What are the best small not bookshelf speakers?

These threads always spawn a deluge of different suggestions and speculations. It would be nice at this point if the OP would weigh in again to clarify a few things: Would the wife consider an esthetically pleasing speaker from Sonus Faber, copycat Usher, or Totem?

What does "bookshelf speakers are too big" mean? Some stand mount speakers are pretty small. Usher Be-718s (Tiny Dancers) are about 10x16". The Sumiko Toy monitor is about 7.5"x10.5" and a little over $1K/pair.

And how is she about adding a low profile sub? That would make a major difference in what sort of satellite speaker you could live with. Sumiko markets a Toy surround system mated to the REL T1 sub. Read the review here.

The Toy monitors plus REL sub come in around $2300 full list price.

In that case, the Mirage omnidirectional satellites and a sub would work out well. Their Omnisat OS3-Sat can be positioned very close to the walls or corners, and yet projects a deep soundstage even there. It's deeper when away from the walls a bit, but actually sounds very good when hanging from the wall. Mirage makes a variety of good subs that mate well with it, including the very compact (9" cube) MM-8 powered sub with dual passive radiators. Martin-Logan subs mate very well with these Mirages as well.

If you want a little more oomph from the satellites, maybe your wife wood agree to the floorstanding version, the Omnisat OS3-FS. It's a floorstander, but the column is only 5.5" wide and 6.125" deep. Still works best with a sub for full range performance. This model can really fill a room.

On closeout is the satellite version of their discontinued OMD series, the OMD-5, available in figured maple, gloss black, or rosewood. These were originally $800/pair but Vann's is closing them out at $360/pair. I have the floorstanding version of this speaker and it's really excellent. The midrange and tweeter on this unit is competitive with much more expensive speakers. Transparent, fast, yet smooth and natural, fills a room with a very wide sweet spot devoid of hot spots and suckouts. With a good sub this system would really rock out and be nearly invisible at the same time.

You can get wall-mount brackets for those OS3-Sat satellites. These should work. I used a pair just like it for my 1st-gen. Mirage Omnisats.

05-06-12: Frommerstop
Maybe go the other way, and look at speakers that ARE furniture. Klipschorns?

... or Tannoy Westminster Royal SE, JBL Paragon ...

My local dealer has a pair of Tannoy Westminsters set up. That's one effortless-sounding speaker.