How can a coder design a beatiful site

[sabbatia]

Hi. I am a hardcore coder, and know something about ps. Not so familiar but I can follow a online tutorial to recreate a design.
I know how to create them, but I have no idea about how to make is beatiful. If I use the default color provided by program languages, the site looks boring and ugly. If I try to use some more colors, add my ps photos, and add some animated effect, it looks oddly and ugly:eek: .
I know I am supposed to ask our designer to design for me. But I think he won't work for my personal work. And after all, the designers of my employer are not so good, I think they are familiar with ps but have no idea about art. I will rate their work as oddly( the customers also think so).
I know it is hard to answer, but I would like to know how can I make my first step to make my site beatiful and creative:confused: . giving that I can program an effect if I know what the effect is. maybe an online tutorial about how to choose the right colors can be helpful.
Thanks

[vtwin_gary]

welcome to GDF sabbatia. don't get disapointed by the lack of responce, it gets really slow at night & over the weekend. check out this thread (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42&highlight=ultimate+resource) for some inspiration.

[EC]

This is actually one of my favorite sites lately, lots of beautiful color combinations - http://www.colorschemer.com/schemes/

Trying to sum up how to design a beautiful website in a couple of paragraphs is a really difficult thing to do. But, if I were to try, it would read something like this most EXCELLENT article, she says it much better than I could so be sure to check it out -- http://www.lealea.net/blog/comments/can-you-justify-design-decisions/

Here is another really excellent article you should read, written by one of my favorite designers out there, when he talks, I listen. :) http://www.thinkvitamin.com/features/design/how-crap-is-your-site-design

Good luck!

[vtwin_gary]

when he talks, I listen. :)

that's funny. did you read what i just posted in the new poster thread (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15967)

Sorry punk, Jeff is like my E.F. Hutten.

[EC]

HAHA, I hadn't read that but ... great minds? :)

[sabbatia]

Oh, lots of them! and I really like the color schemas.
Thanks, your response is not slow.:) Why you guys still awake in 03 AM:confused:
I have surfing for weeks tring to get an idea about how to start. But I get little process, I found losts of ps tricks, which cann't help me.
Finnaly I have found the gate from coders' world to designers:D

[EC]

Its only 8:20pm in my part of the world. :)

Glad we could help, hope you stick around. We need coders 'round these parts too.