Confused about LJ coding Options

[megggnasty]

basically, all i want is a really simple layout that i can do myself with a few codes.
aaaand i was wondering if it is as simple as sticking in style codes (link styles, etc.)?
i've never been able to figure out livejournal coding... HELP!

simple like this: http://users.livejournal.com/_perfectperfume/
that's my friend's livejournal and i've been trying forever to figure out how to get mine like it.

i know nothing. :D

[megggnasty]

yeah, sorry... i'm really bad at being specific.
using your guidlines, this is now the code for my lj that i'm using:

CODE

LASTN_TALK_READLINK=><a href="%%urlread%%">[%%messagecount%% Comments]</a>

LASTN_HEAD<=

<title>lala</title>
<style type="text/css">
<!--

body {
SCROLLBAR-ARROW-COLOR: #CEAF80;
SCROLLBAR-BASE-COLOR: #000000;
SCROLLBAR-FACE-COLOR: #000000;
SCROLLBAR-HIGHLIGHT-COLOR: #000000;
SCROLLBAR-SHADOW-COLOR: #000000;
SCROLLBAR-3DLIGHT-COLOR: #000000;
SCROLLBAR-TRACK-COLOR: #000000;
SCROLLBAR-DARKSHADOW-COLOR: #000000;
}

BODY, TD {font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#000000;font-size:10;}
A:link {color: "#4A372E"; text-decoration:bold}
A:visited {color: "#4A372E"; text-decoration:none}
A:hover { text-decoration:underline bold; color:"#6E533E"; cursor:crosshair; }

body {
overflow-x: hidden;
margin-left: 218;
margin-top: 130
}

body {
background-image: url('http://i11.tinypic.com/2z55g5f.jpg');
background-attachment:scroll;
background-repeat: repeat;
}

table, tr, td, .shadowed {
background: #C8B187;
}

table table {
width: 350px;
margin-left: 50%;
margin-right: 50%;
}
table table table {
width: 100%;
margin:0;
}
table table table table {
width: auto;
}

.x {
position:absolute; left:0; top:0; z-index: -10; }
-->
</style>
</xx-head>

LASTN_HEAD<=
<xx-p>
<=LASTN_HEAD

LASTN_WEBSITE<=
<center><br><br><img
src="http://i14.tinypic.com/2q8n0hh.jpg" class="x"></center>
<=LASTN_WEBSITE

LASTN_TALK_LINKS<=
<table>
<tr>
<td align="right" colspan="2" width="100%" bgcolor="%%color:weak_back%%" class="comments">
%%readlink%% <a href="%%urlpost%%">[Comments]
</a> <center><br>
</center></td>
</tr>
<=LASTN_TALK_LINKS

now for specifics:

1. how do i center and move my picture down so it isn't cut off by the top links?
2. how do i change the comment link and the amount of comments link?
3. http://users.livejournal.com/_perfectperfume/ - see how her "Glittering Wax Butterflies" and "White It Out" links have a red background instead of a white one? how do i make my comment links like that?