One of the trickiest issues in decorating living rooms is that dark beast of a television. Although I prefer to plant the television in a bookcase or a less focal wall, many people decide to hang theirs above the fireplace. If you have white trim on the fireplace wall, this can make that TV black hole even more obvious.
When my clients decided to renovate this room, they knew they wanted to hang the television above the fireplace. Here’s the “before” of the room:
before
I suggested removing the existing box molding above the fireplace and create a new symmetrical molding around where the television would hang. We decided on symmetrical bookcases on either side with closed storage at the bottom. Then came the fun part. Rather than all white bookcases, I specified an accent color for the backs of them – like I often do. In order to help the television blend in to the area above the fireplace, I also suggested they paint out the entire fireplace box and trim in the same accent color.
Now, if we had gone all white on the entire thing, the result might have looked something like this:
Instead, this is how my clients’ room looks today:
I love the way it turned out, and so do my clients. I also styled their bookcases.
Actually, last week I styled four different sets of bookcases, which is a record for me. With the exception of a few personal items, I purchased the things in the bookcases from HomeGoods, which is my go-to store for affordable and stylish accessory shopping.
We also chose new furnishings for this room and completely tore out and replanned the adjoining kitchen. When I get some better photos, I’ll share the whole renovation with you. Ok, one more look at the “before”:
And the new and improved “after”:
I’m so happy that it’s all complete and they can enjoy Christmas in their new living room. What do you think of this solution for blending in the television above the fireplace?
The room is absolutely stunning!! I really like the blue gray fireplace and back of cabinets. Are the wood floors new? it looks like the floors run vertical in the before photo and horizontal in the after. I do prefer TV’s next to The fireplace, but this looks wonderful.
Yes, they had to replace the floors because of water damage – good eye, Linda!
Good eye, indeed.
It looks great! I’m in the same dilemma. The only place in our livingroom that would fit the “beast” that my husband wanted was above the fireplace. Are the lights on the bookcase wired?
Why do builders build these off-kilter rooms with little peek-a-boo cutouts anyway?? You’ve made the whole room look like it was supposed to!
I’m seeing a lot of complaints regarding the television over the fireplace; sore necks, etc. I’m anxious to see if it evolves or fades away throughout the upcoming year. By the way, Kristie, congratulations on your RESA achievements! That’s fantastic!
We are going to paint the brick around the fireplace. Love these bookcases and want to add them on either side of our fireplace. Can you share who built them?
I worked on the design with the homeowners and not with the contractor directly, Pam, so I can’t remember who she had do them. Sorry!
The room looks great. Only thing is the couch & chair are not facing TV?
You can see the tv fine from the sofa and would have to move the chair slightly to see it, but it’s light and has felt on the bottom of the legs. Even if we move the sofa to face the tv, the chair would be on the opposite side of the fireplace and face towards the sofa (again, not directed towards to tv. This room is more about conversation than tv watching, but the wife can watch tv while cooking dinner.
I think it looks beautiful, Kristie however I just have to ask, how do you avoid neck strain by having the sofa
not facing the t.v.? I’m going to be re-doing my family room and one of the challenges in my space is putting the sofa smack-dab opposite the tv since hubby doesn’t want it any other way!
Flat screens are pretty easy to see from any angle – so different than it used to be. And sitting on an angle isn’t less comfy on a sofa than sitting straight ahead, especially if you want to put your feet up. The room isn’t completely finished – we still need a large rug and some other things like art and lamps, so it’s entirely possible I may move the furniture around at that point. They seem to be fine with the layout at this point – I think they mainly like to be able to see the tv from the kitchen area and don’t necessarily use this as their primary television-watching room.
Gasp. BEAUTIFUL! I love the color choices- as I usually do. It’s so much better than the boring all-white option you could have chosen. Which, by the way, is very cool that you could add that to your post to help us visualize what it could have looked like. Nice work!
Thanks so much, Samantha – I had to dig around the web to find a photo that would approximate the look of the other option!
I love-love-love the after. Great job.
I see the walls have been painted out also, the whole room combo is so fresh and pretty. Any chance you could share which paint colors you used?
I like it. 🙂
What a difference a little color makes. Love the new look, Kristie!
Looks beautiful! So much more welcoming!
I assume the electronic components are inside the cabinets….but did you have an electrician do the wiring for the homeowner?
Yes, an electrician took care of the all the pesky wiring, Julie!
Ok…I have absolutely avoided putting the t.v. above the fireplace but now that I see this, I see it can be done without being such an eye sore! Great design Kristie! So beautiful!
I love the room! But as one poster mentioned, unless you are in the middle or the kitchen end of the sofa, you would have a “crick” in your neck from trying to watch the TV. If you have problems with turning your head, as I do, this would really be a headache (literally). I think I would make some adjustments to the furniture placement, but love everything else that was done.
What a great before and after! I love the colors you chose. Beautiful, beautiful!
Completely off topic Kristie, but I know you are a Downton fan …
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ryo7fqdmcGQ
The first part of the Downtown sketch broadcast this evening in the UK as part of an evening to raise money for charity (‘Text Santa’).
I hope it plays for you.
I think this looks great! I was wondering what the paint color is of the fireplace? It is beautiful. Mariann
Text Santa – second part.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dO4UMQIsCW0
Love the grey paint colour !
Frame TV is the answer. When my FrameTV is off, it becomes a framed work of art, which can be changed on a whim! It can also become family pictures!