I’m a fan and proponent of WP and work off a few different templates for clients — about to redo a few other sites and looking now for the “ultimate” wordpress template to start with… that still follows a general wide column, narrow column, top header format (like this site!). Would love to hear what any of you are loving right now?

I have a new project in which we’re using twentyeleven. I am new to twentyeleven so will be learning how to do the “child theme” thing. Always have a learning curve, you know? Heh.

I recently saw several WP blogs with the Genesis framework that I really liked too as @Paul Wylie mentioned.  

P2 is good if you want to have guest bloggers although the header area is not very tall.  Your header will take up very little space. Here is an example of the P2:  Web Easy Blog. <<< A new project just starting out so, no posts yet.

It’s hard to look at WP themes, there are so many beautiful ones. Then, you have to figure out how to make the changes to make them acceptable for your use or clients use. But, it all comes down to business in the end, eh?

I am with @supereb and prefer to customize child themes from Twentyeleven. But unless you know how to manipulate the themes, it is best to go premium. 
Themeforrest. I have an aff link from my site if you really like my suggestion!

@sharijstauch we are diehard Genesis users. Bought the framework and the entire collection of templates, which we share with our clients. We also like WooThemes.com and ElegantThemes.com.

Twentyeleven is where I like to start, then I hack it all to pieces trying to incorporate my layout (evil laugh)

@chrisloeser @jasonwiser Picturing the evil laugh and loving it – thanks for all the great info… By tomorrow I’ll know just enough to be dangerous (she said, cackling…)

I start with the Genesis or Thesis framework and either work with an existing skin/theme of customize from there.

I definitely like woo themes first for their magazine themes. But I’ve been a member of elegant themes too for years. I like the style options on both.