Creation of a website

Hi everyone,

First i want to wish you all a merry X-mas and my best wishes for 2007. I know it is not new-year yet but then i am sure iwont forget ;)

Then my question
I want to make a website but as i have never created a complete website i wonder how i should start and what i should use.
I have some knowledge of HTML, PHP, Javascript, Mysql en css which means i should be able to make a nice website but i wonder what's the best way to start.
For example: I think the best is to have a good template sothat i can modify my website easily in the future.
My father is using a template that he created with "Macromedia Studio MMX" (I think that was the name) and if he wants to make a new page he opens it and starts adding items on it and save it as a new page.
If he wants to modify his whole site (his background or menu or layout) he just modifies the template and the whole site is updated. On the ther hand if you look at the source-code of it, it doesn't look as nice than if you wrote it yourself.

Myself i am used to program everything in notepad or at least a text-based editor except for php i use a editor that adds some colors ;)

So i hope you guys can give me some advices to start with because i am not sure at all what i should do. Should i make a tempate with a program and base all my pages on it or should i work with css?

Then another question: Is there a good way to structure the website? I mean the directories.
I guess this might be pretty important for images, sounds, flash, ... when you use it on the pages.
I will have to use paths like ../../images/myImg.gif for example or is there an easier way?

PS: I don't know if i will use a database in the future so i think my first choise should be php right? This let me use mysql in the future if i want.

Thanks in advance for your idea's.

Thread moved from 'Support and Suggestions' to 'General Chat' by tkarkkainen.

Reason: Not a problem with the site

Hmm. Personally I like to make the site backend and frame before i worry about how the front looks. For my current project I am using the Zend Framework MVC (Model-View-Controller) implementation to build the skeleton of my site. I have mixed and matched other ZF components with my own to make the site as "light" as I can and so far am happy with it. The nice thing about it is the view part of it automatically uses/requires some kind of templating. I personally am just using PHP itself since one of the things it does well is templating (but you have to be sure to ONLY include display logic) though there are many other options available (like smarty).

As for how to make the pretty front side - depends upon you and what you want to get out of it. If you want to do something fast/easy/less thought - use the Studio. I personally like things cleaner then that and am willing to put in the time needed to create it myself (also broadens my skills to more then just PHP coding).

I personally hate sloppy code - be it in the back or front end. So I hand code and comment my PHP, HTML and CSS. Call me over-trained, a perfectionist, a pain in the butt if you want, but you will love me if you ever have to come after me on a project.