Thanks very much Math for your comments. Firstly there will be no tv unit in here to worry about...we have a separate snug/ family room. Yes furniture placement is not exact on this pic - I just popped a few sofas in to give the effect!! Our house is surrounded by fields and lovely views especially the side with the bifolds so we wanted as many windows as possible to appreciate that. But I do quite see that we will end up with having sofas in front of the LH window wall. Partly why I thought of adding the built in window seats to add extra seating when required without taking up more useable wall space. As it is fairly wide I'm hoping that pulling the sofas in from the wall will mean it won't look too odd. I think it makes sense to have the fire on the far wall if we can as otherwise we will kind of have two focal points with the windows/ bifolds and then the fire. Unless we put the fire in the corner where you have put the unit? Saw quite a cool one on here last night ... The issue is if we put a wood burner on that end wall how high the flue would have to be and would it look weird if you could see it through the lantern roof? Also what special things would we have to do at the build stage to comply with heat regs etc?

We have been putting TVs above fireplaces for 15 years now! You should leave at least 100cm clearance from the top of the fireplace and if the wall is thin, add heat insulation behind the TV. To see our full response on TV aesthetics please follow this link below: [TV above the Fireplace - solving the neck ache![(https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/tv-positioning-and-should-i-paint-the-mantelpiece-dsvw-vd~5051726) This month, we will be importing a new dynamic TV mount, that is specifically designed to easily lower TV's that are fitted above a fireplace/protuding mantelpiece for comfortable viewing. The target UK price for the slim mount unit will be £599 including the ability to swivel it left and right (see photos attached). This solution is also ideal for moving the TV away from toddlers when not in use! Please also click on the two video links below (highlighted in green): Comfortable TV viewing for TV's above fireplaces Installer review of "down and out" mount over Fireplace

Personally I think a tv above a fireplace is uncomfortable to watch and prefer the tv to be at eye level when sat down. I think it is difficult to have two focal points in a long room and so they have chosen a modern fire that has a similarity to a TV and then put a frame around them both to make them a joint focal point. This type of fire is widely available- consider those that need no chimney such as flueless gas fires and some of the newest Electric flame effect fires https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=adHEhDMwBL0

Likely going to come down to your personal preference. We brought a 70’s mid terrace, standard height rooms (IMO) and they had put up picture rails. Personally I wouldn’t have done but for the way we have recently decorated it, it actually adds height to the room, which I think is down to a trick of the eye, so they have grown on me. Just keep in mind if you put them up you may struggle to get them off if you change your mind down the line without having the risk of needing to replaster.