How re-install OS X Lion fresh without disks?

Something is wrong with programs or something on my Mac and I want to completely wipe the hard drive and start over with a fresh copy of Lion. I did a Time Machine backup last night and will then just bring over files one at a time from that external drive as needed.
On someone's suggestion, I held down the Alt/Option key when powering on and chose the option to re-install the OS. It said it would take 5+ hrs so I let it run through the night. But this morning I still saw all of my icons, settings, etc. I want to COMPLETELY start fresh.
How can I do this, please.. especially with no disks?
Thanks for any help.

Hi rcook349,
id suggest doing as Colin mentioned, and then some:
1. Using the reformat the drive option
2. Installing fresh from your original OS disks (you mention you want to install without the disks, but the Lion.app upgrade file is an application which requires a base install - Im not sure how to make this install file bootable)
3. Running the Lion upgrade
4. Running the TimeMachine restores
Below is a link to a step by step (fresh) reinstallation guide for Snow Leopard:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3910
cheers
L

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