With your expanded budget I think there are lots of possibilities.
Again, consider used. It's not that your are looking for a "work of art", it's just that guns that started out in the higher prices are likely lighter, the stocks may be a bit slimmer in your hands and the metal work of higher quality. My SKBs at $600 to $700 have been great. They are quality guns, pretty but not so pretty you are afraid of a scratch, light and easy to handle. My last one was brand new at $1050, a 20 ga with 3 inch chambers and interchangeable choke tubes. I have a Winchester 101 O/U I bought used last year for $900 (retail from a dealer at a show), now my favorite O/U. Very nice gun, 3inch, tubes, should last you for years. You ought to be able to find Ruger Red Labels in 20 or 12, used but very good, in that budget (personally I think the Red Label 12 is too heavy but the 20 is nice).