I'd love custom design ideas, Steve, but this is for Mayberry and will be mounted on the knotty pine paneling so you will have to adjust your mental image. The room is narrow so the wall mount idea will be the best use of space, although I agree with Jacob that a good floor standing rack can be just about as flush to the wall. Still, I think the wall mount plan will be the "lightest" visually, which is why I don't like that big Sanus thing with the black backing, wide shelves, etc.
I have actually thought about using this kind of computer rack system shelf:
I have some of these from scavenging at an old office, and have mounted them upside down so that it becomes a flat shelf and the vertical piece gives it more rigidity. Anyway, they would not be attractive but might just disappear altogether.