body { background: white ; color: black; font-size: 1em; margin: 0; padding: 1em 2em 0 2em; /*top right bottom left*/ } #wrapper { border: solid thick gray; background-image: url(wideStripe.gif); background-repeat: repeat-y; background-position: 50% 0; /* Horizontal 50% point on the image at 50% point on box. */ overflow: hidden; } #primary { width: 45%; float: right; padding: 2.5%; /*all four sides*/ } #secondary { margin-right: 50%; padding: 0.5em 0 0.5em 5px; } #header, #footer{ clear: both; padding: 1em 0.5em; /*top & bottom right & left*/ background-color: #ddd; }