Since you've kept the TV, I don't understand the point of covering the nook?

I see you extended the fireplace surround to cover the TV wall panel. It would look nice if you could paint some speaker cloth to match the wall and cover the playstation. The darkness against the light wall and mantle bothers me a little.

Good job eliminating the TV hidey-hole! A lot of the ones I've seen are in much worse places than above a fireplace.

Errant_gw, the old TV nook was for an old fashioned box type TV. With the new flat screen, that depth was no longer needed.

As for covering the game system when not in use, if it bothers the home owners, I would recommend adding base trim between the plinth blocks. This could be attached with cabinet door grip catches.
Here's what it could look like when the games not being played.

A trim lattice type panel would cover the lower hole/slit nicely and still allow you to operate the remotes. Even a framed pice of speaker cloth would look more intentional. As is, it just lots kind of unfinished, like you gave up and moved on to another project.

I think I would do bi-fold doors to hide the tv and devices when not in use.

The tv hanging off the front there looks a bit strange to me.

I was sort of thinking the same thing as Mimi. While I'm not a fan of TVs over the fireplace, I did have to do two of them in this house. I think I'd have preferred to have them recessed in a nook to minimize their appearance. Doors to cover them when not in use would have been great, too, but the way my fireplaces are built doesn't allow room to do either.

Waverly Priest, if you both like it as it is, then there's no cause to cover it in any way. Personally, don't find it jarring, but a great solution to where to put the game system.

Seriously, there are 100 different ways we could have solved the TV hole problem. My fiance and I love the way we solved it. We discussed the option of doors, etc and this is what we wanted.

as for the comment about the tv hanging off the wall looking strange... you do realize that it is hung up with a flatscreen wall anchor assembly that is designed for that purpose?

Either way it is loads better than the original gaping hole.

I understand how tv's are anchored! I have a tv over a fireplace, too. Look, you put it out there, and I think in the very least, I would lower the tv because it's too high above the mantel, needs to be centered and I think it looks like it's just hanging there (plus, it's too small).

Sorry. Glad you like your fix, though.

oh we'll be anchoring a sound bar underneath it. that should help with balance.