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Althought it is highly used, I have always been a fan of the wood panel background. Gives the page alot of “weight”.
The logo/logotype seems to have alot of real estate devoted to it, but maybe that was the intention.
In addition the header image (with the sign) and the logo real estate make me go down half the page to get to the content. Might just be picky here but the content could be moved up a bit.
Drop the black left border on the nav items, unless you plan on lightening it and adding a top border to give a inward-bevel feel.
Nav links are a bit large. Dont get me wrong a large nav is always good, but the size might be a bit much…making it a bit smaller, vertically, will set it apart a little. Seems to have the same padding as just about everything else. Set it apart. These comments about the nav are really picky though.
Im not to sure bout the fact that the main content is “set within” a “cut-out” area ( the dark blue). I always try to create layouts that set the content “on top” of everything. Kinda like it was the top layer in a photoshop layout. Here the content seems sunken into the layout and the thick borders have more heiarchy that the content itself. Maybe a different color for the content (white) might bring it back to the top, or thinner darker borders.
The sidebar “Take a house tour, Installed Gas Grill” should have a slightly different color for the border than the main content container. Not to crazy, just enough to set it off.
Posted an sample that I messed with. Take what you like..just some small changes:
http://www.eddit.com/miscStuff/sample.jpg
The only three things I think need to change are:
1) Set the ‘motto’ (“The look & appeal…”) off from the rest of the words in that box. Maybe pull it out or otherwise differentiate it.
2) That darker color in the blue box just has to go (the one you use on links and in the motto). It’s impossible to read. Along those lines, I like the greater contrast of the text, as demonstrated by Eddie.
3) Give that Ponderosa Ridge Development header more of a ‘brand’ feel. Although I know you hate their logo, I would try to incorporate it somehow. It just feels like naked text when a real logoish header should be there (especially with the emphasis given it by the offsetting space). Maybe even ‘tweak’ their existing logo to be better, but it feels like some imagery should be there to accompany the text.
All of that to say, I’m not a designer (as you know) – just a critic. =) It’s a great design. I like it a lot and it’s 100x better than anything I could devise. Keep up the rockin’ work.
1) I also would lessen the padding around that “Ponderosa Ridge Development” header.
2) I agree that the motto “The look & appeal…” could stand out a little more. Maybe it could be incorporated somehow into that extra space in the header.
3) I’m having a hard time with the tan type on the blue background. I think a more complimentary color, a different font or even some letter spacing would make it a little easier to read.
Like I said, overall nice design. Interested to see how it turns out…
Keep ’em coming.