Is it possible to change the off page background. I'd like to change from white to, say, pale grey. I can't see an option in the theme options and wonder if there is a graphic in the images files that I need to change and ftp?

Thanks for any help. This is by far my favourite WP theme.

See A. THeme Options -> Body, Text & Links -> Body Style

I've retired to a corner and will cry with embarrassment. I can't begin to imagine how I could have missed something so obvious. Thank you so much for the answer.

So the only thing it says in A. THeme Options -> Body, Text & Links -> Body Style is this: To put space above and below the layout:
padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px;

I've tried to type padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px;

I've also tried the same thing with the word border-left: 20px; and border-right 20px;

I've tried margin-left: 20px;

I would like to have the same thing a white background for my center and sidebars and an offpage background of pale grey.

Can you be more specific about what I should do?

take a look at the ato->Style & configure LAYOUT options for the sides and use the

padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px;

for top and bottom space. to change the background color use the 'bakcground' option in tehe 'Body Style
' option