I entirely lost the remote one time too. So I renamed the bbq.png file to remote.png file, which turned the remote image into the barbecue image. I had no trouble finding it then and when it was put back on the coffee table, I renamed the image file back to remote.png. It turned out that it was sitting on the side of one of the kids beds which in the mod I'm using is black, I couldn't see it because it was black too! Any large .png file will work to replace the remote.png so you can find it, just make sure you make a backup of remote.png first so you can rename it back after it's located.
Renaming the remote.png file only helps in locating the remote. I understand there is also a glitch on the remote where it can't be picked up from in the bushes outside.
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WARNING: I cannot be held responsible for the above as apparently my cat has learned how to type.