I know someone who has man-made marble in a bathroom for shower surrounds and vanity tops, and beautiful white window casing and window sills of the same material. It looks great.

Thanks Vasundhara. I shall definitely do that. Houzz is such great place to have these conversations. It's like my best friend for home decor. I lose track of time browsing all the amazing work you guys showcase from around the world. So much talent !

Lostinwoods, Covering the holes should not be a problem with a small dab of painters putty. If you are lucky or have planned enough the frames may cover the area left behind by hanger or clock. IMO, you should use colored photos with white frames as the room seems a bit dark as described by you. You may need some focus lights for the frames. Have a look at some of these photos. Thanks, Nitin Cornerstone Designs, Bangalore.

How can we choose best plywood for bed frames and which is the best plywood brand to choose?