Review my site! Criticism welcome!

[CharmRoyal]

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1042/capturexx3.png
http://www.charmroyal.com

Somethings I already know

I am aware that the size of the layout/background is big
It's very colorful and as omen would say "a playground for little girls"


I'm willing to accept as much criticism as I can so that I can improve. I would try and make the sizes of the 2 main files smaller, but it reduces the quality way too much. As for the colorful and kiddish look -- that's just my style. I love color.

So please post your opinions, I won't be offended because I think it'd help me!

:helpsmilie:

[spotlight-shure]

I love the color. It really is playful and i love seeing that on your site.

With your layouts, i feel that you always do the same thing. It's always 3 columns/frames and pretty much always the same size. It's always white in the middle and you always use light colors (meaning no dark grey, dark blue, dark black).

Yes i love colors too and you can still do a dark themed layout with bright/bold colors.

But you should definitly try a new style for your layouts and css. It's pretty much always the same to me. So if it's always the same, why do you plan on changing it?

Don't get me wrong i LOVE your website and i love seeing new layouts but i'm just getting kind of bored with the same stuff on the layout.

For the content, i never get bored of that since you update with 100 things every single day. (I know you just did a huge update with Ryan Sheckler.)

But my main thing is the style/layout. Maybe switch the affiliates/links/advertisments on the left next time just to give it a new look and feel.

Surprise us Melissa because i know you're work isn't just everybody elses, just play around with it and see what you can do. =)

But you know i love your site anyway so what more do you need to know lol.

[CharmRoyal]

Thanks Shannen!

I'll post why I never make dark layouts and the reason I don't change the navigation AND why I don't change the coding... haha.

I never make dark layouts or change the color of the center because the graphics don't look good on dark backgrounds. Simple as that... I know it's a shame, but glitters look horrible on black backgrounds or any color besides white.

I won't change the navigation sides because the standard for navigation is on the left side... it's just a basic thing in web design. I've thought about not even having a 3rd column, but until all the advertising expires, I have to keep it.

I don't change the coding size because I simply suck at coding. I had someone else code the layout for me. Hence why I finally did the new container thing. I love that. I did however change the CSS. It doesn't look the same to me, but it's the same structure.

Anyway thanks for telling me what you think! Every little opinion helps! :)

[bradley]

I really like your layout. I think you need to put some more color in the top left and right corners of your header. The black just looks really "BAH" at me. xD

The background you have on your headers (h1), are awesome. Those look great. The star you have on your navagation would be cool if it blinks diffrent colors when you hovered it. I dont know if you can do that, but I think it would look good.

Overall, I really do love your site!

[CharmRoyal]

Yeah the header! Oh let me tell you. I tried to add some color, as you can see, the little flowers. But I didn't want to get carried away. I was stomped on this actually which is why I made the text and background so colorful.

As for the navigation, I'm going to try that ;)
Thanks!

[sshjustkissme]

It's always the same CSS for me..i'll love to see you do something dark with the whole site.. =P

[sprinklesparkle]

For more colour on the header, you could add coloured splattered brushes. :p I always tend to do that with EVERYTHING - not just layouts. I seriously over-use splatter brushes...

Also, tiny suggestion for your header - you could image map the part where it says "check out our new Ryan Sheckler section". I clicked on it because I thought it would be image-mapped. :p

Other than that...keep being your original self and pwning the interwebz.

[Andrew2]

I like it, it's the best theme you've had so far.

The only thing I'd change is the sidebar titles, make them a bit smaller (the text size) or change the line-height so there's more room around the text between this image...
http://www.charmroyal.com/images/h4.png

Also for the ad on the right sidebar, put "Sponsor" or some title instead of leaving it blank....

:D Nice job though.

[CharmRoyal]

Hmm navigation + image mapping... I'm going to try both!

Again for the dark thing, I don't think I want to do that. I'm glad to see people want to see dark but it's just not my thing! :redface:

[JazzyJazzdotnet]

I love it. Think it looks great.

I always over do everything though... so the only thing I would say is that I think its a little bare in the header, above the CHARM ROYAL spot.

But it's very simple, colorful, playful, and organized; perfectly.

[CharmRoyal]

Okay I took some suggests from the things people posted :)


I changed the navigation hover to the flashing star
I imaged mapped the bottom right hand corner of the layout
I made the headers font smaller in size
Added "Sponsor" above the ads in the menus

[Andrew2]

one more quicky thing I think you should do like felicity mentioned, the top part of your banner is bare so you should (in my opinion) remove 20-40px off the top just so there's an even number of space on both top and bottom of the graphic :D

[tacoflavoredkisses]

nothing i can find that is wrong :)
loveitloveitloveit!
great job melissa!

[Graphic Addict]

I LOVE the hovers! Great job Melissa

[MastaGrillz]

The design looks great, my only complain is its hard for me to see your links in your navigation bars, the turquoise color. It might just be my eyes or maybe my computer screen, I really dont like any pastel/opaque colors. sorry thats just me.

[MyspaceMom]

I love it! Very playful!

[SamOwen]

If you're going for "cutesy" you've nailed it.

[Ammy]

It looks gorgeous!! I love the background and lovve the gray... and how the banner isn't overcluttered with brushes.... it's nice and clean.... my tiny little c/c would be the polkadotted gray background behind the menu... it's just ever so slightly not tiling correctly by 1-2 pixels... but I think I'm being a bit too fussy there :P I agree with you about the dark thing... I'm not a fan of dark layouts I get sick of them quickly... a light layout is always easier on the eyes for me, and definately makes the content look better than a dark background. :)

[SocialNetworker]

I think it looks awesome!

[CharmRoyal]

It looks gorgeous!! I love the background and lovve the gray... and how the banner isn't overcluttered with brushes.... it's nice and clean.... my tiny little c/c would be the polkadotted gray background behind the menu... it's just ever so slightly not tiling correctly by 1-2 pixels... but I think I'm being a bit too fussy there :P I agree with you about the dark thing... I'm not a fan of dark layouts I get sick of them quickly... a light layout is always easier on the eyes for me, and definately makes the content look better than a dark background. :)

I fixed the container, I hope it looks better :)

Thanks everyone :yes:

I appreciate all your opinions!

[laurieg]

Hmm...honestly, I think your site is perfect right now! The ad placement is very neat and organized, not all over the place like on other sites. I love the use of color, which adds a playful vibe to it. The gray tones calm down the colorful vibe, so it's not too overdone.

Nice job, Melissa!

[CharmRoyal]

Thank you Laurie, I appreciate the wonderful comments! :)

[globe85]

I love it, it is indeed colorful :D
Nice works!:)