I'm always moving furniture around; I have too much but I have 2 daughter's moving so I'm waiting for them to take some things (not that chair). Are you suggesting I put a TV console in front of the window that's behind the red chair?. That is a possibility! I'd hate to give up the hole beside the fireplace though, because it could work as some sort of storage. We have no storage in this house. Why did we pick this house?? Oh yeah. I let my husband just go out and buy it as we lived 300 miles away at the time....

sharon4u1 If we put it on the right wall, the couch would be too close to the fireplace; almost right up against it..

sharon4u1 fangprintz: That "pit" is original. Our house is only 7 years old. I don't want all that junk up there. I'm just living with all this mess until either I get an inspiration or someone else tells me what to do. Please excuse the mess. I swear the rest of the space on this floor is much better...

fangprintz You're making me laugh because I have been there, done that too! Well, hubby did a good job-really-it's a very cute layout...and I LOVE your color scheme. I am a gray and white fanatic too!
Seven years old is a new house-so that cubby hole must have been designed as a TV nook-but you would need a realllly big tv. Can you watch the telly from the kitchen when you're cooking? That's great if you can, and that means to me that you indeed have a well designed home.

I'll be curious also to see what everyone comes up with as I am stumped too!

mveasey Is this the front door on the left, so this place the first thing you see upon entering? I see a another nook on the distance with your white couch, could it go there, or do you not want a TV in the main living room. Do you use the fireplace or the TV more in the smaller space?

cozyworld How about closing the cubby and putting the TV where the red art is?

I let my husband pick our first house, too. Ha, ha, ha!

sharon4u1 Its actually the back door. And yes there's another nook above another fireplace. I don't think I'd mind the tv in that other room and that's a great idea. I'd have to buy blinds for the front window though, as all I have are sheers. In the winter we use the (first) fireplace a lot. We rarely use the second one. The tv gets used a lot for now, until the girls move out as only watch it when they do. And yes, the tv can be viewed from the kitchen!

cozyworld Is that another FP I see in the living room? The LR looks awesome. If so, I would remove EVERYTHING in the space you have right now w/the cubby. Everything, inc. the chairs at the bar. Then, start replacing slowly. I am thinking the TV could go where the red artwork is. The sofa that is backing the bar should face the TV. The, are those 2 black chairs? If so, I would put those where the sofa is, maybe with a little table in between.

mveasey How about putting small sliding doors to cover the nook and the right side next to the fireplace, then it will look as though it is a built in. You will be able to store things and when not watching TV, will look neat and tidy and the fireplace will be the only focal point.
At the moment, I would centre the couch in front of your "problem" and move the black chairs one each next to the painting, with the back to the dark wall. This way you will still have seating, but will not obstruct the window. Give the red chair a different spot in the house ( I would take it anytime :-), and put the other black chair from the entrance where the two were before. Have only tiny side tables and the same ones if possible, like the Ikea cocktail tables. These slide out with a tray. Put some red pillows on your couch to match the left wall and your artwork.

sharon4u1 cozyworld: The tv would be great on that wall if the room wasn't so narrow. Placing a sofa facing that way isn't really possible because of where the fireplace is; it would amost rub up against it... and burn the house down :) ha ha. If the fireplace was in the opposite hole then yes, it would work.

cozyworld OK, so let's go back. What is the primary function of the room?

sharon4u1 its a family room and we watch tv and read here.

cozyworld Did you say you can watch TV in the LR instead?

mveasey Here the side table.yes, if you truly want to transform the space, I agree with cozyworld and remove everything, your life might change once the kids are away and you might watch enjoy TV in the other room and use that space for something completely different...

sharon4u1 love the side table! You can't see it, but behind the black chairs is more stuff. We have a daughter moving into our (furnished) coach home next week and I'm piling things by the back door. Perhaps she'll have to borrow the red chair because there's no place for it otherwise...unless she took the white sofa. That would help......not sure if I'm feeling that generous though...

sharon4u1 We could transfer the TV area to the other room technically, and install blinds over the large window. As long as I don't stress about everyone messing it up. I'm moving the furniture around as we speak....

cozyworld Gorgeous room. Can you move one blue sofa where the white sofa is, and have the other blue sofa facing it? Looks like the FP is blocked at the moment.

Then, I would remove the brown sofa from the other room. (To your daughter, maybe?) I would put the white one where the red art is. Fill in the nook where the TV is. Remove the trim of the cubby above FP. Put flat panel above FP.

cozyworld I know how it is. Everyone here groans with my changes. 5 kids + 1 husband!

sharon4u1 My exercise program includes moving furniture on a monthly basis. I just moved the turquoise loveseat 'as a change'. I don't love it, but the cats can't hang out on it or scratch it while gazing out the window... I move that room around all the time. One too many sofa's though, and that's why the white one will go when daughter #1 moves out this summer!

mveasey Yes, ok, I would give your daughter the couch from the family room. Take the white couch and put it in front of your "featured" area. Have the two blue sofas perpendicular to your formal living room FP and move the two beautiful black Barcelona type chairs in front of your formal living room fireplace.
Put the red Egg chair where the two black ones were - voila!
Love your kitty cat, looks like our "Newton"!

Darzy If you don't want the tv "so close up" you almost have no choice but to put the tv where the red art is. I think the space would feel so much bigger if you lost the sofa. Or get a two seater and put it where the black chairs are and vice, versa.

sharon4u1 the grey family room sofa is a sofa bed and we need it for company (which I guess won't matter IF we have a spare bedroom). The white sofa is leather. I really don't want to wrinkle it up with use by having it used as a TV sofa. Otherwise it makes sense. I've switched the black chairs and red one, and shoved the sofa down. The cat remains sleeping....

Darzy Oh! I just saw your living room. Lovely. Put the two seater beautiful teal sofa where the black chairs are, and the black chairs where the family room sofa is. Give your daughter either the white sofa or the one in front of the FP. Plug the "niche" or if room put the large art over it from the dining space. Put the tv where the red art is and put the red art in the dining space.

sharon4u1 ...aside from the fact you can't view the tv, the area is much more open. Perhaps, when we get a big flat screen, we can mount it on the wall where the red art is. Tomorrow I will trade the black chairs (from Value Village I might add) for the teal loveseat. Thanks for your help!

fangprintz wow...looks good! I like this set up much better, but what does family think? Is that a kitty kat?

cozyworld HUGE improvement. Now let's start working on those knick-knacks!

mveasey Wow, you are one busy lady, so late at night! Looking good... And nice score on the black chairs!

sharon4u1 yes its a kitty. I agree the knick-knacks have to go.Books, photo's, vases... but I have to find a special place for the antique violin and ukulele I've inherited.. I figured a large tv, a huge aquarium, or a panic room (lol) up in that niche...its such a weird space.....

cozyworld Don't get rid of what you like for the knick-knacks! Just rotate!

What did your family say today?