tomorrows-laundry.com have created some Basic WordPress layouts. You can save your time by using these layouts whenever starting a design.

Themes includes 2 Column Fixed - Left Menu, 2 Column Fixed - Right Menu, 2 Column Fluid - Left Menu and 2 Column Fluid - Right Menu

WPDesigner.com has also posted very useful and detailed tutorials on how to create a WordPress from scratch. Have a look at those tutorials if you want to be a WordPress theme coder. These tutorials can be found here.