Can we see the whole wall from further back?

Yes! seeing the whole room, will help.

First thought...reconstruct to be a window seat.

drywall. add some pillows to the top area and call it a window seat. bring the electrical forward so you can still use the plugs.

Could you have drawers made for it?

Here is the entire room, we have a mess right now, just outside of this space we had water damage so the floor has been torn up. The TV arrived mid flood, so everything is kind of out of place. Since we were planning on hanging the TV, and the floor is getting replaced, thought we would re-do the whole room. i do have a console picked out for the TV.

We are planning on getting a new couch, and get rid of the sectional, add a couple of chairs.

sheetrock right over it. close that baby up!

Drywall the openings. Leave the window for the light. You could put a rectangular piece of art over the sectional or get a larger rug with color and then no art needed. Make sure the console is at least 107" wide (85x1.25) and at good viewing height.

Will the 85" TV fit in the alcove with the divider removed?

Just a thought.... if you drywall right over it, you can then place your tv on a console in front of it and move your sectional across from the windows, where you then have room for art above the sectional. You may then have room for two more chairs in front of the windows. Don't know your room measurements, just guessing here.

Prior to the flood, the sectional was on that wall and the tv fit in the larger hole. this seems to be the easiest option, and similar to our previous set up. We were planning on getting a new couch, we are over the sectional. so maybe a sofa and love seat along with a couple of chairs? The room is fairly large, so I think it can accomodate all of that. thank you!

Install custom book shelves in those openings. (Make lemonade out of your lemon 😆.)

I think if the tv fits in the larger opening, that would work great for the room and be the easiest solution. For the smaller opening, i'd add a door and some shelves. If you did a door out of cane, you could add any entertainment items like game consoles etc, and still be able to use a remote to operate them, and it would all be hidden. Putting the tv in the larger opening will give more space in the room and I think a more balanced flow as well. I'd also recommend you have someone help you with space planning and have the room drawn up with potential changes so you can get a real sense of what it will look like before making any purchases or changes. Hope that helps!

Its too low for the TV and with that window...not seeing a TV over there. I would do the easy thing add shelves so you have a built in. An electric fireplace might look cook there too. Great idea Beth! That does make the most sense, and yes absolutely put a decent widow in while you are at it.

If you take out the whole wall, what about the flooring?

OP indicated the floor is being replaced.

I like the idea of checking if you can gain extra floor space by removing the built out. If you look from the outside is the house wall straight across?

No, the built in sticks out on the outside of the house, so not straight across. we can probably do that but I think it will become a major project. i wish!!

So if you can't open the full width then maybe you just want to add some built-in storage there.

If you do doors, you could hide a lot in that much space.

Actually the viewing angle of TV is supposed to be pretty much eye level to middle of the screen and comparing that to the back of the sectional that is pretty close to where it should be for relaxing on the sofa.

We are used to seeing them mounted practically at the ceiling but that's not correct, unless you stand when you are watching TV, which happens in kitchens and such.

I would make it a window seat as some have suggested above. Nice use of the space.

what do you mean the built in sticks out on the outside? ??

You mean the portion that protrudes on the inside, is actually inset on the outside? is that what you mean?

Yes, that is it exactly. The space was originally intended for a fireplace.

What is outside that window? Would there be a benefit to adding sliders?

I have something extremely similar. Our niches are separated by a fireplace. Terrible, but construction has never been a good option. We have our TV in it, and find it a great height for viewing. Whether or not that’ll work depends of course on the size of the TV and the niche.

The slab is probably flush with the main slab, I would rip that sucker out, patch the drywall and extend the floor. This is the moment to regain that floor space while you are already doing floors. A handyman could make that disappear by lunchtime.

Removed the center vertical divider:

Removed the center divider and the top ledge...will the tv fit there now?

My feeling is that you could possibly demo down to the slab and get it at floor level integrate it into the room but what would you do with it as a full alcove? I am not sure the benefits would be worth the cost. At least with that ledge there you could make it built in furniture? I still think it's a great spot for the TV even if you open the top because anywhere else you see the side and the stuff hanging out the back and you can hide most of it if it is recessed.

I like the idea of drawers or doors. Much less involved and you gain storage. If what is stored doesnt need constnt access, the TV on console could go in front.