Check your server's logs to see what your users are using, and design your pages to suit. The best designed web site may be an elegantly simple one, created with restraint and intelligence. See my list of helpful bookmarks , and my web site development tips . Most of all - know your users and design for them. See AlertBox by Jakob Nielsen for current issues in Web Usability - 5 stars.
Usable Web is also a comprehensive resource.
Visit WebMonkey for great tutorials. I prefer it message by message rather than digest form. For database interfaces look to perl scripts, ColdFusion and watch Microsoft offerings. Skip the Java. Use and Opera browsers.