It SCREAMS ,”FAKE FIREPLACE”. As does the silly guard shack bumpout. If you are goung to do a fireplace, it requires that the actual mass be interior to the room, with an attempt at an actual masonry chimney appearance.

I agree and yes its a gas fireplace. It will have a surround and I had thought of doing a nice tile or something up to the ceilig so it would look more real from inside But that window is there

I like the window better than I like the roofed bump-out for the fireplace.

I find it humorous that the neighbor's house has a downspout the color of the siding, but they installed it in front of the stone.

Ha ha i never even noticed those things lol i was too worried about how the inside looks

You have to be the first person who has said they prefer the TV over the fireplace. Usually the only time that's done is when there isn't any other place to put it. It's not a comfortable viewing height. But if that's really what you want then the window should be removed. Having the fireplace, TV and the window on top of each other is dizzying. And as @User says, the window does scream faux fireplace. It just looks wrong.

Regardless of whether the TV will be over the fireplace or on another wall, you really should remove the window. It just looks weird.

I have a real fireplace with the mass NOT interior to the room. It's not unusual.

Anyway, you have a gas fireplace, one that can have a window above it. It would be weird if we were pretending it's an old house. But we aren't, so it's fine. I mean, it's not like anyone is going to believe that your shingles are made of wood, right? Be happy that modern fireplace technology allows windows. It's a good thing!

The window will be nice. It'll add light to the room, even though your first job will be to plant a tree between it and the neighbor's view.

Good point we could move the tv to the wall to the right but then the window still screams faux fireplace. So then am i to assume you all think it should go?

It's a real fireplace.

I'd remove it. It doesn't add anything to the design. I don't think the shape or the position of the third window plays well with the ones on either side of the fireplace. Just because there is room for a window it doesn't mean you need to have one there. If you had a view of a mountain or the Eiffel Tower, sure, but you have a great view of your neighbor's shower window.

My thoughts exactly

You can put a window over a "real" fireplace, too, if by real you mean it actually has a chimney. I think direct vent are "real" too, but just in a different way.

These fireplaces just have some kind of split flue over the smoke chamber. It's hard to say how well they draw, but it's not something that was done a lot.

We cant have it taken out now

Why not?

The window doesn't "scream fake fireplace", though that comment might scream design snob.

For me, I'd want the extra light that the window will bring. But you'll definitely want some sort of privacy covering, whether that be a blind, a tree or privacy film. And I second the suggestion to put the tv to the side of the fireplace. No reason to accept a suboptimal viewing angle if you don't have to.

My DSIL had a electric fireplace, tv above that, and window above THAT. The problem was, you are looking up to the tv but you are also looking out the window. Hers faced west, so at certain times of day you couldn’t watch the screen.

I'd remove the windows. It's in an odd spot. Feels too high. If anything, it would look better if it aligned with the other windows, but then you wouldn't be able to put your tv above the fire place. It also allows your neighbors to look right down into your room, which means that you'll likely cover the window anyway. And lastly, it's just an unattractive view. Like an odd picture of the windows. If you want more light in that room I'd go for skylights with electric blinds that you can open and close.

instead of doing a weird blind, how about getting a leaded glass insert made to fit right over it? I did it w/the window in my bathroom.

Etsy has a lot of people to custom make one in any design you like, to fit exactly into the window.

do whatever design you like, in any color or leaded pieces

I did mine like this because it's kind of looking into the backyard to the neighbors direction. Held in w/silicone caulking.

Or, just remove it. don't see why they can't take it out and do a little bit of framing in its place. not a big deal

It will be much easier to take it out now than later after all the drywall and trim are up.

Covering it with any sort of window treatment defeats the purpose of having the window. But Beth's idea of a leaded glass window is very nice. I also have one in my bathroom.

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC · More Info

I'd remove because it looks out of place. I'd also change the windows to each side to be more like this. not suggesting this style, just window position and shape. You don't seem to have any view except the neighbors house.

It provides light to the room, but will it invade your privacy? If you think you will have to cover it with window coverings then just eliminate it.

I think a moose or elk head mounted just below the window work well. Then you can play games with the shadows the antlers cast on the floor, furniture, and walls.

That wIndow looks like a design faux pas. I'd remove it as you have plenty of natual light with the others (and there's nothing interesting to view there anyway) and I'd go to the ceiling with stone, tile, whatever. And yes, move the plan for the televsion to the side.

I would not want the tv over the fireplace, but I don’t see how it could be placed to either side because of the placement of those windows. It’s a bit of a shame to have all that great natural light, but to have any privacy at all, all of the windows will need to be covered. I like Beth’s idea for the upper window; I’d probably think about it for all those windows.

TV will be too high above FP. Window warranty will be invalid if you cover it with film. The leaded or stained glass idea shouldn't void the warranty if it isn't permanently attached to the window.

So the backyard will be landscaped and will have a fence and trees. You will see all this looking through the 2 side windows once complete however the one over the fireplace will always see the neighbors home/windows. I am leaning towards removal. The builder has said no more change orders are possible but I will beg him. It is not a private builder but a larger builder who does lot and model choices. If he still says no I will ask for additional siding so the person I hire to take it out later will be able blend in the siding.

I agree with exactly what Pal said.

I’d remove if possible, not try to fit everything around it. It’ll look better inside and out gone. It looks like an afterthought, not cohesive with everything else.

I like the decorative window idea in the bathroom examples shown above, but not for your living room. It would be a design element you’d always have to work around. Would it fit your aesthetic? The architecture?

Congrats on your house. :)

Good to know the windows will have a view you can control with landscaping. I hope you convince the builder to make the change, but extra siding is smart insurance.

"Who is out there evaluating fireplaces for realness?"

Me

Usually the only time that's done is when there isn't any other place to put it. It's not a comfortable viewing height. But if that's really what you want then the window should be removed.

There are solutions for everything. My only place to put a tv was above the fireplace. Here is our solution.

www.mantelmount.com

@Mark Bischak, Architect, are you a licensed reality inspector? What grade?

Why is it okay to look up at a movie screen but not a TV?

When we have a TV connected up (we don't right now), it's low and on a piece of furniture, because I don't want a fixed altar of media worship on the wall whether it's at the baseboard or the ceiling.

But several people I know have TVs mounted high on the wall even though they do not have fireplaces, and I don't know, I have never found it all that uncomfortable. However, they don't really lie there and watch TV, they seem to watch it mostly from a standing position when they are doing stuff in the kitchen or sitting at the table.

No, I am an architect, which are required to be licensed.

evidently that joke fell flat. Sorry.