12 March 2010

A new layout poll


Here are a handful of layout options I have in front of me. I like the one that's up and running now but I've been getting mixed reviews. I made up some samples so let me know if any of these work better than the others.

Option A: Pleasant and Non-Threatening


Option B: 3-D House of Flies


Option C: Miss Sandy Sandstone


Option D: Rusty the Diesel


Option E: Down Down Yellow and Brown


Option F: The Tired and Expected Cliché


So there are six options. Bear in mind that this is a temporary fix and that I have a new logo that will get folded into this version and will be the linchpin of the final version. That final version ought to be ready by summer. Now, my goals are simple. I want the template to come second to my content but I want the template to show off my content better than my old template did.

I want it to be kind of serious, but not too serious.

I want it to look like something other than the cheesy, canned template that it is.

With that said, I welcome your feedback. Thanks gang.

27 comments:

  1. The flies. No doubt at all.

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  2. I prefer this one: pleasant and non-threatening. But I've come accustomed to the old one. What was wrong with that?

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  3. I like C & E because of the colors and texture. Sorry - don't like B & F simply because they have a pattern that could be distracting to the content. A and D have some characteristics that make them appear a bit contrived to me though I like the color in A that is calming --maybe to calming for your style.

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  4. until you get the header up, it's impossible for me to have an opinion! the header's really critical.

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  5. I use Google Reader so 75% of the time I don't even see full blog layouts. Makes you realize content is king.

    Sharon

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  6. Melody: The flies were an homage to you. I love the idea but maybe that's one to hold onto for special occasions.

    Chuck: The old one was getting to the point where it made my eyes bleed. That and I couldn't customize it enough to suit my purposes.

    Pam: Thanks for your thorough response. I'm leaning toward the one that's up now and E.

    Sara: I'll get there, I think I have some time tomorrow.

    Sharon: Good point. I'm the same way. However, I still need a decent-looking layout for the remaining 25%. It has to work for readers and in all candor, for advertisers as well.

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  7. At the very least go for Rusty, it has depth in the color besides I like old, rusted stuff.....Every patina tells a story.

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  8. Julie and Sara's comments last night have me thinking about the whole texture thing now...

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  9. While I love the title of Sandy Sandstone, I vote for the Rusty. I understand that this is a temporary fix, but the current background is too blah for my taste and your voice.

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  10. Miss Sandy Sandstone was for you specifically Kevin. I've been laughing about it since last night. Thanks for your feedback!

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  11. It occurs to me the reason I don't care for the current one is it is exactly the colors (and condition) of the walls of the elementary school I went to. EEEK

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  12. Was that finish on purpose? My elementary school walls were struck cinderblock with a lovely whitewash. That's probably why I hate white walls now.

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  13. Yes, your old background was nothing to write home about. My vote goes for Rusty the Diesel. Am I prejudiced toward it because I drive a diesel Jetta? No, it's the colors and the fact that the texture is not the same old BORING kind that's seen on way too many web pages.

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  14. By the way, it is just my computer this morning or is this page slow in downloading for everyone?

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  15. Thanks Roxanne! Comments from cousins are always welcome!

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  16. Hmmm, slow download bad. Anybody else?

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  17. Nope-- I doubt they were 'aged' on purpose. We had cracks too probably because we were in earthquake country. I also dislike cinder block for the same reason you do but they were painted this lovely shade of Plutonium green (it's actually grey but they always make it look green in the movies). I'm starting to appreciate more 'mid-century modern' than I used to because I grew up around it so much. Before it became popular --It just evoked 'institutional' and stuff that was in the garage sales of my youth. So... I guess that really dates me. It reminds me of having to dive under our desks for the weekly "bomb drills" during the Cold War in the fetal kiss-your-ass-goodbye position with our hands crossed behind the backs of our necks --like that was really going to make a difference.

    When I was in college, I interned with a local interior designer who felt that you should never paint a room green because (she felt) it always makes the occupants look ill. I think you can use it cautiously --maybe not on all the walls. The shade in your post is probably as flattering as possible to most skin tones -perhaps because it fades to yellow. To this day, I have only one room that is green (a tiny powder room). Now I want to paint it really bad.

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  18. Very slow page load for me as well, although I may just need to feed the squirrels on the wheel inside my computer some more crack...

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  19. I think you should go with option C because the color reminds me of Italy or granite or good stone tile--all things I expect to read about on your blog. You can dress the blog up with a nice title graphic.

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  20. Thanks! I love that you expect to read about Italy around here. Maybe beating that dead horse works.

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  21. This green reminds me of mould and decay - SO not you. Either rusty diesel or yellow brown are better. I do like the clear type and wider column - v. nice.
    Like someone said - content is king, I usually read you in a feed reader anyway, so all your lovely (or unlovely)layout is lost!

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  22. Not the flies: too busy (aside from the fact that flies and kitchens go together a bit too well!). Change it to flowers and you have every gooey, misspelt mommy-blog. I like all the others.

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  23. Clarity: Good point(s).

    Chookie: Flowers never figured into it. Nor bunnies or kittens or any other gag-me mommy blogism you can think of.

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  24. Oh, I'm never good with change.... but if you want to make a switch, my vote is for Rusty the Diesel. It has more colour and character than the other ones -- like you!! :-)

    I saw the Brizo RSVP with the crystal finial live and in person today. GORGEOUS!!!!

    Kelly

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  25. My choices in order...D,E,C and definitely not 'the flies'. :)

    Even though you seem to be leaning towards the green; it still to me appears 'anaemic'. Sorry! Can you photo edit it?
    -Brenda-

    (I darkened it, added a mosaic texture (glass patches) and it was even still kind of blah.) -Brenda-

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  26. Kelly: Thanks. There's rumored to be a prototype of the RSVP floating around with a black crystal in the finial. Ooooooh.

    Brenda: I think the green is done as of today.

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  27. I like D & E, but would prefer the white area more of a biscuit color to be not as bright on the eyes. Love the larger font. The burgundy lettering is fine on the archives, but I really liked how the already read ones were lighter... since you asked!

    About 5 years ago I saw prototypes of RSVP with different marble and crystal handles-- Very cool! Too bad that never made it out!

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