looking the useful resources for a template and web design

I am planning to up my new web sites and so I am looking the useful resources for a template and web design.

I've found that most of the makers of templates get so heavy on the graphics and design that you lose the point of the website.

I read some where that is a suggestion to study something like the traffic secrets site and then emulate (not copy) it.

I forgot the resources that talking about it, can anyone help to give me clearer understanding of what the traffic secrets site is? and how to emulate it?

Web Design From Scratch - That is a nice resource for beginners, it covers nearly everything.