I got tired of the tv in its cove, now I'm stuck with an empty space.

Question

The space is 52'x35' approximately, it is between two windows, and above a fireplace.  My homes theme is 'well traveled'.

Cindi · Answer

I would paint the back of that opening the dark color you have in curtains. Then purchase a large, white, maybe milk glass vase, and put some flowers in it. Maybe some daises, or tulips. Good luck, put pics up when you do finish it.

Debra Taylor Purvis -DesignHouse Inc - House Plans · Answer

Install some shelves or put cabinet doors over the opening for hidden storage.

Cynthia H · Answer

The other ideas are very good, but, I had a different idea when I saw this. What if you put a piece of art (doesn't have to be a painting, even pallet art would work on a hinge), and used it for storage, etc. Like a little hidden room.

Colleen · Answer

The space looks deep enought to do both a hidden safe and or hang a large piece of art work. A possiblilty of doing a mantle to ceiling kind of wood/ceramic/wall paper,artwork. Looks as if the fireplace is the focal point of the room

Liz · Answer

Paint the hole stand out color, put up some shelves for displaying your favorite things and/or put up some cute little shutters or curtains.

Crystal Spratt · Answer

So many ideas come to mind. Paint a bold color (from curtains or pillows in the room) on the inside of the hole. I like the shelving idea or large sculpture with lighting shining on it. Either way use the receptacles for lighting inside whatever you put in there. Find something you love if you go with a sculpture type thing. A cast iron animal, old wagon wheel, tin star, large ceramic piece or vase, or collection placed directly on the wall or shelves. You could also find shutters or doors to fit and have hidden storage. A tongue and groove wooden background or even pallets would make a nice background for anything you decide to do. Best of luck!!

Ronnie · Answer

Perhaps all whole wall make over ~ include the mantle in your project?

Cindie Taylor-pamula · Answer

Don't know who lives in home. but you could do wall to wall mirror on back wall. and paint the sides of the opening dark. why can't you use as a seasonal display area. Easter, fall, holidays. Or do you collect something, or have service people past & present in family. use as a display. And yes build up your fireplace , build a good looking mantel. the opening and the frame around fireplace is to far apart

Jenny Cox · Answer

I KNOW!!! Put a beautiful fish aquarium in there! That would look cool!

Jim Ginas · Answer

C. Rogers: I had the SAME exact issue with a TV cove. I had the wall opened to allow the framing of a larger wall mounted TV with a mount that moves in all directions, allowing the TV to swing out (to connect wires), up, down and flush to the wall. They then closed up the wall and painted so only the recessed area sits behind the TV. The recessed area is approx 10' deep behind the TV so the TV sits flush and the wires are all behind it, including the power. I live up in Suffolk, VA and can pass to you the construction company that worked it and at a reasonable price. Good work

Amy Ogden-Paparone · Answer

I'd paint the whole interior of the opening white, add shelves and display some of your treasures. You can change them out whenever you wanted or seasonally. Hope you post what you've done to it when you decide, I would love to see it. You could even add solid glass doors ~ less dusting :)

Jill Valeri · Answer

Since the space is high and deep, I would paint the inside a lighter color than the walls and use the outlet to install small uplights near the back corners. Then you could mirror the back wall and paper the sides with maps. Start a collection of globes. They can be found almost anywhere. I like thrift stores and Goodwill for bargains. Go for different sizes and place smaller ones on pedestals (could be books). This would work with your 'world traveler' theme. You could place one or two small globes on yur mantel and maybe find an old navigating compass.

Jamoschini · Answer

I think it would look great as a bookshelf to store family pictures and personal treasures. I would chose a mirrored back to hide your outlets if you are not planning to use them. The mirrored back wall will show off your treasures more clearly. Have you thought about your fireplace mantle? It could really be a showpiece if you added to the fireplace surround with darker wood and a deep mantle to show off candles and a topiary or two.

Kim · Answer

I like the sound of a big piece of artwork to hide the space and use it as hidden storage or just the artwork. Good luck.

Belinda Todd · Answer

How about a big map and put a globe, a neat old compass in a glass cloche and some travel pictures in frames on the ledge

Country Design Home · Answer

Hi! I guess this depends on whether you would like this to function as a display shelf or not? I would not fill it with small memorabilia, as that is difficult to do without having it look messy. Plus, it sits way above the fireplace, with a large gap, so the wall may look somewhat out of balance. I like the idea of a large map and a globe with a couple of small travel items in the alcove with some back lighting. But, what I really would do is just run some ship-lap planking all the way to the ceiling, the width of the mantel, completely covering the alcove. Paint it the same color as the fireplace, then add a big, chunky mantel to display artwork and your travel memorabilia. At the very least, I would add the mantel to bridge that gap between the bottom of the alcove and the top of the fireplace molding.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

What is the red patterned oblong object above the lower opening???

C. Rogers · Answer

Thanks to you all for your help, I've temporarily put lots of family pics in at different levels.  I'll post a pic soon.  I'm hoping to build a frame, and perhaps a mantel and do something totally unexpected at a later date.

Nita whisenhunt · Answer

Put small barn doors there,it will shut or open with tv behind it.it will look great.

Debi53 · Answer

Call me crazy, but I'm going to suggest something that I have always wished I could do, but have never had the right set up. Have you considered building a simple water 'wall' the size of your opening. You already have the electricity to run it. A metal or even plastic tray-which could be painted to look like stone or metal) holds the water & the water wall. You would just fill the tray when the water begins to evaporate. The water then recirculates & trickles down the wall.There are all kinds of sites to show you how. You could also mount a small light strip (LED or white Christmas lights) across the top. This is not an expensive project & would be stunning.

Marilyn · Answer

I would cover it with a large picture or mirror.

Jim Ginas · Answer

another two options: 1) have a contractor simply close in the wall to include a secured 2x4 deadcenter should you want to hang something deadcenter! 2) our contractor closed the space to a depth of a recessed area to allow cables, electric wires and access to the swivel mount bracket for a new Flat screen.

WAYNE · Answer

PUT A TV IN IT LOL

Tami Stone · Answer

I'd put a medium size mirror in that spo. Maybe add different size pillar candles

Eroque022810 · Answer

Since you have electricity there for TV why not get a world make framed and put a light over it you can get at ikea, then instead of glass put corkboard behind and put a pin in all the places you've been? Or if you want to travel then buy a shadow box get those boxes that look like books at Michaels and a cabinet door handle not a knob, cover it and place some stickers on them from the places you want to go to ,from scrapbooking aisle, add a few little flags of theses places arrange in shadow box and close. You could probably make a copy of your passport and add that as well. Then light it up with a remote when company comes over.

I got tired of the tv in its cove, now I'm stuck with an empty space.

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I got tired of the tv in its cove, now I'm stuck with an empty space.

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