Hmm, I think I'll just make two versions..one with the original bar from the OP...and one with the woodgrain from the pic above.fwiw (and probably not much), i think i prefer the black bar. or, maybe change the color of the notifications/icons in the bar from white to black or metallic (kind of like the signal bars, or in the power strip)...??
That way there's a choice and everybody can be happy