gsettings galore!

The gsettings configurations I have at the moment on Usul, with its 14" @1280x800 screen.

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface menus-have-icons true
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface toolbar-style icons
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface text-scaling-factor "0.8"
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.clock show-date true
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface 'buttons-have-icons' true

Clearlooks for Adwaita install

Download the theme: Clearlooks-Phenix

~# mv clearlooks-phenix-master Clearlooks-Phenix
~# sudo cp -R Clearlooks-Phenix /usr/share/themes/
~# gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme 'Clearlooks-Phenix'
~# gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/metacity/general/theme 'Clearlooks-Phenix' 

You are done

Gnome 3 customizations

Couple of settings to configure the Gnome 3 DE to my likings:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background show-desktop-icons true

Enables the use of the Desktop as, well... Just that, as a Desktop.

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-key-theme "Emacs"

Of course, this one sets the system wide keyboard combos to Emacs like ones, the way the whole Universe should be... My key bindings or the Highway!