Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy the View
In typical fashion, I couldn’t let something remain unfinished, so I have spent some extra time to finish up my new theme. For some reason I have this problem of not being able to just let something sit on the shelf, and I suppose this time is no different.
I hadn’t planned on rebooting so soon, which isn’t a surprise, but this time around it’s really because of my site visitors. I had received some feedback about the lack of color (or wow factor) with my current theme, and really wanted to address that as quickly as possible. So here it is, another design.
Hopefully this will be well-received, even though I’m not done customizing yet. Of course those of us who are perfectionist designers know that there’s no such thing as “being done” with something! In my mind, the things I do always need refining and can be made better.
Changing gears, we are less than 48 hours away from leaving the soon-to-be bone chilling weather up here in Chicago, and heading down to Miami for a day. Then will step aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, and take a 7-night cruise to the Virgin Islands.
I’ll be willing to bet you that a majority of our time onboard will be spent at the boat’s “H20 Zone” which as you can see is a pretty neat waterpark/pool for children on the boat. It’s funny how parenting works, as you slowly get used to putting your kids first - and things like hanging out with a 3 year old while dodging water sprays coming from abstract plastic animals in the middle of the ocean seems like vacation time well spent.
I’ll drop a post or two while we’re gone, but in the meantime, sit back, relax and enjoy the view!
Comments
39 Responses to “Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy the View”
Really like the new theme. Clean and clear layout. The subtle dimensional effects are outstanding. Enjoy your vacation!
Wow this is a very crisp and clean layout, great work I am seriously thinking of joining the Revolution!!
Have a safe trip I seen some issues on the news in regards to weather and I just wanted to pop in to tell you and your wife to be safe!! Have fun!!!
@ Michael, thanks appreciate that! I tried to spend a little time adding some detail, so I’m glad that it got noticed!
@ Susan, another thanks - we’ve been tracking Noel for some time now, and we’re hoping it’s gone well before we head down there. Guess time will tell!
I, again, have to agree with the faster commenters (is that even an English word?). I absolutely love your style of designing, clean, crisp and clear and also the coding. I too expect to be joining the Revolution
@ JR, thanks - sometimes I wish I could break my style and go with a whole other look, but it never works out that way.
@ Susan & JR - I will be running a 25% off sale on all Revolution themes for the month of December (to celebrate the holidays). If you want to join the Revolution before then, send me a note through my contact form and I’ll give you the discount before then!
You sir, are the man! Love the new look for your site!
Tracy
Thanks Tracy, appreciate that - hopefully the new look and colors will make people enjoy coming here more often!
Nice job on the new theme. I really like the highlighting of the content on the single post page and the addition of a second column on the main page. You definitely achieved the goal of a crisper, more wow look.
The best yet…beyond shadow of doubt!
What do you think about Automattic’s idea to have a marketplace for designers to sell themes, and taking 50% of the sale price?
From one Brian to another …
Nice site you have. Just wanted to say thanks for making your themes available. I’m using a slightly tweaked version of your 3-col Silhouette.
Thanks again.
@ Ian - thanks a lot man, appreciate that. I really want to start focusing on content, so in order to do that, I thought giving the content front and center was the way to go.
@ Armen - I already emailed Matt about this - I’d definitely be open to submitting. I’m guessing that Revolution themes wouldn’t qualify, but I’d try making a few ones to put in the marketplace!
@ Brian - great rendition of Silhouette, love your colors. (btw, I’m a Christian who grew up skeptical in the Lutheran church. I feel your pain.)
Just joined the club. Let the tweaking and translations begin
btw.. I also send you an email regarding your remark above
Hi, Brian! I was searching for other ways to contact you to let you know about a slight issue with one of your freely available WP themes which I downloaded today. This is not the way that I would have opted to let you know about this, but your contact form appears to be currenly disabled.
At any rate, onto the issue. In the 3-column version of Silhouette (which is a great theme, by the way. Nice & clean!) on the right sidebar, you include the code for widgetizing the sidebar a smidge too soon. You put this: <?php if ( function_exists(’dynamic_sidebar’) && dynamic_sidebar(2) ) : else : ?> just before the code for the search box. That meant, for me, that when I chose to use widgets on the right sidebar, it broke the search box.
An easy fix, I just moved the code for the dynamic sidebar below the section for the search box, but for less experienced WP users, it might be a tiny bit frustrating.
Then again, maybe not - if no one else has ever mentioned it.
I love it - it is beautiful and clean and crisp and WOW!
