My recommendations is, if possible use Expression Blend for designing your interface, instead of Code Behind and instead of using the Visual Studio designer, it will save you lots of time. Also try to rethink using the C# instead of xaml. Xaml isn't so ugly if you are do it the "WPF Way". Often times, when I think it is easier to use the code behind instead of xaml, it is because I'm doing it the wrong way and need to rethink how it should best work with WPF/xaml. Xaml is great once you get used to it. I have also used entity framework which is not too great yet. I prefer NHibernate.
