Pete,
You can always re-finish your Corwalls and bring them back to a wood tone. It might make them wife friendly. I was living in a 500 sq. ft. apt when I first bought my Cornwalls. They took up lots of space but somehow the wife never complained. We lived in a big house. The sound has improved too. I recently bought a C5 center channel and S5 sorround speakers. The center channel speaker is excellent but when I switch voices and music from the cetner to my Corwalls I can hear a big difference. The Cornwalls are smoother and sound livlier.