[coldtea]

>Other issues with the design is huge unattractive margins and the main page containing almost no information when first loaded.

"Huge unattractive margins", or use of ample "negative space", has long been a staple of the design vocabulary. Nothing inherently unattractive about it.

If what you want to say fits in a small space, don't make it take over the screen, and don't try to cram every level of information on a single page.

And it's the opposite of the overly busy, migraine inducing NYT website you mentioned as a good example of web design.