Custom Gauges and dash facing

[Jmac05]

I have an uncle that would make Tim Allen look like a monkey with a Jigsaw. That being said, making the standard dash cluster panel would be a sinch, so I got an Idea...
What if I were to buy the best looking (in my opinion) gauges, then design a whole new setup for the cluster?
My question is, does anyone know who makes gauges that wire easily to the existing wiring? Or should I just take it to an auto electrician and have him do everything? I know one that would hook me up to a point, but I don't want to spend more than three or four hundred for him to install,
not including the gauges themselves.
I am also wondering if anyone has modified a center console, or the headliner to use that space for gauges, or maybe a stereo installation, as opposed to putting it in the dash.