Hard to say without seeing a picture of the space.

I am about to have an addition put on my home and will be having a gas fireplace that I understand can be real close to floor level. I am making this addition a "family room", therefore I'll have a television close to the fireplace. I am thinking of having a traditional/modern mantle above the 'fireplace' which will be large enough to put my 55" set on! Any suggestions from the Houzz viewing audience?

With homes downsizing and living in an open house with no walls to speak of we had no other place to put the TV except over the fireplace. We also have only one social area now in lieu of family room, living room, and game entertainment rooms. So we put it over the fireplace and we are able to see it from the kitchen and dining room.

Well, I was very against having a tv above the fireplace until I saw one where the design of the entire wall had been well thought out. The symmetry of the wall was maintained & enhanced. The beauty of the built in shelving, cabinetry & lighting would have been ruined if the tv were put on the side!

I vote against placing the tv over the fireplace. In my opinion, the tv should be placed off to one side, so that it does not dominate the space.

Here's a really good article that weighs the pros/cons:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20140613/LIVING04/306130006/Jeb-Breithaupt-TV-over-fireplace-Consider-pros-cons

we just did that. hated the brick since 1986. stripped the mantel, took out the brick, rehabbed the firebox, installed the stone. working on cove moulding. need some art and a new window.

I would have put TV to the side but the room isn't wide enough. the TV used to sit off to the side at an angle and that made it dominate the room. I want to get rid of the window but my hubby thinks it would be too dark. there's French doors on the opposite wall from the sofa. the kitchen is opposite the fireplace, so no other place for TV. over the fireplace was best option and opened up the room.

What about a fireplace for heat? Doesn't the heat cause problems for the TV?

NO NO NO.

Can you recommend a brand / model of fireplace with compatible TV? thanks

Initially, I did not like the idea of the TV over the fireplace, but after doing it, I love it. It opened up floor space for us, as we didn't have another wall to put it on. It took my family room from feeling awkward to being one of my favorite areas. I think it's a very individual decision, based on space and lifestyle, not a hard fast rule.

msback, Excellent solution to the fireplace dilemma. I don't like looking up at a TV but if you could use a horizontal linear fireplace (like Napoleon) with a wide mantel above, it would put the set at a proper viewing angle and protect the TV from heat. If the details are correctly done the whole thing will look like a custom unit.

We now have lived with the TV over the fireplace for four months & we couldn't be happier! Before we installed the TV, we did lower the mantel so the TV was lower on the wall & the angle was more conducive to comfortable viewing! We also had an unusual situation that our fireplace was a ventless one & we were not able to change that, which meant the heat from a fire went straight up & a neighboring condo had melted their TV! The mantel that came with our home was essentially flat, so we had a new one built that was much deeper & the base under was curved. This directed the heat away from the TV which stays cool & unharmed by fires. Just plan ahead & you'll be happy! I've included before & after pictures BUT they are in reverse order! The first pic is the new, finished wall, the second pic is during construction & the 3rd is how it looked with the previous owner.

how big is your tv and how high and wide is your mantel

We are in a space where the only place for a television is above the fireplace. My question is where to put the cable and Roku boxes. The fireplace is the focal point in the room.

Thanks for your reply. The TV IS 40 inches. The mantle is 83 inches. We will be putting in a new mantle or surround so that the TV can be lowered. Ideas?