Lovely home! I'm not sure how simple it would be to lower the mantle so the tv would be at a comfortable height but-I like the idea and not having the doors would make your home have the more contemporary feel you say you like.

PS. Your son is quite photogenic!

A FP is a wonderful feature for a house and I would not remove it. Many people will not consider buying a house without a FP, just for the ambiance it gives a room (doesn't have to work). Many complain about TV over FPs and getting sore necks. I think you will still get a sore neck, and would not move the TV. The FP wall is beautifully balanced with the FP and windows / door + window. I love it. Some ideas: The entry, DR and LR should be similar styles b/c they are open. The link below is how your furniture can be arranged. It shows a traditional living/dining but that does not matter to room arrangement, just imagine your more modern furniture here. Place your sofa is across from the TV-entertainment center. To left of your sofa have a comfortable chair. On each side of the FP have small chairs that do not take up much room so the door is not blocked., coffee table, area rug. The buffet with 2 lamps would be nice in the entry, curtains are nice. OR you could have 2 comfortable chairs on left of sofa (or a love seat or a sectional) and only one small chair in front of FP window so door is not blocked at all.

I agree with you on the fireplace mantel. I would remove the mantel, wood trim and ceramic tile, it definitely dates the house. Do away with the cabinet. Keeping the wall smooth without trim or tile work will give you a clean contemporary look. You'll also be able to lower the height of the flat-screen, making it more comfortable to watch. If it still seems to high pull your sofa a little further away this will help with your viewing comfort. The color doesn't quite work either for that contemporary feel you say you like. Try taking your wall color lighter for a crisp, clean look, or deepen the tone for a rich, subdued version. I believe if you can fix your issues surrounding your fireplace the rest of the room will more easily come together. Remember there are no rules if you like it try it!

Number one. Get the fireplace working. Adds considerable value to your home...more than the re.do of the surround. For the surround... Remove the mantle, get a new face for the fireplace model you have, choose a more modern surround material that you like that coordinates with the rest of the attached rooms but take it all the way to the ceiling on the fireplace wall eliminating the niche and adding the electric for the flatscreen for future want of placing tv there. Sculpted materials are avail that are very modern but will date over next few years. Alternately a polished granite can be modern and timeless when done right. My favorite choices would be black or white:-) in that order.

You may like contemporary but you have a pretty traditional house, with the colonial windows and thick crown molding. Don't know where you are, but a stone wall going from the fireplace up to the ceiling would be a showstopper. Lose the mantle, cabinet and old surround and have possibly stacked stone or ledgestone in a color that complements (but not match) whatever paint you're using, then add black granite for the hearth to pick up on what looks like black granite on your bar.....your paint looks almost pinky beige in the photos, in which case change it immediately. As for not using the fireplace.....why wouldn't you? Adds warmth, both literally and figuratively. You could go with a transitional style sectional with a sleeker profile, but in a family friendly fabric like ultrasuede -- no roll arms or skirts, keep the lines simple. Maybe some woven roman shades on the windows. Then invite people to come over and hang!

My house is looks almost identical and furniture placement can be tricky. For a modern clean, contemporary look heres an idea for you. Keep the windows and flank two contemporary chairs on each side of the fireplace. Use a modern color scheme and style for the chairs upholstery. Use a modern print for the window treatments. A nice Ikat print, or Moroccan Trellis print or even a solid suede shade or panel will bring in some modern clean lines and the print will add interest and texture. The left window closest to the wall can even have a chair for reading with an ottoman. You use one bigger ottoman or choose two smaller matching ottomans. Get a table you can put modern lamps on and when you are not utilizing the ottoman tuck the ottoman under the table. On the wall closest to the window get a buffet table or console table, if you have a long dresser you like paint it a metallic or distressed finish and use that for your
. Put your sofa across from the fireplace. Now you have an inviting warm and functional layout. For a modern look you can add a bold rug in a pattern and color scheme to compliment your other decor. I would place a piece of eye catching contemporary artwork above the fireplace right over the cabinet or if the art will not lay flat remove it, and drywall wall so it lays flat. A contemporary mirror will do the trick as well. The table in a metallic or lucite or warm wood to compliment the other decor can go behind the sofa or on the other side of the tv. Console table. If you place it along the far wall balance art work or pictures to create symmetry,make sure the chair on the side of the table's height balances the table and lamps. Add some kind of decor, small table or plant next to the side of the couch facing the walkway. Your done! Hope you like the suggestions.

Any chance you can post a picture of the current arrangement? "We currently have a flat screen with a shelving/entertainment unit on the large wall to the left of the fireplace."

Are you buying new furniture, or do you need to work with what you have. If it's the latter, what do you have? : )

Do you have a rug???

This is a Traditional home with lovely traditional details - Trying to make it more contemporary is a mistake...
...particularly adding stone or tile to the fireplace as it will protrude beyond the existing mouldings at the ceiling.

What is opposite the fireplace? Can a TV/Media cabinet go there? How about the wall backing up to the kitchen?
If so, it would be quite simple to have the sofa along the wall and a pair of swivel armchairs facing the sofa with a coffee table centered in the room.

For some elegant and simple architectural detail you can check our mantels at www.buyamantel.com. I think in such a big and open space you can benefit form a look of real wood.

I have taught the easiest way to layout a room for many years. So here is a way to come up with the best room arrangement. First: draw the room out to scale... or just draw it to your best ability. After you have drawn it, then DRAW lines in red which give you the traffic patterns which you would naturally walk through the room from all openings. You might think of trying to manuver through the room without good lighting. After you have drawn the traffic lines, the, just lay out the furniture into the open spaces. Think also that we walk directly to an opening when entering and leaving any room. This WORKS!!! Just play with it, and you will see how easily and natural a room layout will become.
Jimmy Dragon Court

Now that you have a good idea of how to place the furniture, NEXT... GET rid of that door treatment.. One of the ideas sent you to was enclosing the fireplace with softly colored stone/brick/tile. If you wish to have a TV over the fireplace, be very careful not to place it so high ( as someone else mentioned!!) SORE NECK!!! Carry the stone in a simple line all the way to the top. This will contemporize the room, and update the look for you. Instead of drapery panels, keep the lines simple and consider Roman Shades on both the upp and lower openings. This will allow you to use the door on the right and not interfer with "crashing the drapery panels around the door. Simple is always best. Keep the window fabrics subtle, as this will also ENLARGE visually the space.
Enjoy..
Jimmy Dragon Court