Whatever you ultimately decide, I recommend painting the wall behind your furniture a dark color: dark gray, anthracite, or even black. Just paint one side of the wall, excluding the sides and top. Then you can look for ways to fill the gaps on the sides—there are plenty of options. And yes, you don't have to try to match the color exactly.

Really get rid of it and for sure not deep aqua where is that comming from.Get a nice low cabinet wider than the TV mount the TV at proper viewing height then see how much space you have on either side . Pretty sure you cn find some prebuilt shelving for either side all the same as the new cabinet and all fits inside that niche The fact is right now it works this is anew to your house so just do the must have then tackle this for just a much more in style type insert .

The media unit inside the niche looks ridiculous. Simplify the set up.

Select a wall hung cabinet and hang it and the TV off the back wall. You can add a paint color to the back wall for additional interest.

For now, I would pretend there wasn't a niche. Move the unit over to the left to make it more centered with the seating arrangement. Then place a plant on the floor and art above it.

Not everything in life has to be centered/symmetrical!

Spend your time and money on other more important things in your new house.

Down the road, I would look at doing a full built-in in the niche or just a console that fits across the whole niche.

Here is my built-in with storage, display and a Frame TV. It is not symmetrical on the wall as the left side had two shelf sections and the right side only one.

We have the same huge wall indentation. This was our “temporary fix” and it’s still there are 10 years. Designing and getting the more “fitted” unit sounds exhausting. We have two cabinets side by side to fill most of the space.

Is the top shelving part removable from the bottom cabinet part? If so, ditch the top shelves. They are just for displaying small objects and not useful. Then hang the TV on the wall above the bottom cabinets. The niche will look fine with the lower cabinet in here. It is the upper hutch part that is odd in the niche.

agree with the ideas to either paint the back wall the same color as the unit or remove it completely and just float the TV

Thanks for the feedback. The Legends Nantucket 98” Entertainment Center is brand new - though it does consists of 2 parts - console and hutch. The hutch (top 1/2) was damaged or defective a bit so I'm going to hopefully get the store to take that part back for full refund - and just stick with the console part (as several have suggested) - and paint the back wall.

The "floating console" design looks poorly thought out IMO and at best and impractical as there are electronic components and audio equipment in more advanced media centers which need direct line of sight for use and effectiveness.. (IR controlled devices and audiophile speakers). That's the purpose of the furniture base console - sections for equipment, wiring, audio components etc...

The feedback has been quite useful and appreciated!

Remove the top half, set up the TV, speakers, and equiptment, live with it for a while and then decide if you need to paint it. I think it will look better unpainted once everything is set up.

I'm surprised that an audiophile with higher end equipment would be storing it in a piece of furniture like this instead of in a rack. There is no air circulation with this furniture and those shelves look fixed. Maybe they are not and it is just hard to tell from the picture.

OMG we are going back in time to giant media cabinets been there done that never again

@Patricia Colwell Consulting - It really depends on who is using it and for what. The average person can get control of really high quality sound through good speakers using their phone and ipad as a remote. But sound nerds are going to want other components. I don't see the average sound nerd purchasing a hutch like this, but I guess some do.

I wouldn't consider this a "giant media cabinet". Lots of people have more equipment than just a TV and sound bar. Surround sound speakers, turntables, stereo receiver etc. Stop being so judgmental, Patricia.

I think it will be a happy accident if you can return the top for a full refund. I’m not sure about painting the recessed part, it might just draw more attention to it. I would have the TV mounted though.

Don't chase a bad idea by trying to throw more money at it hoping you can fix it. The best ideas are typically the simplest ones.

AMAZON FLOATING MEDIA CABINET

WAYFAIR FLOATING MEDIA CABINETS

I think the OP came up with the most simple and least expensive option - return the damaged upper part of the cabinet. I presume the lower part fits their tastes. Plus with a floating media cabinet, the may have to spend money relocating outlets so the cords are not seen. With their current piece, the cords will be hidden no matter where the outlet is located.

I'll probably be the only one here who says I like the top version as it is now)) Yes, removing the top would also be a good option, but it's the top that makes everything look so calm and grounded, especially when paired with the laid-back dark leather sofa.

If you remove the top of the cabinet system, you'll need to fill the empty niche with something, otherwise it will look bare and unfinished. And as I mentioned at the very beginning, I recommend painting the back wall in any case. I also think it's better to leave the TV on a stand rather than hanging it on the wall.

Let me emphasize that I really love minimalism and extremely clean solutions, but sometimes...))

How is my comment judgmental those huge cabinets went goodbye when we no longer need a huge deep hole to hold a TV I have no idea what this person has for audio but my hubby was audiophile and never needed this monster cabinet to hnadle all of this It became less cumbesome over the years with new tecnology we got better sound less bulky stuff. IMO this cabinet needs to go back and deal with the space peoperly for TV and whatever else this person which we have no clue about

There are audiophiles and then there are AUDIOPHILES! Most in that second category don't agree that you necessarily get better sound with new technology or less bulky stuff. There is a reason they still sell tube amplifiers and vinyl records!

I might be an outlier but I like it. Maybe I would like it better without the top but I like that it has personality and isn’t boring. I don’t think you need to fill the whole niche and it looks like a nice room to me. Add a plan on one side and a basket for throw blankets and relax and enjoy.

BTW still had tube amps in fact we still have atube CD player very unusual . Made in Russia

with the hutch removed...

I like the “hutch removed” look.

Take the top off if you get a refund even better. Then no issue , Hnag the TV as shown and see how much other shelving, storage you actually need. I for one hate shelving loaded with stuff that trully does not need display usually That pic with the top removed is a very nice clean look

You won't 'hide' the alcove by sticking unneeded shelving in it too. Less is more as they say! lisedv you nailed it. What's your next question???

It does seem they have speakers that may have to be dealt with if the top is removed. I see what appears to be two boxes of speakers in the picture.

From what I can see all thta stuff in boxes can go in the bottom and of course the speakers need to be placed for optimum sound not in the cabinet or even all in the indent

Thanks to all - The retailer has agreed to pick up the slightly damaged hutch part - no charge/full refund. (so that was a serendipitous result allowing me to revise the plan to the better!). Components will go in the console (silent fan as well). I will still have to deal with the speakers (pic 1 - bookshelf size not huge but there are 3 of these L/R and Center Channel. In our previous home I installed the center channel above the screen - which might be necessary here too as the console doesn't have a top center space. (L-R-C speakers actually all fit in good locations in the hutch - which was where the light bulb went off to try it.)

Now the end result will be more like the pic version lisedv posted. The L/R speakers will have to wall mount or sit on top of the console.

Arcy asked - "What's your next question?" - OK - Sure!

Q1 - Still paint the back wall (possibly anthracite) - or let it stay pure white for a while?

Q2 - Wall mount the speakers (floating or shelf) - or set them on the ends of the console?

If you only have a base cabinet left, consider painting the wall pine green, sea green, or deep turquoise. But it's best to show off the rest of the room—it helps with the best tips.

Update - The hutch was picked up for a full refund earlier this week - taking my time contemplating painting the back wall, and placement of the speakers (wall mount or on the cabinet as shown).

Might end up doing framed photos/art on the wall and likely hanging the TV. The chair is only there temporarily.