Site Re-design

[Neballer]

Good morning kids. :D

I just wrapped up re-designing my dad's companies website.
Here's the original (http://www.americanprairiehomes.com)

I wanted to bring attention to their work, because A: It's outstandingly beautiful. B: The only copy I had to work with was what was on the old site. I figure if someone wants to read the copy they'll take the time to do it, otherwise they can just look at all the pretty pictures.

So here's what I've got (http://www.rgsdesign.com/carp/APH/)

Tell me what you think.
Also if anyone can tell me why the images for int9, int10 & int14 have weird horizontal lines going through them that would help alot too, because I've looked at everything and can't figure it out.

thanks.

[Neballer]

nice catch on the email link Liam, they never work on my computer.
As far as the scrollies - I'd like to get rid of them, but there's a lot of content, so we'll see what my dad says.

[Neballer]

and since morea is probably sleeping, here's you congratulatory taco.

<taco revoked>

[Neballer]

interesting, that is a problem. What browser are you using? I'm not getting a horizontal scroll bar in Firefox. Thanks again. :D

[EC]

The site looks great. But I was just about to mention the scrollbar thing heehee. Liam beat me to it.

I am using IE 6.0 (Well, actually I use firefox but I guess I'm in the habit of viewing things in both just to test). IE translates width issues differently than firefox, that's why you're getting the horizontal. The first thing I always do is check the padding and margin settings. Hope that helps. :)

[morea]

sorry Neb... I revoked the taco as his post count went back under 500. :D

[steve-o]

Great site. What I like is how well the site design becomes an extension of the exteriors and interiors that are being showcased. I see a lot of Mission/Stickley-style pieces in there too. :)

My only small gripe is the cropping of some of the interior photos. There are many vertical and horizontal lines that abruptly end (i.e. http://www.rgsdesign.com/carp/APH/pages/wc/int2.htm, http://www.rgsdesign.com/carp/APH/pages/wc/int1.htm, etc.)

BTW, I don't see any weird horizontal lines.

[Satchel]

I think it looks pretty good... the only thing I would look at changing is the color of the text on the buttons... they get kinda lost, especially on roll-over. other than that looks good to me.
Satch.

[colonel5]

I'd say the same thing as satchel... I like it, its just the text in the buttons, maybe make them the color of the background of the text on the left hand side?

[Jimeda Fork]

I have to say, if you're not aware of the Liam scenario, it looks like you're having a conversation with yourself. (after the edits)

Good looking site. I would add more exterior pics.

[Satchel]

I am not aware of the Liam scenario - I know he lost it a while ago but what's the new thing that's goin' on?

Edit: Ok I read the "please ban me" thread he started - what a baby... like I said before, drama queen!

Oh and sorry for the hi-jack ne.

[morea]

he threw a fit here and on HOW's boards, called people names, insulted their parentage, threatened to "beat people up", and then went through and deleted all his posts.

Not the first time HERE, although I think it was the first time on HOW.

Then he demanded to be banned so that he wouldn't be able to post again, so Kool showed him the door.

[Jimeda Fork]

I don't wanna hijack this thread so here's a link. Link (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11752)

Now back the the review. . .

[morea]

whoops, sorry for the brief hijacking of your thread.

I quite like the colors and simplicity of navigation.

Just to be nitpicky, on the "work" page, your first paragraph ends with a period, but the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs don't. ;)

[Neballer]

Well I guess he fooled me. It's amazing how crazy some people really are sometimes.
Either way, thanks for the tips y'all :D

[jlknauff]

interesting, that is a problem. What browser are you using? I'm not getting a horizontal scroll bar in Firefox. Thanks again. :D

I've run into the same problem - it will show up on pages that scroll down because in FF the scroll bar is only there when there is enough content to scroll down, thus it take some real estate away from the horizotal space.

Not enough contrast on the nav links. No text links are bad for SEO as is an "enter" page.

[jlknauff]

sorry Neb... I revoked the taco as his post count went back under 500. :D
What is a taco?

That reminds me... need to eat lunch! :rolleyes:

[morea]

you know, a taco! http://www.explodingplastic.com/forums/images/smilies/taco.gif

[Mynock]

Mmmmmmm taco. I'm hijacking his thread after he hijacked my avatar!

[Neballer]

Hijacked!? pfft. :p

[Satchel]

Yeah but his doesn't blink... (though it still messed me up a little this morning)

[cjoe]

about the website:

i think you need to do somthing with the type on your navigation bar. Its not super easy to read. Other than that i like the site. Esp. the photography, did you hire someone?

[Neballer]

cjoe:
I did all the photography myself, so thanks for the compliment.

So I'm hearing change the navagation text - makes sense.

*edit*
re-reading this post sans Liam makes me look a little crazy. <shrugs shoulders> :D

[cjoe]

its just a little dark against the background texture. 500 posts woo!
Do i have to have a Taco? because its 9 in the morning here. I'd rather have eggs benedict.

[TheBluePanda]

I will need a Taco in a couple more posts. :)

[morea]

next one is at 500, panda! Get posting! :D

[LeeIs]

Great job man. The new version is way better than the old one.

I really like your splash page. The house, skies and the sign up front. Just wonderful work. But how about making the "American Prairie Homes" sign also a hot spot that people could click? It all depends on your dads clients but the older folks might have a tough time aiming at that enter sign below.

As far as inside the site. I like the wood work up top (navigation bar) and down below. I second maybe changing the colour of the navigation text otherwise the colours are great. Although the "American Prairie.." logo on the first page seems to have a background that is a different colour than the actual background.

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/6098/logo0cr.jpg

If it was intentional, I'd suggest you increase the padding around the logo and centre it properly within the area that it's in.

One more thing, in the links to the "works" the last links seem to drop down to another line when there's plenty of space to keep them in the same line.

ex. "ex7", "int7" and "int13" .
"int14" seems to be on a line of it's own as well.

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/8955/links3yu.jpg


Overall great work :D

[Neballer]

Thanks for all the help ladies and gents. The site went live last night(not without problems mind you, GO Daddy sucks arse.) But everything is well, My dad even got a comment about it already this morning.

This morning I visited your web site and to my surprise I saw the updated version. I would like to congratulate you all! The site is incredible. I don't believe I have ever seen a better builder web site!! The colors turned out great. I still can't believe **** and I built our home. We are enjoying it sooo much.

Thanks again. :D

[morea]

aw, that's got to be a great feeling! Congrats!

[Neballer]

yes, words like incredible tend to make me blush a little.
thanks morea. :D

[chriscrooz]

Yea, very well laid out and the colors used are very welcoming to the product that is being promoted. Also the logo goes well with the craftsman style homes that your Dad builds. Also did you end up launching that postcard / flyer campaign that you had posted a few months back? let me know.