Audio Rack with Positive "waf"

I would vote strongly with a cabinet maker. I had a fabulous rack built by a local firm that specializes in audiovisual work and whose owner is an audiophile/music lover. My wife and I gave a rough design and they smoothed it out. The end product is gorgeous, superb sonically and extremely well priced. If you wife helps in the design, she will be much more likely to find it acceptable. I'd be happy to discuss it with you if you have any questions.

Best sounding rack is the Sistrum rack. Component quality improvement in sound. Totally adjustable vertically, open for quick hookups. My wife likes it, my friends say it's very cool.

Too bad your wife doesn't like the Salamander units. With the budget you mention, it's going to be VERY difficult to find anything "nice" looking in your price range. Most of the so called "A/V" furniture made by fine furniture companies such as Ethan Allen, Thomasville, etc. are VERY expensive - and usually have poor provisions for ventilation, running cables, etc.
As I assume you have audiophile type electronics; do keep in mind that having suitable support for your equipment is critical. Also keep in mind that most 32" TV/Monitors weigh more than 140 lbs. You might point out these important facts to your wife; and let HER try to find something suitable that she can live with. I bet that Salamander unit will start looking MUCH BETTER in a hurry.
As for myself, I have a Salamander twin 30 rack with an
extra shelf that currently holds a 32" Sony TV/Monitor (155 lbs.) a Toshiba DVD Player, a Panasonic Professional S-VHS VCR (18 lbs.), a Music Hall CD Player, and McIntosh Tuner,
Preamp, and Amp (the amp alone is 88 lbs.) It all fits quite well, and the support is great. It really is the solution.

theaudiotweak:
This rack has points on each shelf. Do you set the components
on a shelf on the points? I would not want points digging into
the bottom of my 50 pounds each components. Very nice looking
rack

Optional coupling discs wiil protect your equipment and give you 99% of the performance benefits the rack will reward you with. The discs go between equipment and point thereby safe guarding your electronics. My madness tells me to go for that last 1%.. But thats a personal problem.. Tom