Have you considered removing the rocks and tile to build a new fireplace you like?

How about putting bookcases to either side of the FP, extending a new mantle over the width of the bookcases, and then doing board and batten behind the TV so it all looks tied together as a unit?

Can you post a picture of the room from further back? Is there some reason you can't keep the TV where it is, next to the fireplace? I don't know why that checkerboard tile is there. There is code about having a nonflammable surface in front of a fireplace, but your fireplace has a hearth. If you don't want to remove it you can paint tile (using the right kind of paint), but IMO tile doesn't look great when painted. However, if you really hate the tile maybe painting it would still be an improvement.

This is pretty dramatic, but maybe it gives you some ideas about turning a blah stack of stones into something more amazing. Especially note that the sides/edges of this fireplace are not smooth and flat. Instead of doing open shelving on each side of the fireplace, you could have rustic doors, and then a big enough ''box'''above a new much wider mantle to mount your TV. Instead of just one mantle, it might look good to add a same-sized beam above the TV too.

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This is more or less the whole room…. Kitchen, living and dining room all open together. These pics are pretty much living and dining area.

Can't see any point to putting the TV over the fireplace so far on one side of the room

Rebuilding may be an option later on. Right now this has to stay budget friendly since we’re making up for the lack of maintenance on the exterior by the previous owners.

Tv where it is just seems to feel cramped bc it runs into the dining area. It Also puts furniture close to the kitchen island which bothers me for no real reason.

Previous owners decor… definitely not the look or feel for me but does give a better view of the layout.

You can essentially create any kind of frame you want around the fireplace if you want to correct for the look of a 5 inch overhang each side of the chimney once your put the up there

Crate and Barrell sells board and batten panels. Each panel is 24 inches wide and 60 inches high. You could make your own to fit what you need behind your TV or possibly hack these down. IKEA might have something similar. You could use one huge piece of solid wood or maybe re-purpose a thrift shop headboard or salvage shutters. Paint it black or any color you like

Depending on how wide you make the wooden unit that you would center the TV on, you could add thick posts on each side of the fireplace, to run from the floor to visibly support a new mantle (you would need a wider mantel). Or if the wood unit the TV is on is very wide and goes to the wall, put shelving or closed cabinets on one or both sides of the fireplace.

Depends on how much you care about the look.

Have you considered putting the TV on the stairway wall? I would put it on a slim console table, I wouldn't wall mount it. (Assuming that it fits.)

You have a very nice space to work with, and i agree that the TV should be off to the side. Have you considered a hearth rug to put over the tile?

I would scrub the stone, block off the firebox and plunk the TV on the hearth for now. Would not spend any money on it. Because it is butt ugly. After you've caught your breath and lived with it a while, I think you will decide to knock it down and start over.

I think the real problem with the fireplace is that the chimney doesn't go all the way up the wall. It sticks out from the wall oddly. Anyway, you can always paint or tile over it, but it will always look unusual because of the missing chimney.

We’re still trying to figure out why they did it that way.. there’s another fireplace in the basement directly below it. They share a chimney. I’m not sure what they were thinking not taking it all the way up on the inside. Even if I don’t mount the tv over it it still just has this out of place oddness and I can’t figure out what to do with it to make it look better.

The TV above the fireplace can work and the TV will most likely extend above the stone at the top to cover the break in the chimney - I have a family of men so I understand the big TV dilema. It may be ok if it is too wide if you keep each side of the fireplace simple for now so nothing is competing with your eye. it will only be 5 inches on each side... keep in mind drilling through the stone to mount the bracket may require a special drill bit as we just mounted ours on stone and the installer had a tough time due to the depth of the real stone.

I also understand budget friendly. Cleaning the stone/grout may go a long way. I love stone so this is where I would start. You can also restain the mantle to a darker color- some good online videos can show you how to clean the grout and rock and it may pull some nice color out of the stone. If the tile bugs you get a solid color hearth rug that can cover most of it - I'd lean towards a rectangular shape.

Enjoy the new space!

In general I've not had a problem mounting the tv above a fireplace. No neck strain or other problems. However, your tv being wider than the fireplace does present a problem. Am afraid it will look odd. So, might suggest you find another spot for the tv. Do you have a family room it could go into?

I wondered about putting TV at stairwell wall too as @deegw suggested. Can’t tell what the wall length is from pics but if it would fit on a very narrow console so traffic path not blocked, having TV in that spot would sure open up furniture arranging options. I don’t agree with the dislike of fireplace. I think with a good clean of the stone & adding a gas insert it’ll look great. Even better is a wider mantle in darker color. Add a great & large framed art & it’s a whole new look.

The idea was to mount the tv to the wall over top of the fireplace with a pull-down mount so it looked as if it was mounted to the stone. We considered a chunkier mantle that was wider than the stone so it might not make the tv look so awkward. Thoughts on any of this????

Any suggestions on what to clean the stone with bc this is after multiple scrubs with de greaser, diluted bleach, tile and grout cleaner, u name it. It looks like the stone has more grey,tan and some yellow to it. Thoughts on painting ? Like painting the whole thing or even just the stones in different shades to make them look not so sad.

It could go in front of the stairs but the pathway from the door in will be walking in front of it… not a big deal, it would honestly make the living space look bigger. But honestly the tv is probably safer up high during the games.

I don’t know what those pull down mounts look like - would it be visible when TV is pulled down to mantle level for viewing? If yes, How will that be dealt with? And, with the hearth height it looks like the TV will be really high up on the wall. Not a good set up for sitting on the couch & watching TV way up high. Test that out by sticking a piece of TV size cardboard up there. You said ”…TV probably safer up high during the games.” What games? In the room or playing on TV?

The tv mount we found once mounted u can pull it out away from the wall move it up,down, side to side and tilt to different angles. I don’t think it would show from the front at all if placed in the right spot.

And as far as the tv being safe… it’s typical for me to have a house full of massive teenage boys especially on game days. They get a little excited.

Let me first say you have a beautiful home! However I do see your challenges. The fireplace is quite overwhelming. If redoing it is not an option, then consider:

1. Place dining area where the stair wall is. I am not sure if this blocks a pathway because I can’t see the door area clearly.
2. Put tv on a console further to the left of the fireplace and add couch, chairs as befits the area.
3. In front of the fireplace add a couple of comfortable chairs with small table between.

I have no idea how this would work with your current lighting.

A word about fireplaces….. I have a lannon stone one with the same stone hearth. I wanted a fireplace so badly when we bought this home and too bad I didn’t know what I know now. Mine is functional and vents up the chimney. It has been a money pit. From tuck pointings, to repair of the firebox wall (it was falling out) to liner changes when we bought a high efficiency boiler. The painted wall on the inside is constantly peeling paint and requiring replastering and painting. In spite of all those repairs, the stones on the inside on one side of the stone surround are constantly effervescing. I would recommend enclosing the fire area with an enclosed surround or you will be losing money big time. Maybe that’s not an issue if you’re in a warm climate, but otherwise be warned.

So what I think in the end, is a tv should not block a window and a tv should not be in front of a fireplace.
Good luck with your decisions and please keep us updated!

debra