We were asked to design a set of flexible HTML/CSS templates based on the Open University's new OU-ICE HTML framework. The templates needed to reflect the OU's widely recognised brand, while remain flexible enough to allow site authors to manipulate them to suit their requirements.
The solution I came up with combined semi transparent .png background images with solid background colours, allowing site authors to customise things right down to specifying a new colour scheme when required. I even included a few example colour schemes to get them started.
Not knowing what content would be added, or how the templates would eventually be used, I had to keep everything as flexible as possible, including the ability to change the column widths while ensuring that all content would fit and not break the layout no matter where it was used within the template structure.
The final templates allowed for the creation of unlimited custom colour schemes.