How to make the X GUI more attractive / Desktop manager customization.
 

1. I set up my Linux system by downloading Fluxbox. Fluxbox itself look very nice, but it only stylizes the edges of the windows. The rest of the GUI has a boring, drab, gray interface. How do I make it look nicer? Installing KDE/GNOME should be a last resort, unless there is a way to emulate their styles without all of their supplement programs included. [Also fixed -- see below.]

2. Is there a way to run fluxbox without a desktop manager? If not, then is there any way to customize the appearence of the K or GNOME desktop managers? [Fixed -- I am satisfied with GDM.]

You need to spend a little time on the Fluxbox site reading about customizing it. It is really easy to change the background to any gif, jpg or png using a program like fbsetbg. Also, Fluxbox comes with a variety of themes already installed. Check out the fluxbox menu System Styles.

You can tart up the background image using chbg (desktop image changer). It makes your desktop look funky if your image changes every 20 mins (you can specify a directory for it to randomly pick images from) and compliments the minimal look nicely.

applications that use gtk engines etc will have to be configured by configuring the default gtk themes which i think can be down with an applixcation (not sure which one).

Yes
Installing the Fluxbox Windowmanager has lots of cool tips including section 1.3 which may be the answer to your question.

Does that answer your questions?

Like I said, Fluxbox only stylizes the edges of the windows, i.e. the titlebar. What I'm interested in changing is the main interface, for instance, the interface you see in the regular programs.

I tried installing gtk-theme-switch and the clearlooks engine. The problem is that while I can switch themes, there is no difference in style afterwards.

I'm not sure what you mean. The interface within regular programs doesn't really have much to do with your window manager.

Can you give an example of what it is you'd like to change?

I apologize for being unclear. I would like to direct you to this screenshot:

http://fluxbox.sourceforge.net/zoom....Es_fluxbox.jpg

Look at the window titled "Enviado - Ximian Evolution 1.2.4." As you can see, the interface is generic, gray, and boring. The scrollbars are gray and unstylized, etc. This is the way all of my applications with menus and scrollbars currently look. I'd like to change it to something different.

I forgot I was using a gtk2 theme. Invoking "switch2" at the command line did it. Thanks.