Buiding Technique question

[Hoth Rebel]

I recently stumbled upon a great MOC by the builder Bartosz on Flickr. He has a very nice way of building and was hoping to use some us his techniques in MOCs of my own. Anyway, I really like his clean border and sideways building technique and I'm trying to figure out how this is accomplished. I usually build with SNOT, but how he does it the black border is the same height as the middle section (in this case the Tan sand). Is it simply not connected or is there a way to do this? 

I figure it has something to do with the line on the left side, but if I try plates with studs on the side I either have to sacrifice the black bricks on the left side or it won't fit. If anyone could help that would be great haha. I've tried asking him about the technique, but didn't get a reply. 

 

[Trekkie99]

It could very well be something as simple as this. 

 

[Hoth Rebel]

Ah yes, sometimes it's so simple you can't see it haha. Thanks!