Enjoy the plastic animals in the middle of the sea and please, watch out for sponge bob and his freaky square pants.
Your featured video is Brooke Fraser! That in itself makes this the best blog ever! The new theme just adds to that! Very nice Brian.
Maybe there should be a comma there. Very nice, Brian. Rather than a very nice Brian. Although I am sure you are… I’ll stop now.
Hey Brian,
Totally lovin’ this new look. The font you’ve used for your name is fabulous… makes me tempted to steal it. Grin. Trouble is, I’d probably botch the Rosalind part, so no foolin’ anyone there.
Hope you have a totally fabulous vacation!
Cheers,
Ros
P.S. Can’t wait to tel my subs about your upcoming Christmas special!
I love your new design, it’s so crisp and definitely has the wow factor!
Have a great holiday.
Love the new design! Color scheme is cool too. Great job Brian!
I was aboard Freedom’s sister ship, the Liberty of the Seas this past May. Its an amazing follow-up to the Voyager class, which I’ve had the pleasure of cruising on several times. I have a lot of photos from Liberty on my own blog at http://www.RoyalCaribbeanFan.com, drop by and join us, its always great to have another RCI fan there!
Enjoy the cruise!
Its really, i like your the new theme, clean and clear, layout is beatifuly
Take spirit…
Thanks Brian
LOVE IT.
Brian,
First of all: Great website, great work and a nice featured video!
excuse me to comment this ‘off topic’…
I couldn’t find another way to contact you.
If you have time, could you contact me please.
Thanks!
Oh, this is a nice theme, clean, crisp as per usual the Brian Gardenesque Style..love it. Hope you enjoy ur radical sabbatical in the Caribbean.
[…] following Brian’s example, I realize it a good thing to take some much needed rest once in a while. See a full list of […]
Hi Brian,
A bit late to the congratulatory party, but I’m digging this look more than your previous one. Great job!
There’s something about your top navigation though, can’t quite put my finger on it.
Regardless, keep up the excellent work.
You sound like an awesome dad, Brian. I hope you have so much fun!!
Love the redesign, too. I think it would benefit from having author comments be in a different style (have you seen Charity’s new design??). I’m sure you have many plans, though, so I’ll have to check back often!
This is wonderful!! Love the new look!!
Hey! Just noticed the Redbook theme release over on Performancing! Why didn’t you say something???! (or did you and I’m totally blind and not paying attn?)
Hey - is this theme associated with you in any way, or just a blatant rip off?
http://www.adii.co.za/revolution/
As always Brian, this IS nice work, and I actually liked your previous version better. It had a rich sophistication that this one doesn’t quite have.
I can’t view the css on the site. No clue why. I think my computer hates me.
Hope you are having a great and relaxing vacation. I have been looking at your revolution magazine theme and plan to get it.
I currently have a site that has wordpress blog running on it in a sub-folder. I wonder if it would cause a problem to add another sub-folder to run revolution magazine on the same domain?
I’ve been toying with the idea of buying Revolution since you launched it. Thanks to this re-design I think I might just do so. Great work.
Hi Brian! This is a wonderful theme. I have been searching for a new theme for a couple of my blogs, and I’ll send you an email about that later. BUT I just read about the discount that you’re having in december and I’ve decided that I’m definitely going to purchase this theme for at least one of my blogs!
What should I do to get the discount? I have many questions to ask you, but I’ll wait until you get back from vacation! Enjoy the trip!
Brian….check this out! They’re selling your theme - http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=545104
sorry to see that dude trying to sell your theme -
i’m very close to buying the magazine theme (from you!) but have several issues:
- when a story is tagged for Feature section, it shouldn’t appear in 2nd column, otherwise you have the situation in your example, the Scarlette Johannsen story appearing twice.
- can 2nd column story teasers have tiny image to the left of each teaser?
- can News demo ( http://news.revolutiontheme.com/demo/ )
replace the ad box with a video box, like in the magazine demo? how?
thanks.
Brian I loved your response today
“just because you know I’m on vacation doesn’t mean:
a) I don’t have people looking out for me
b) I don’t have access to the internet
c) I can’t pursue legal action
d) have you banned by on this forum”
Now if my math is correct you will be back in two days from your vacation and then a day to rest. I will begin the flow of questions on the 12th
Hi Brian
Love the theme. I purchased the Tech Revolution theme and totally pleased with it.
Keep up the great work.
[…] year, I announced a site reboot with this post, but this time around I’m letting you all down and keeping the same site design. (Sorry, […]