I'm looking into things like https://www.mantelmount.com/ that would let us easily raise and lower the TV.

That is a good option. They have motorized versions, as well - so depending on your needs/preferences. Amazon carries the line, too. You just can’t use the tv and have a fire going when the tv is in the lowered position. But it’s a great mechanism and option to have. imo, most people who have their tv over a fireplace at a height would benefit from a drop down mount.

Hard for me to judge the size of your tv, plus gauge the available adjacent space - but an additional option might possibly be to put tv to the right of the fireplace, and hang some art (but not precious/valuable paintings, or any valuable art on paper ) over the fireplace. Metal art could also be an additional option for that spot. And yes, you can put your tv in front of a window - regardless of what (the soon to be arriving) tv police might say... :)) It is done all the time, in the best of places.

Other than the ideas above, it would probably be helpful if you post pics of all the walls in the room, if you are considering moving the tv to another location in this room/and if you want more ideas.

Best Wishes.

I know you said no to removing the fireplace, but how about removing the mantle and trim surround, lowering the tv then put a simple reclaimed wood mantle under the tv and just tile around the fireplace?

Mantel mount may be your easiest option. We have it over our stone fireplace and it works great.

@freedomplace1 Thanks for the advice — I posted model photos of the rest of the room.

I agree with plf12652, your current mantle and trim take up a lot of room from your TV’s positioning real estate on the wall. Unless you are really in love with and invested in that style of mantel, you may want to consider one that doesn’t take up as much vertical wall space that would allow you to lower the tv the 11”OC to where you want it. Depending on what the rest of your decor in the room/house are you can get a custom mantel for the fireplace that goes with everything.

Hi Robb,

imo, you are still going be looking up, even if you reconstruct the mantle. The size of the room and layout will remain the same.

From what I can see, the tv is still too high, in both of these model pics. (i.e. the tv is not at eye level for people sitting on the sofa - they still have to look up, significantly.) in both of these cases, the tv just needs to be lowered, and they need lower consoles; but in your case, the fireplace would be adding the additional height - even with a lower surround than what you have now.

So just use the mount. :)

Or put a tv to the right of fireplace, as I also suggested.

Or - you could alternatively put the tv on a long, low console on the other window wall - with a sofa facing the tv, and maybe a couple of swivel chairs facing the fireplace; the swivel chairs are flexible, being able to easily turn to watch tv, too. I would place a sofa table behind the sofa.

And as another option, it can be very nice to dine by the fireplace. You mentioned the possibility of switching LR and DR; and if the current DR is conducive to a tv room, the front room could be a beautiful dining/entertaining space.

So it really just all depends on how you prefer to use the spaces. You have to consider your lifestyle, and what is important to you.

How often will you be using the fireplace, how you prefer to use it, etc. How often do you watch tv, and is it important to have fireplace going while you watch tv, etc, etc.

The mount is a very easy solution for the height issue. But if you want to be able to use the fireplace and watch the tv simultaneously (with tv at eye level) - then either relocating tv to the right of fireplace or to the other window wall would be better options. Or - radically altering the mantle... which imo would still leave you with a too high tv - but not quite ‘as’ high; so you could feasibly have the fireplace and tv going at the same time - with a bit more comfortable viewing than you have now (although not great). And then you could still use the mount, for when you want to just watch tv comfortably, without the fire.

So imo, these are the options and various factors to consider.

I hope some of this helps! :)