What to do with built in shelves?

Marcia DiMiceli
by Marcia DiMiceli
The big space above the fireplace was built to hold a TV but of course the flat screen is too wide and probably wouldn't look good there. There are open spaces on either side too. I need ideas of how to work with these spaces. Thanks
This shows the biggest area above the fireplace.
This is the triangle shape opening on both sides.
  8 answers
  • PainterNoni PainterNoni on Jul 27, 2015
    Can you remove the back, or is it needed for the fireplace? if you can't remove the back, mirror the back so it is reflecting light. decorate with colored objects that coordinate with the parts of the next room that you can see.
  • Marcia DiMiceli Marcia DiMiceli on Jul 27, 2015
    I don't think you could remove anything but using mirrors might work. I'll pass along to my daughter as it's her house
    • Z Z on Jul 27, 2015
      @Marcia, can you get your daughter to send another photo please? It's hard to think of ideas without more of an idea what the whole room looks like.
  • Ellen DeVilbiss Ellen DeVilbiss on Jul 28, 2015
    Removing it is probably the best idea. At least the sides. The back most likely contains a flue, so it would have to stay, but there is nothing in this photo that would lead me to believe the sides are load bearing walls. Tile what's left to coordinate with the fireplace and mount smaller shelves to that if you still want display space. Or, now that those sides aren't there, put the TV where it belongs, on top of the fireplace.
  • Reggie Reggie on Jul 28, 2015
    She might consider a colorful piece of tar to cover the shelves. Hang it so it can slide to one side to get to the shelves for storage or hinge it so it would open.
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Jul 29, 2015
    I agree with Ellen mostly. I'd remove the sides. Then you have a big counter to do as you please. It will open up the room to the room behind too (the kitchen?)
  • Joan Joan on Jul 29, 2015
    What room is this? What is on the other side of those openings? Is there another fireplace in the other room, using the same flue? It looks to me as if those open spaces have just become catch-alls for the family. If it were me, depending on what the adjoining room is, I would tear out the side walls of that shelf area, and continue the back wall all the way across, closing those openings on either side. Then you have some nice wall space for art on either side of the fireplace OR room to hang the flat-screen. And a less inviting depository for unsightly junk.
  • Dobi Dobi on Aug 05, 2015
    I have built in's and I absolutely love them, but there is going to come a time when we will have to do something because the space that we have our current tv is going to be to small! The good thing is that we can unscrew the built in's that are connected and open up the space. unfortunately I think that you are going to have to remove the "walls" of the space to open it up. Sometimes this is painful because we have become attached to the space! at least I can say that! I have spent alot of time decorating that space! anyway, I concur! the walls will have to be removed!
  • Jennifer Masucci Jennifer Masucci on Jan 05, 2016
    What about if you were to create some kind of "tree" - made out of the top of a tree, or tree branches... and hang a string of white lights on them & also (if it's not too much) hang photos of loved ones on it...