[murphy11]

Anyone have links to rooms with a plasma over a fireplace and surround sound? I'm halfway through an addition and need to figure out a game plan for the room. Thanks.

[Speedskater]

I know that all the glamorous home magazines have pictures TVs over fireplaces, but it's not a good place for a TV.

[Wayner]

I seen this done and I don't like it. I think your neck is going to be sore after awhile. It's just a bad spot, IMHO.

Wayner 

[MaxCast]

I agree, while it may look nice and seem like a good idea, I think it would become uncomfortable looking up to watch the TV.  I talked 2 out of 3 friends out of putting a tv above a fire place.

[JP78]

we've done this at work several times...there are no problems with placing a a flat panel above a fireplace as long as you plan properly...as others have mentioned it's important to get the ergonomics down for functionality. in terms of reliability you're not going to hurt the television or your neck if planned properly. do you have blueprints or a schematic you can show us?

[Nick77]

While I do believe it may not be optimal as others have stated I think the design element outweighs the slight inconvience. Here are a couple of photos used to base my decision on our build project. If the hearth is keep at a little lower height the tv will not be that bad. The first photo is a house our builder just finished with a lower hearth the tv niche isnt too bad of viewing stance.
The second photo which will be real close to our familyroom's look is just a perfect design element for tv placement.
I think if done right the design far outweighs the slight inconvience.

[murphy11]

Hi all, attached is a pic as of yesterday

[murphy11]

another

[bpape]

The other issue you have to consider is the heat and smoke contamination to the set - or is this fireplace purely decorative?

Bryan

[murphy11]

Nick, Your 2nd pic is almost exactly what I had in mind with cases or either side of the fireplace. The lower hearth is probably what I will do. Existing hearth in another room is 53" high but I'm thinking about 48" for this room. My 1st pic shows outline of what plasma would look like mounted but it is too high and I will go as low as I can go. I haven't bought furniture yet but am toying with idea of putting couch of 2 - 3" blocks to raise seating height a little if it looks right. I'm pretty much set on it going above fireplace so now it's down to making it as functional and aesthetic as possible.

[murphy11]

Hey Brian, It will be a propane vented fireplace. No chimney and no wood.

[JP78]

you need to frame out a recess for the display right now so you can tilt it downward without ruining the aesthetic. if you plan for the model of tv now you can get an a precise border with less than 1" gap all around.

secondly, you should plan with your interior designer so the front facade of your fireplace does not have a mantle; you can then mount the television as low as possible. i believe the building code for vented propane fireplaces is a minimum of 12" from the top of the fireplace box before any appliance or built structure, but check with your local builder for state codes. deleting a mantle in this case allows you to lower your television by 6-8". combined with a tilt, any sofa with a seating height of at least 24" will be ideal.

[MaxCast]

Watch the framing around the TV.  Make it easily expandable for a bigger set in the future 
Run some big conduit for the wires too.

[JP78]

Watch the framing around the TV.  Make it easily expandable for a bigger set in the future 
Run some big conduit for the wires too.

usually we have the carpenters create a stained 'picture frame' type look with a 4" or so border that goes all the way to the glass, so there is plenty of space to work with, and when it comes time for a new display all you remake is the frame.