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Not too long ago I posted some images of pretty rooms, no specific theme or particular area of the home, just some “Calorie free, eye candy”
This room designed by Daniel Brisset prompted me to look more closely and see if this trend is taking fireplace/television placement by storm.
This doggie is requesting the Animal Planet channel, please.
I brought up the question, what do we think about mounting a flat screen television over the fireplace?
So here’s some images I’ve found, I’d love to hear your thoughts on mounting a television over the fireplace.
This Veranda “Paris in Pebble Beach” feature showed us how an antique door from Burgundy, France could be installed to hide the television when not in use. I really like the room and the fireplace! {Photo :: Roger Davies} Sorry the image is small.
Then there’s this…if one TV is good, four must be better! [Note to self, do NOT let Hubby see this image]
I’m not completely sure how I feel about it. It seems practical in certain rooms and certainly convenient…if you’re watching something boring you can divert your eyes to the fireplace. If the fireplace is lit that works for me, I love watching a crackling, well laid fire; if the fireplace isn’t lit, not so much.
I guess the traditionalist in me loves a painting or mirror over the fireplace, and plenty of pretty accessories on the mantle.
Still, if this is the best alternative for a family room due to floor plan, I think I’d do it…
Let me know what you think…do you like the idea of a television over your mantle? Even if you don’t have a fireplace, share your thoughts with me, I love to hear from you.
I’m over at Sherry’s Open House ~ No Minimalist Here, if you’re looking for me.
and
Favorite on the First with Alison at The Polohouse
Garden, Home & Party 
Chloe Hannah said:
No, no, no! It makes the room look so utilitarian. Plus, I like to sit on the hearth when we have a fire going. I wouldn’t be able to see the TV from the hearth.
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
I’m with you . . . I prefer not to see a tv above the mantel. I like to see paintings, posters, or mirrors and accessories of some sort. I think that, whenever possible, the tv should be on another wall. If it’s absolutely necessary to position the tv above the mantel, cover it up when not in use. I liked the picture with the antique door hiding the television. Clever1
Linda
ann said:
I agree however, in our beach place we had no choice – the living room was such an odd shape that it was the only place based how the room was space planned. With that being said – if we owned the home I would redo things and/or build it into the wall with a sliding painting or mirror over it. i love when you can cover it up. I hate that I can’t decorate my mantle – it makes me crazy. Of course, our TV is not black because it would be too harsh and there was no white flat screens at the time so we have silver so it’s not so in your face. I do miss decorating my mantle – unfortunately for us – it was our only option.
Kifus said:
If I had my way there would be no TV in the living room. To me it is a sore in the eye. If anyone has the room to place it somewhere else, ideally a home theatre (does anyone out there have one??) that’s where it should go. But, there is a long way between what I’d like and what actually is! We have our TV in our family room, (not above the fireplace but on a side table in a corner) and even though I’ve tried having it in other rooms it always finds its way back to the living room. Sigh.
Looking at your photographs the one I like the best is the first one. And the TV is over the fireplace… what can I say… it looks like a mirror I think!!
A lovely post, Karen!
Carla said:
I do not like the idea of a T.V. over the mantle. I sit on the hearth too when there is a fire and could not see either. I agree if that is the only option it must be done to keep harmony in the home with a sports loving husband but……HIDE IT when not in use. This was an interesting subject and good for you bringing it up. CARLA
Marina {YummyMummyKitchen.com} said:
What a great post! I’m stuck wondering if we should have the TV over the fireplace in the family room. Currently it’s on a media stand and huge black and white photos of the girls are over the fireplace. I love having a nice painting over the mantel in the formal living room.
Splendid Willow said:
Karen,
I don’t know… For me a fireplace goes hand in hand with something relaxing and peaceful and the TV is anything but…
A good compromise is tha Veranda image with the TV behind pretty doors. That way you can get the best of two worlds!
Hugs to you from Seattle.
Mon
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes said:
The second to last picture… the one with the gorgeous, white, elaborate mantle? Should not have a tv over it!! Plus, doesn’t the angle of a tv hanging so far up on the wall make for difficult viewing?
I did see a photo the other day of a tv *inside* the firebox area. Which actually made a lot more sense to me. You could cover it with a decorative screen and no one would know it was there.
Ricki Jill Treleaven said:
I have lamented ad nauseum about the ugly black box over our mantel. I have posted about it several times on my blog, but then I realized that TV’s are here to stay. Do I prefer a gorgeous piece of artwork? Of course. But my husband loves electronics, and this is his home, too. If you have a chance, go search mantels on my blog…..and cry (or laugh) along with me! ;P
Gretchen said:
Karen, with some floor plans, I think putting the tv over the fireplace is the only practical option. However, unless the mantle is fairly low the viewing angle for the tv is really awkward. Having the tv above my fireplace in the family room would have simplified furniture placement dramatically, but my fireplace is huge and the mantle is way too high. Hiding it in the armoire was my best option. I like the clever ways they disguised the tv in some of your photos. Like you I much prefer mirrors or art over the fireplace. I can’t imagine your family room without your wonderful sailing ship over the fireplace!
Kifus said:
Karen, I had to laugh and thought about you yesterday. My husband came back with a huuuuge flat screen TV and I’m staring at it right now and thinking that I’m so glad you cannot see my living room! It’s even bigger than the beautiful (huge too!) painting I have over the fireplace. Serves my right for complaining about having the TV in the living room! Haha.
Have a lovely week!
Karen B. said:
Kifus, LOL! My husband wanted to know if we could duplicate the image with a large screen TV over the mantle and 3 smaller TV sets on the side wall! I always figure that if that’s the worst thing I have to deal with, I can deal. Enjoy your new movie screen. 🙂 Karen
Sherry said:
I personally do not like to see the TV in a room. Ours in hidden in an antique armoire. The paintings and mirrors are a better option but I think it would be a hassle to take things off the mantle everytime I wanted to watch TV. Thanks for joining the Open House party.
Kathy said:
I have to say, I don’t care for the tv mounted over the fireplace at all. We really don’t watch that much tv to make it the center of attention. I know that’s been the trend for the last couple of years, but wouldn’t it hurt your neck? Now I’m going to go back and study the photos that don’t have the tv over the fireplace!
Linda said:
If you watch a LOT of television – consider that you’ll be looking UP from most seats in the room. My sister in law says this does cause wear and tear on your neck.
Just found you via a comment you left at Slim Paley.
I am in SoCal too. 🙂
Cheers!
Cindy Sailor said:
Here is my take. Create a wooden box around TV, purely just the depth of it. TVs don’t make good center of attractions. When TV is not in use, cover it with a painting that fits perfectly on top of the box, and you have your ambiance back, and the absence of utilitarianism.
Karen B. said:
Cindy,
That’s a good idea and one that I recently saw. The frame really dresses up the television.
Thanks for visiting.
Karen
Karen B. said:
Cindy,
Yesterday I saw a room where the owner had an antique tapestry that could be lowered over the front of the TV, I thought that was a good idea too. I’ve seen some great shutter covers and such. The funny thing, I really do enjoy television, I just wish it didn’t look like a black hole when it’s turned off.
🙂
Karen
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