designing...

Designing a site in general and your site specifically is always a bit tricky unless you are a designer by trade. You want something that is not too complicated or turgid so it runs well and is user friendly. Yet at the same time you still want the site to be something that is distinctive that separates you from the rest of the rapidly expanding pack. Content makes a lot of difference as well, of course, but the design of your website can be equally good at attracting an audience.
There are many times when blogs are linked to by other bloggers merely because they have changed the design of their site. This blog included. Naturally with bloggers you will know what they think of the new layout rather quickly.
In that quest to do something special and interesting with your design a reliable source of tips helps. As with everything on the web; someone has been there and tried/done that before you. There will be someone who can tell you what not to even bother trying and what really works. Not using those resources is both silly and a waste of time. We all are busy people and time is not exactly an ever expanding commodity.