Managing Tables

Hi guys, I have been playing with wordpress for a few years now but don’t really have any coding background.

I would like to set up a table that primary has collapsed cells in terms of padding and spacing. So in my css I have <table class=”hometable1″ style=”text-align: center; border-collapse: collapse;” border=”0″ cellpadding=”0″>

What I would like to do however is have some spacing between some of the cells not all of them.

I have tried adding padding within each of the cells that I want it but it conflicting with the collapse command.

Is there a simple way to do this?

If I haven’t been clear, what I want to do is a have a table with 2 cells running horizontally beise each other. I want to have border around the two cells so when published its looks like oe big cell.The collapsing will enable me to remove the dividing spaces.
Beneath them I would like a space. Maybe two emply cells. This is what is causing the problem.
Then I want to repeat the two cells again.ie another big box.

If someone can assist that would be great.