Page Background (outerwrapper?) & RH Column

Hi Guys

I have two questions. After looking through the posts here and help files I am still not clear on the following;

1) We are currently redesigning our site and would like to include either a background image/colour as well as having a shaded edge on the tables right hand edge and bottom, thus making the page stand out from the screen. Every time I add a background image to the body tag it colours the whole screen including the area behind our central content. Can someone please tell me where I can add an image/colour to just the body of the page and keep a white backfround on the central content section. Similar to this Gproxy design