Fireplace to ground, TV above fireplace, convert either alcove so it looks like the other. Bit pricey, but doable.

Thanks for your comment. I thought of having tv above fireplace but I'm a little concerned it would be too high on the wall. My chair opposite the fireplace is only about 9 ft away and I don't want to look up at the tv. So are you suggesting getting rid of the mantle and just have an alcove above fp for tv?

What does the rest of your room look like? Is there another place for the TV? If so, make the TV side like the other side with artwork. I would not put the TV over the fireplace...someday you may have a bigger TV and it won't fit in the niche OR over the fireplace.

Thanks for your comment. There is no other room for tv. I took picture from my kitchen. The house has no dining room either. There are windows on the right of the fplace and a hallway on the left - a very restrictive layout.

Yes, I can see why you might want to lower the fireplace, but it's a major undertaking so think a few times about that. For the rest, I can see now reason for the TV to have to slide, I would place it with the screen lining up with the front of the alcove. What bugs me is the little white cabinet, which I think is just not up to scratch. Consider painting it black/charcoal?

And give the fireplace a piece of art of its own. Yes, I manipulated a section of your existing painting, but that's because I'm lazy. :-)

Do you use the FP?

Given the width of the room and height of ceiling the fireplace is at a perfect level. I wouldn't change it. Vertical art and a modern mantel, possibly in stainless steel would dress up the area. You could also get a stainless border for the fireplace. Let me grab a photo to show you concept. Bbl.

If in your budget, replace fireplace with a low, sleek narrow style and TV above won't be too high. You could then dry wall both sides and paint the whole wall a great color and add a large piece of artwork high up towards the second floor.

You could also fill in the sides, again go with a sleek, low fireplace, add a bench across the entire wall and if in budget, add some stone or tiles to the ceiling.

this is just to show you concept of stainless wall treatment for around fireplace. But I would consider completely redesigning the look of this wall and making it more horizontal to create better visual space against the height of the wall. Here is a rough sketch just to get the ideas flowing. Imagine the whole space on the right with closed black doors above and below the TV and the entire TV and fireplace surrounded with stainless border. I would also paint the toe kick below the cabinet and all the way across the bottom of the wall black. Then I would remove the art from the niche and put a pot light in the top of it and find a great piece of stainless sculpture for the niche. This allows for a great tall piece of art over the fireplace and it should be dramatic as well. bbl with some other artwork ideas.

Some stainless ideas.

Artwork is very personal, but you can find budget friendly ideas on this website greatbigcanvas.com

Hello. Look at my variants.

Yes I do use fireplace. It never made sense to me for it to be higher on the wall because the fan just pushes the warm air upwards so I get little heat on the main floor. I am a retiree and have limited funds for big changes but must admit I do watch a lot of tv, especially in the winter months so I want the tv in the room. I don't like the white cabinet either but it does match my kitchen cupboards which face the living room. One person suggested hanging tv from wall in alcove and then have custom shelving below. I do like the idea of changing the fp surround to stainless and having a large piece of artwork above the fp.

The cost of tile or brick up to my 20 ft ceiling would be too much for my budget but I love the pics.

I believe those alcoves aren't necessary on this wall, they are distracting from the TV and fireplace. I second Maureen in drywalling both sides flat and then your are not pigeonholed into a one size for the fireplace and TV. I like that low horizontal fireplace, it will bring more coziness to the room and allow the TV to be lower on the wall as well, then have a big piece of art up higher so you can look up if you want to.