Honestly, Orlando! You're freakin' hilarious and in addition, as an ex-English teacher, it's SO refreshing to read something that's punctuated properlyyyyyyyyy!!!!🤗
You wrote: "As human beings, we like seeing things that are familiar. That makes us feel smart because we know it, because we’ve seen it before. That strokes our egos."
Hell, yeah!
This be da truth!
I've long-wondered how to explain it when I come across "new trends" from the 90's on blogs; only some young chickie simply was previously unaware they already existed, or the latest 'trend' of women insisting that gluing plastic talons onto their fingernails is great. Like, how do they ever DO anything?!?!
K, enough ranting.
I'm so sorry that 'Ken' is a dick (I'm an Aussie, it's a common term).
I'm really glad you saw the red flags (I read more tthan one!)
I do NOT have my TV over my 100 yr old fireplace.
It's on top of an English Oak, antique blanket box I took the top off and replaced with another piece of reclaimed 120 yr old English Oak. It's a tad too low.
Curiously, I'm sitting on my bed writing this, and immediately before reading your post, was thinking about how I can use a 150 yr old amazing trunk that's the perfect height, (brought from the USA to Australia when we immigrated here, when I was a baby - no, I'm not 150, it was already an antique when we moved!🤣🤣). The top is curved slightly, so I think I need to have a piece of perspex or something on top to create a flat surface?!?
BTW: apparently THE correct height for your TV is so your eyebrows (or the median eyebrow height of your household) is at about the top of the TV.
This helps with eye health, so you blink. When the TV is up high, you don't blink!
Damn, I loved this post!
P.S. My pet-peeves are rugs that are too small and karate-chopped cushions!!!🤣🤣
And one more reason to reach up above your fireplace and tear that TV off: heat! It rises and will damage your TV’s components.
But ultimately, for me, it’s the same reason I don't sit in the front row at the movie theatre. Who does that?!?!? I’ll tell you who! People who mount their TVs over the fireplace.
I hate the fact that our TV is over our WAY TOO BIG FOR THE ROOM fireplace. In my head, also said “there is no place else for it!” Thought you should know you are our inspiration to say, “goodbye unused, gaudy gas fireplace and hello pretty cabinet”. Also, you brighten my day regardless of topic you write about. Thank you!
I’m emailing you poste haste! Because I’m STUMPED in my space. I hate the TV over the fireplace. HATE it. And yet I cannot figure out a way around it in my bizarre living room with no other walls. I hope you have the magic to solve my puzzle! ♥️
Totally agree on your points, particularly the TV-over-the-fireplace thing. I am fortunate enough to have a home that allows me to put the TV in a different room (lol, we call it the TV room--so original!) from the main living/entertaining space. And your comment about Noguchi coffee tables reminded me of a hilarious Tumblr from the 2010's called "Fuck Your Noguchi Coffee Table"--so sorry the genius behind it stopped updating, I'd love to see their take on today's trends.
This is so great! I have never understood putting a tv above a fireplace. It's a complete lack of imagination to think that it couldn't go anywhere else. Totally with you that the only thing I care about in this world is TV’s NOT being above fireplaces.
Great writing and agree with everything you said. Just rented a vacation home with tv over fireplace. All wrong. I was craning my neck the whole time. And it was too far from the couches. It would have been better o another wall with a arm clamp that could be brought out when needed
As your much older sister/friend (who really doesn’t know you but is claiming to) …I wholly endorse Gay Ski Weekend. It sounds fun and at the very least, an experience where you will leave with a few good stories. Also, you are putting yourself out there, so much better if you are looking for love, friends, fun, than staying at home. Also exercise and fresh air and being outdoors in as the Swedes like to say, the nature. He probably doesn’t ski (the Midwest, from where you say he hails, is not known for its mountains) and because he has to look the best at everything, disparages the whole ski thing because he’d be on the beginner slopes. So much not to like about Ken, I’d want someone less critical/more curious about your choices for you!! You get to continue to see people through their design choices, it’s a world you know super well, and can make sense of. The build the fireplace to have some place to hang the TV is well, a little nutty (as you so beautifully explained). You need (and this is me your older sister talking!!) someone who will be able to chat about just how ridiculous/crazy this is!!! Go find him!! Maybe at, or though, Gay Ski Weekend!!
I love this. I don't need to send pictures, I have solved this problem for myself. I bought a wonderful 1920s 4-square bungalow. The 2 fireplaces are in the bedrooms, as they were originally designed for heat, not looks. So my TV is in the living room hanging above a TV console, not a fireplace.
I’ve always thought TV’s over a fireplace are ugly and terrible for visibility anyway. I tried watching at a friends’ pad from the couch and was so annoyed having to cock my head up for so long. It was just so huge and distracting for the whole room as you walked in and I vowed to never do that. I placed mine on a lovely walnut mid century stereo/record player that doesn’t look too MCM and has a perfect profile for viewing the TV from chairs or sectional.
OoooMmmmGggg!!!!
💓 I. Love. This. Post! 💓
Honestly, Orlando! You're freakin' hilarious and in addition, as an ex-English teacher, it's SO refreshing to read something that's punctuated properlyyyyyyyyy!!!!🤗
You wrote: "As human beings, we like seeing things that are familiar. That makes us feel smart because we know it, because we’ve seen it before. That strokes our egos."
