Lowe's and HD have a good selection. I feel like we wasted $70 on a nice looking wood box that no one will see because it hangs on a wall in the hall. Oh well.

Really attractive doorbell chimes are unfortunately mostly crazy expensive. :-( Rejuvenation's got some lovely vintage replicas. Oak Park Home & Hardware has some unbelievably beautiful ones but OMG, you gotta be kidding me on those prices. Still, you might be able to garner some inspiration from those.

If you have a handy woodworkerish type, a wood cover can be made for the standard ugly doorbell box. Just leave it open at the top and have openings in the front so the sound can get out. Mission Door Bells has some nice examples of wooden covers.

Doorbell City has some pretty decent-looking ones. (I like the wireless clock one.) Ditto for Garbes.

Doorbell Factory's Tibetan singing bowl doorbell is super cool IMO. Doorbell Expressions has a couple of copper ones that look pretty neat, too.

The "el cheapo deluxe" option: several times I've used a wireless doorbell and stuck the noisemaker part in a basket, decorative bowl or some such thing on top of the fridge, cabinets, or a piece of furniture. Easy peasy. Those things are so loud that there's no problem at all hearing the ring! :-)

We got a nice oak wood cased doorbell chime at Home Depot. It came unfinished so we can stain or varnish it however we want - or we could paint it the wall color so it would disappear.

Thanks, everybody. And thanks for the links, Mari: whoa, no kidding on the prices!

In our area, Menard's had a better selection than Home Depot. Love the idea of the Tibetian chimes! Maybe, in my next life.

I have a recessed doorbell chime that looks like scrollwork. It looks like a piece of art on my wall.

Check out the link below. The one I have is on the 5th row, the furthest to the right.

Here is a link that might be useful: Recessed Doorbell Chime

organic, is yours in a prominent place? I have seen them either very decorative in a front hall or very utilitiarian in a kitchen or back hall. If yours is the utilitarian type, you can still buy new the very simple small rectangle with the bell on top. Makes a great sound!

We had the old 80's plastic brown box. I painted it the wall color so it just blends away. It even looks better, the linear relief design on the front is more obvious and has a faint asian look. I'm the only one who notices it, though :)

Ours is from Rejuvenation and I love it. I thought you might be able to see it here, but only a bit -- upper left.

{{!gwi}}

We have the one in the link below. We got it from either Lowes or Home Depot for about $10. I spray painted it antique brass to match the entry door hardware. It's loud as heck and I love it!

http://www.decorativehardwarestore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=18782

Here is a link that might be useful: our doorbell

We had the same as Lkplatow's. To me, it's the perfect doorbell. We liked the regular old-fashioned ring, loud enough but not obnoxious.

I *love* that entry hall mirror, sue!

Yes, lkplatow, that's the "utilitarian" one I was thinking of. We have an old one just like it in our kitchen. Love the sound it makes...more of a buzz than a ring.

This is one of the very few instances where something old-fashioned is still available new at your neighborhood hardware store/HD/Lowe's.

organic, have you checked ebay? Not ideal since you can't hear them, but you might be able to find some cool-looking pieces.

flyleft, thanks! I actually ordered that (Ballard catalog) to go in my bathroom, but it was too big, but I liked it too much to send it back!

bungalow house: We don't really have a proper entryway: you open the front door and--you're at the stairs! The chimes are right there, on the small wall to the left of the stairwell!

sueb: That's lovely, but I'm trying to keep the cost a bit lower (if I can). :)

lkplatow: What an adorable door chime! We actually need one that's not quite so loud because our house is so tiny. But it's a definite possibility. How did you prepare it for painting? Did you prime it first?

I followed bungalow's advice and checked on ebay. What do you guys think of this one? (link)

Here is a link that might be useful: Art Deco Door Chime

Here's the other contender, but it's getting a little pricey. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Art Deco Door Chime

They're both nice, but that second one is a beauty! I saw a house that had one something like that once. The doorbell had its own niche. (And rightly so.) :)