The site design is an attempt to fully utilize the capabilities of css without the use of any imagery apart from the work itself, with the exception of one or two calligraphic flourishes used for the sidebar.

…fully utilize the capabilities of css without the use of any imagery…

I wanted to use a strict grid as well, push the limits of web typography (only using web fonts) and a restrained color palette to create a simple, well-structured, usable design.

It was also a conscious effort for the site to use minimal gradients, avoiding any form of shiny effects for the true beauty of the design to shine through.

I doubt my css will validate, due to a little hack or two for lovely IE, with an intention to include a separate stylesheet in the foreseeable future.

I coded the site by hand though, with the backing of textpattern and the help of Coda, with a home-made css column-grid framework, all on my beloved macbook.