Need help with protos

[wheatleyweb]

Hello all...

I would really love some ideas/suggestions from you guys on how I might "punch" this up a bit. With each job I get I try to push myself beyond what I have done before. I struggle with design more than anything. I like the way it looks, but I think it needs more, something different. I'm just not sure what it might be.

Thanks for your help, critiques, praise.

wheatleyweb

Homepage
http://www.jmwheatleydesigns.com/test/Proto2.jpg


Subpage (Each page will be a different color, with different plant/landscape graphic)
http://www.jmwheatleydesigns.com/test/Proto2b.jpg

Here's another one, slightly different layout
http://www.jmwheatleydesigns.com/test/Proto3.jpg
(http://www.jmwheatleydesigns.com/test/Proto3.jpg)

[azdak]

Not sure if you're stuck with that logo, but I'd drop it and come up with something else, or else better integrate it. The rest of the site feels very calm and zen and all that, and the busyness and contrast of the logo really drags it down (the 'tab' in the third one is a start in the right direction). Also that gradient for the selected menu item is yucky- maybe just a flat background color change on the menubar item, or bold the text in different color?

Nice enough colors and feel all around, though.

[cshaheen]

I agree, the logo stands out is kind of in-your-face. I don't think it's the logo design, but rather framing it in that white oval. Integrating the logo into the top navigation more smoothly I think would help calm it down. Perhaps dropping the drop shadow (pun) and using a lighter color from your palette (not white) would be something to try.

As far as concept 3 goes, I don't think it is wise to split the navigation, in almost any circumstance.

The pictures are nice, but I feel like the one on the homepage is too big

And like azdak said, the selected button gradient as to go. A solid color highlight would be more suited to the design.

The envelope icon for the contact button looks nice, though it took me a while to realize it was even there, simply because every other navigation choice was a text field. Just something to think about.

[wheatleyweb]

Thanks guys. The logo is giving me the most trouble. While I did create it, I didn't necessarily design it. I came up with a number of logo ideals for but none of which she wanted. So she decided on the cherry blossom branch. At this point, I'm stuck with it.

I agree, on the integration. That has been the most difficult for me. I'll work on a few more concepts and post, see if they are improvements.

And the envelope was another idea of the client. I may have to make it more intuitive. Although I see nothing wrong with just the word "Contact" since that is the way it is everywhere else on the Web.

thanks again for your crits. I'll check back.

wheatleyweb