What a lovely room you have, I love that rug!

What is behind the mantle? Could it be taken off completely? I assume those built ins are really built in and not just resting against the wall. What is your budget? What would you like to do? Remove everything? Keep some of it or change just the mantle? Or maybe just work with it?

You could get a TV monitor holder that lowers.

You could remove the wall of built ins completely like this.

New York Fireplace Contemporary Realisation · More Info

Fossil Creek Living Room- Fireplace Wall · More Info

Thank you! The rug was a Target find online for a very reasonable price.
The built ins are really built in… I don’t think I would want to go to the expense of removing them and I kind of like them for storage. We have little ones and it helps with a solution for toys. The kids are also kind of a reason why I don’t want to get a monitor holder that lowers down. I had considered that but we spend most of our time in this room and I don’t think that would be a good fit with three small children.
I believe the mantle could be completely removed and even the stone around the fire box itself. I do kind of like the stone, but find that the vertical pieces look a little small proportionately. There is also a hearth that doesn’t fully extend the built ins. I have considered removing the mantle and adding more stone with some type of floating mantel.

I would definitely get a mounting bracket that enables you to lower it - what if you got a 65" Samsung Frame TV - then it could at least look nice on that wall when it was turned off?

What if you painted it the color of the stone? Then put something large over it such as a mirror with a dark metal frame or painting to emphasize the fireplace is separate from the built ins.

I agree with kids it is so helpful to have places to store things and showcase their adorable art. Keep those built ins!

Now you could still try to see what is behind the mantle. If it is just stone and more flat you could mount the tv above the stone. But that could be a fiasco if the stone is not finished behind the mantle . In that case definitely consider this below.

The good this about an adjustable tv mount is that it can move when you are not using the tv.

I think painting the side cabinets to match the wall..or at least another color..will allow the fireplace to stand on its own..you will still have the storage …but the fireplace will be more clearly the focal point

I would put a single, larger, painting or interesting decorative large item over the mantel. The plug should not be there unless you want a gentle light to illuminate the painting or object, and the wiring should be hidden. Are the two black rectangular things speakers? Do you need them? Can they be moved into the bookcases? The candles and the rectangular thing in the center are making the whole mantel look cluttered…the items are too small for the space.

You can reduce the TV height by as much as 12" by replacing the stone face and wood surround with a steel face and surround. The mantel can be filled with high temperature insulation to protect the TV. Here's an example (please forgive the AI rendition of some room elements). I also added white backing behind the TV painted to match the built-ins.

Mockup By: Fireplace Treatments

OK I am just finishing up a fireplace remodel after playing with it for two years. Obviously, I don’t move quickly.(there were other extenuating circumstances that I am not going into here.) We actually mocked up a television stand with different heights over the last two years, so that we could see where we wanted the TV to be placed. (Another suggestion: tape the dimensions of a 65 inch TV with blue painters tape in your space, and sit with it for a couple weeks.) We have a 55 inch TV, and I actually love that size. We had hoped to get a Samsung frame TV, but then someone gave us a Samsung 55 inch TV, and it works just fine. Maybe someday we’ll get the frame TV. 😀With three young kids, you are going to be living in that space for a while. I would definitely make it work for you. If you like your built-ins, keep your built-ins. Someday, you can be like us and remodel your house when you don’t have any kids at home.

Update… we are keeping the bookcases and are adding trim across the top. We have a 55” Samsung Frame TV for over the fire place.
Now trying to decide do we put a raised heath back in? A hearth level with the floor? Or a slightly raised hearth (like the height of the baseboards)? I am leaning toward this herringbone marble for the surround on the fireplace. What color hearth would look good with it? I am considering a leathered black granite.
Also I would appreciate any thoughts on the height of the mantle…we are thinking 12-14 inches above the firebox. Thanks in advance!