Many sites use gradients whether they are used in the the logo (like twitter) or the background (like tr.im) they can break up blocks of solid colour and become an aesthetic compliment to the sites design.
Gradients enjoyed a burst in popularity with the “web 2.0″ aspect of design, but they can be used on sites [...]

Grunge design can look very cool if done correctly, gone of the days where just rock bands had the torn edges, distorted fonts, ink spats and stained paper.
This branch of design is becoming commonplace in many different niches, often with some modern or classic elements (eg. using wooden backgrounds and rounded fonts etc…)
So to assist, [...]