Help with layout and design

well I’m making a site for someone and now he wants to change everything, the layout and design and stuff, and I agree but it’s really hard cause I am unsure of a good layout and colors. He wants blue mainly I think for colors, and can probably find colors later, but as it is I’m having trouble figureing out what is important and how it should look. He has made some things in PS, but I have my problems with a few things so I thought I would ask you guys cause you all have great ideas and a good feel for design/web. So here is a pic:

http://passedtime.com/mulepack/stuff/photos/design_pic.jpg

Here’s what I felt:
the blue bg is most likely just there, and will be changed, but I think it’s too dark a blue and flat looking. Like most things jsut something I cant pinpoint.

The middle area is going to get something later i guess. But another thing that I felt was that it is too horizontal; it is constricting and a strange flow. I felt that it would be better flowing more downward.

Thridly the colors, black is just really hard to pull off, I dont think it works here. Anyone agree/disagree?

Heres something i was thinking…

http://passedtime.com/mulepack/stuff/photos/idea.JPG

and possibly get rid of the something else… i dont know gah I just feel pretty lost on this. Basically please critique the above files and tell me design flaws and possibly how to make it better :i cant find the smiley i want, uh the embarrased smile one heh

thanks guys i know this is sorta dumb like saying, i cant do this so you do it for me, but im feeling lost.