World's smallest home improvement project

Recently I had the idea that having a couple of tissue boxes sitting directly on the top of the toilet tank in the hall bathroom was not very attractive - bordering on unsightly.  Without consulting my lovely wife, I considered various solutions.  One might be designing and installing a stone extension of the vanity top, but that would be expensive and probably not match well.  I considered having a piece of tempered glass made-to-fit and securing it in a wall-mount bracket, but both the glass and track are also expensive.  Then I came across 1/4" aluminum U-channel at Lowe's and 1/4" solid oak that fits snuggly into the U-channel.  All under twenty bucks.! So I purchased the materials and quickly cut, finished and installed the metal and wood - voila, an almost instant shelf to hold the boxes. 

Upon revealing my brilliant-yet-simple improvement to my wife I was informed that it looks "tacky."  She opined that the boxes sitting directly on the tank-top looked better and there was no reason to make any changes.

Your opinion is sought.  What do you think is the most attractive and utilitarian way to handle the situation?  Shelf?  No shelf?  No boxes?  ???  Please enter your thoughts under the COMMENTS feature of this blog.


1/24/15
Wendy is right, the shelf was lacking flora.  I purchased a Lucky Bamboo which does not require direct sunlight.  (see additional photo) 

In response to Alan's comment regarding "high-standard materials" I added photos of the adjacent medicine cabinet I built of the same oak wood.  Al was overly complimentary of the materials used in the remodel.  The shelf and med cabinet are cousins.