html help?

okay im making an web page with html and i no, i dont know how to do css so if it can be avoided please do so if not at least explain how to do the code and where to put it.

basically, i have 2 questions:

i want to have a very simple site that has like a main body area, a banner and a little side bar , but i need help with the code. how do i know how big to make the table so it will take up most of the screen? what size is that? how do i put my banner on a page?

also.... how do i vertically align an image?i know how to do it horizontal, its just <center> </center>

but how do i put it where its at the exact vertical middle? i wanna make a table, but it in the center and vertical center of the page, and have a banner up at the top for about 975 pixels. can someone please help me with the code and please dont refer me to "online sites" that teach me how,i dont want to learn it all theway i know some of it i just need help witht his code.

i just need the code to put a table in tthe center vertically/horizontally, and then have a banner up top, thank you soooo much and ill answer your questions if i can :)

love,

-erica