Speakers help for a newb...

Vandy 2CE ssigs will be at the top end of your range, now that the Mark 2 has come out.
Triangle Celius.
Paradigms are good.
If you are thinking about HT, 5 NHT superzeros and a good sub will come in under your number.

I'd vote for the Vandersteens, or one other. Richard has a terrific product. Also, if you are near a dealer or don't mind doing business by UPS, they have an in home audition. I would at least recommend auditioning the little Maggies.
Years ago, the wonderful founder of Magnepan, Jim Winey told me in Chicago, at the CES, (that's how long ago this was), "If you let anyone out of your store without at least playing the SMGA's for him/her, you're foolish."

He was so right, I can't tell you how many SMGA's therefore small systems I put together for 'starter audiophiles'. One beautiful young blonde came in one day, and as I tried not to notice her beauty, and stay focused on the sale, I almost by accident sold her Harmon Kardon and Magnepan. This was the old HK, with great current output.
This beautiful girl was an attorney, who later became a local judge, and the last I heard, still owns the speakers. The sale happened a quarter of a century ago about 1984.

Vandersteen or Maggies for my recommendation.
Good Listening,
Larry

The previous responders are correct with the Vandersteens.
You will NOT need a subwoofer. Your room should be large enough not to have bass bloat as I did in my 14'x13' room.
But your room isn't that much larger so try and find a friend that has some Vandersteens that you can borrow. The Maggies still have IMO better mids and more open mids than the Vandersteen. It's all a matter of opinion you know. The top end is pretty close and the bass in smaller rooms to me is much better with the Maggies and Bass bloat is not usally a big problem. The problem the gentleman mentions about the quasi ribbon I would call Magnepan to verify that.
I know several Maggie owners and none of them have had those problems over a 10 year period. Direct sunlight is a problem for any speaker that is a planar, electrostatic or dynamic with foam surrounds. But when you speak of balance and especially if you like listening to classical, jazz, and many other types of music Maggies will impress you. My listening room was too small to accomodate my MG12's and I ended up with a pair of Spica TC60's which are still there 1 year later. But... I still remember and miss the Magnepan MG12's. They gave a bigger
sound. You will experience the same thing with the Vandersteens but make sure you get the Sound Anchor stands and put the heaviest material in them and that will help also. Vandersteen also makes some filters to help you control the amount of bass that enters your room. Check into that if you choose to go in that direction.

I'll make a different type of recommendation: get speakers you LOVE. Your first impression should be bedazzlement.

I have MMGs and heartily recommend them. (Love at first sight.) Two observations: they are cheap but will end up costing you a lot of money as you upgrade your amps. On the plus side, these speakers are moddable up to world-class status so they could end up being your final purchase. They should go well in your room. But don't put the rational considerations ahead of the Love. That's the first step.