Hello, Info about the website: 1. is not yet coded nor is it online (everything is on paper ); 2. the website will be an online store for selling carpets of all sorts; 3. the business is Canadian operated (Toronto); The design: 1. I'm looking for a design that really pleases the eye. I'm making a reference to sites like: http://www.frontgate.com/jump.jsp?itemID=120&itemType=CATEGORY&path=1,2,119,120 http://www.touchofclass.com/category/area+rugs.do http://www.bellacor.com/detail.cfm?Cat=38&ItemID=210097&partid=Performics-DataFeed&partid=performics http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/control/style-search/~cid=7003 http://www.floorsandsurfaces.com/products/default.aspx?tid=610 http://www.sears.ca/gp/node/n/16344...ps_csrt_gogl_floorcoverings_arearugs_area-rug I really like the above websites for couple of reasons: a) the design is not cluttered; b) nice layouts and professional looking; c) gives user confidence that the site he/she is seeing is from a strong/well built company. 2. Name of the site Rugs and Carpets, a very nice logo is also needed. 3. Colour preference: besides warm colours in websites 1-2, 4-5 (see above), an ambient look, hints of navy blue, cherry red. The literature is black, sans serif. 4. I have a tendency to like reflections and mirrored effects (very web 2.0 like) 5. I'm NOT looking for a contemporary look but rather looking for a modern yet business like look, a look with character. Needless to say, I DON'T want clones of the websites I listed above in point #1 with my company name on them, I want something with similar ambiance and warmth, but it's own look, which the user will remember because it was so amazingly good looking and easy to navigate . 6. Time frame: I'll give it 5-7 days, in the meanwhile I'll start the coding the applications necessary for this website to function. I will end this contest earlier if I see something that blows my mind away. 7. Coding. NOT required but I will compensate if you're willing to code it. 8. Payment: PAYPAL $150 as stated in the title + bonus of $25+ if the design that's something else and unseen before. I think I covered everything there is to it here, if you have any questions PM me. I'd like to see everybody's work on this, all the masters of creation with no imagination limits and everybody else who wants to have a shot at it. I'd like to kindly thank you all in advance for your contributions, Alex. let's see some amazing works...
The issue of what images should be used has been brought to my attention. PLEASE NOTE: for demonstration purposes (ONLY) of your work, I don't mind seeing pictures used from any of the websites I listed above in your work. These pictures will not be in the final design. The final design WILL have original pictures paid for or ok to use by their creators. Thanks for the interest, Alex.
I tried to zoom page at 70% so that u can see the whole page design that's why the photo clarity isn't great. U can easly insert a flash banner under the Horizontal Menu and both nav. have mouse over effect.
looks good, maybe you can add some ambient colour on the side. Contest still open for another 2-3 days, submit you design before hand. Cheers.
Hi Alex, This is a really exciting brief — and the fact that you're planning everything on paper first is actually a big advantage. It gives you room to build something intentional instead of just “another rug store template.” Since this will be a Canadian-operated (Toronto) online carpet store, the design should quietly communicate trust, craftsmanship, and stability — especially if you’re positioning it alongside strong visual references like the ones you listed. Overall Direction Based on what you described, here’s what would work beautifully for Rugs and Carpets: 1️⃣ Layout & Structure Clean grid-based layout (not cluttered) Strong hero banner with warm lifestyle photography Clear product categories (Area Rugs, Runners, Natural Fiber, Wool, Traditional, Modern, etc.) Subtle hover animations (not flashy, just refined) Generous white space for a premium feel The goal: modern business presence with warmth, not ultra-contemporary minimalism. Visual Identity Color Palette Warm neutral base (cream, sand, soft taupe) Hints of navy blue (navigation + accents) Cherry red as a subtle call-to-action color Black sans-serif typography (clean and confident) This would give you that ambient warmth while maintaining professionalism. Logo Direction For “Rugs and Carpets”: Strong serif or elegant sans-serif wordmark Subtle woven or textile-inspired detail (perhaps a minimal line weave element) Navy base with cherry accent underline or mark Clean, timeless — nothing trendy Reflection / Web 2.0 Feel You can absolutely incorporate soft reflection effects: Subtle button gloss Gentle mirrored hover on product cards Soft drop shadows for depth But keep it refined — avoid overdoing it so it doesn’t look dated. Strategic Suggestion (Important) Since you're selling all sorts of carpets, you may want to consider having a specialized category section for natural fiber rugs, which are increasingly popular in North America. For example, stores like Jute Land (https://jute-land.com) focus specifically on natural jute rugs. Even if you're broader in scope, you could: Highlight natural fibers as a featured category Add educational content about materials Include close-up weave photography to build buyer trust Natural textures photograph beautifully and give warmth to a homepage hero section. Key Features to Build Confidence To match the “strong company” feel you want: Prominent Canadian branding (Maple leaf badge or “Proudly Canadian Operated – Toronto”) Clear shipping & returns policy link Secure checkout icons Real customer testimonials with photos High-resolution product zoom Confidence + warmth = conversions. Timeline & Budget 5–7 days is reasonable for: Homepage mockup Category page layout Product detail page Logo concept If someone delivers a fully thought-through brand identity system (colors, typography, UI kit), that absolutely justifies your bonus. Final Thought You don’t want a clone — and that’s the right mindset. If executed well, Rugs and Carpets can feel: Established Warm Trustworthy Memorable The key is strong typography, controlled color use, and beautiful textile photography. If you'd like, I can sketch a structured homepage layout concept in detail (section-by-section wireframe style) to help guide whoever designs it.