Denon usually makes really nice bookshelf units. But they are pretty expensive, usually in the $400 range.
Last time when I was in Circuit City, I saw an Onkyo bookshelf unit. Looks pretty classy, the speakers have a high gloss finish. I think it's around $350. But don't quote me on it, could be less. It sounds pretty nice when you play it at low to medium levels. But when you push it hard, you can hear that the small woofers really begin to struggle with the bass frequencies. The nice thing there is a subwoofer out. You can always add a small sub when you have the money for it.
Sony has an executive system priced at $299. But I don't like the way it sounds. It just doesn't sound right, too anemic sounding, not nearly as full bodied as that Onkyo unit I heard.
I also played around with some of the "muscle" shelf systems at Circuit City. Those units usually give you fuller bodied sound, but they don't have nearly the kind of clarity you get with those smaller executive systems.
Come to think of it, JVC makes a nice executive system, don't remember the model number, but they claim to use some kind of sake soaked wood to make the woofers. I heard it once, it sounded pretty pleasant in the show room. Don't know if JVC still makes that model.
