Ask HN: I am programmer...wanting to get some design skills under my belt

So I am a programmer.

When working on my own projects, I get kind of stuck when doing design. It's not only lacking skills in the actual manipulation of pixels on a screen in a graphics program, but more of a page / site design: the feel, the flow, the visual link with the actual project at hand.

I've tried to get some bearing by reading material on design, and of course you get a lot of pointers to CSS and HTML 5 material. I find most of the CSS and HTML 5 material scattered and only focusing on the syntax of things. Want to do a table? Do this. Want to do a cool looking menu? Do that.

In the end, I want to be able to look at a design and reason what works and what doesn't, so I can actually internalize what makes good design. A sort of mental model, so to speak. An example: for some reason, designs containing vintage elements (CSS Zen Garden has a few) and tile-based stuff...just appeals. And they appeal to a lot of people. Why?

I realize this involves a lot of practice and experimentation, not to mention, crappy designs :) but so be it.

Sorry if I sound vague, but I can't think of better words to explain the question.

I'm not expecting to beat a professional design person, with umpteen years of experience in industry or (web) design. I'm looking for a way to get going, and yet have a pleasing, albeit lacking design to work with.