Hell, yeah!
This be da truth!
I've long-wondered how to explain it when I come across "new trends" from the 90's on blogs; only some young chickie simply was previously unaware they already existed, or the latest 'trend' of women insisting that gluing plastic talons onto their fingernails is great. Like, how do they ever DO anything?!?!
K, enough ranting.
I'm so sorry that 'Ken' is a dick (I'm an Aussie, it's a common term).
I'm really glad you saw the red flags (I read more tthan one!)
I do NOT have my TV over my 100 yr old fireplace.
It's on top of an English Oak, antique blanket box I took the top off and replaced with another piece of reclaimed 120 yr old English Oak. It's a tad too low.
Curiously, I'm sitting on my bed writing this, and immediately before reading your post, was thinking about how I can use a 150 yr old amazing trunk that's the perfect height, (brought from the USA to Australia when we immigrated here, when I was a baby - no, I'm not 150, it was already an antique when we moved!🤣🤣). The top is curved slightly, so I think I need to have a piece of perspex or something on top to create a flat surface?!?
BTW: apparently THE correct height for your TV is so your eyebrows (or the median eyebrow height of your household) is at about the top of the TV.
This helps with eye health, so you blink. When the TV is up high, you don't blink!
Damn, I loved this post!
P.S. My pet-peeves are rugs that are too small and karate-chopped cushions!!!🤣🤣
This is the BEST!!! I've a fireplace WITHOUT a TV over it and you cannot imagine how many times people have asked why the tv isn't over it!!!
And one more reason to reach up above your fireplace and tear that TV off: heat! It rises and will damage your TV’s components.
But ultimately, for me, it’s the same reason I don't sit in the front row at the movie theatre. Who does that?!?!? I’ll tell you who! People who mount their TVs over the fireplace.
I hate the fact that our TV is over our WAY TOO BIG FOR THE ROOM fireplace. In my head, also said “there is no place else for it!” Thought you should know you are our inspiration to say, “goodbye unused, gaudy gas fireplace and hello pretty cabinet”. Also, you brighten my day regardless of topic you write about. Thank you!
I’m emailing you poste haste! Because I’m STUMPED in my space. I hate the TV over the fireplace. HATE it. And yet I cannot figure out a way around it in my bizarre living room with no other walls. I hope you have the magic to solve my puzzle! ♥️
You are the best and it’s Ken’s loss, in so many ways
Thank you for this! I also hate a TV above a fireplace. If I have to strain my neck to watch TV, FORGET IT.
Totally agree on your points, particularly the TV-over-the-fireplace thing. I am fortunate enough to have a home that allows me to put the TV in a different room (lol, we call it the TV room--so original!) from the main living/entertaining space. And your comment about Noguchi coffee tables reminded me of a hilarious Tumblr from the 2010's called "Fuck Your Noguchi Coffee Table"--so sorry the genius behind it stopped updating, I'd love to see their take on today's trends.
Give him a chance! It could be a meet cute situation, you never know. If that's the worst red flag, it could work. I mean, "Nor." So sexy.
This is so great! I have never understood putting a tv above a fireplace. It's a complete lack of imagination to think that it couldn't go anywhere else. Totally with you that the only thing I care about in this world is TV’s NOT being above fireplaces.
Great writing and agree with everything you said. Just rented a vacation home with tv over fireplace. All wrong. I was craning my neck the whole time. And it was too far from the couches. It would have been better o another wall with a arm clamp that could be brought out when needed
I have a TV beside my fireplace. Also hate it.
As your much older sister/friend (who really doesn’t know you but is claiming to) …I wholly endorse Gay Ski Weekend. It sounds fun and at the very least, an experience where you will leave with a few good stories. Also, you are putting yourself out there, so much better if you are looking for love, friends, fun, than staying at home. Also exercise and fresh air and being outdoors in as the Swedes like to say, the nature. He probably doesn’t ski (the Midwest, from where you say he hails, is not known for its mountains) and because he has to look the best at everything, disparages the whole ski thing because he’d be on the beginner slopes. So much not to like about Ken, I’d want someone less critical/more curious about your choices for you!! You get to continue to see people through their design choices, it’s a world you know super well, and can make sense of. The build the fireplace to have some place to hang the TV is well, a little nutty (as you so beautifully explained). You need (and this is me your older sister talking!!) someone who will be able to chat about just how ridiculous/crazy this is!!! Go find him!! Maybe at, or though, Gay Ski Weekend!!
I love this. I don't need to send pictures, I have solved this problem for myself. I bought a wonderful 1920s 4-square bungalow. The 2 fireplaces are in the bedrooms, as they were originally designed for heat, not looks. So my TV is in the living room hanging above a TV console, not a fireplace.
Sorry it's not going to work out with Hot Ken...
I’ve always thought TV’s over a fireplace are ugly and terrible for visibility anyway. I tried watching at a friends’ pad from the couch and was so annoyed having to cock my head up for so long. It was just so huge and distracting for the whole room as you walked in and I vowed to never do that. I placed mine on a lovely walnut mid century stereo/record player that doesn’t look too MCM and has a perfect profile for viewing the TV from chairs or sectional.