Hey cool, that first one is neat. I also like John Cow's themes, what do you guys think of my theme? http://www.hedgeagainstspeculation.com I know I know, it's nothing compared to the ones above, but it's a start.
Everybody has their own taste in web site design. Things I find most important in web design are simplicity, right use of colors and accessibility. After you achieved those you can play around and add that one piece that makes your design unique and beautiful .