Lindybarts~ This is only the 2nd photo I've seen of your home (the other was your gorgeous master bath/travertine.... oh, and it seems you were the one with the huge beautiful island that at first you thought was too dark... was that you?). Oh my word, girlfriend, this is just beautiful! I love your fireplace, and your cool beams. Your built ins are just lovely. Your house is beautiful. Have you linked us to more photos in an album somewhere? I want to see more! ;o) Sorry Meagan, didn't mean to hijack your thread. I wish I had photos for you..... but mine is just a distant dream. I'm not sure when we'll get to the built-ins stage.... it will be a while.

You mention having wine storage in your DR, so how do you envision using this piece and where is it located? If it's in a good spot for a beverage/snack center (e.g. for a party), then I would put the shelf with hanging stemware storage on the wall at the right. Otherwise, I'd store your stemware near your main wine storage. In any case, I'd put a nice big mirror behind it (maybe in a nice frame to match the wood) and hang a pendant above it. I'd keep the top open for serving snacks and an ice bucket (if that's what it will be used for). Or display some favorite pictures on it, but I'd still trade the lamp for a pendant or maybe a pair of wall sconces on either side of a mirror. If it's not really needed for wine storage / serving beverages and snacks, then there is nothing wrong with using it for something else. For example, it would look nice with colorful, rolled up placemats, napkins and towels where the wine bottles go. But that all depends on where it is located and how you plan to use it.

Or put in some sort of water feature, if you are into that sort of thing. I've seen tall units with thin cascades sliding down the face as well as a variety of other fountain configurations. Put potted ferns etc. around the base on the hearth. You already have the outlet to run the fountain pump. Or use the space for a tall sculpture or statue. (It won't surprise you if I say that DH encourages me to try to work with the flaws in our house in preference to ripping up the infrastructure.)

Houzzers usually opt for a credenza under the TV rather than a unit that surrounds it. Lighting a few display shelves might help lighten the visual heft of the piece, as would glass.