Ok I am designing a website for a client. The website is for a Decorating and Painting Design Bueiness. They origionally wanted a paintbrush as the background, but we both agreed that it is too busy. I suggested hardwood floors. It is an improvement, but here is what they said about the hard wood floors

Seen the floor, it does look less busy but I don’t think it’s quite right. I think I need something crisp and fresh which would reflect a newly painted area – what could you come up with for this?

I am drawing a blank on a better background. Any suggestions. The url is
www.cheltenhamdecorating.co.uk.
Thanks
Andrew

You could do something like this:

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-phot...r-image5200262
or find a painted wall texture, like this one:
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-fr...l-image3087009

Originally Posted by djab

Ok I am designing a website for a client. The website is for a Decorating and Painting Design Bueiness. They origionally wanted a paintbrush as the background, but we both agreed that it is too busy. I suggested hardwood floors. It is an improvement, but here is what they said about the hard wood floors


I am drawing a blank on a better background. Any suggestions. The url is
www.cheltenhamdecorating.co.uk.
Thanks
Andrew

Originally Posted by LadynRed

You could do something like this:

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-phot...r-image5200262
or find a painted wall texture, like this one:
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-fr...l-image3087009

I don't like the two suggested painted wall textures for backgrounds. I think it maybe adds a little too much tackiness to the background. If anything, I like the hardwood floor idea better. If done right, it will really enhance the design a lot more.

Just make sure that the hardwood floor design is darkened a lot to a point where it is quite faint. Don't brighten it up and reveal it as it will make it busy as you stated.

I like it the way it is right now but if you want it less busy, maybe make it 10%-15% darker and it will make it cleaner.

Ok i asked the client their opinion on both. Waiting for their response. I think the darkened wood would look better. Any opinion on what color the hardwood floors should be? Brown, grey, yellow, etc??

I don't like the two suggested painted wall textures for backgrounds

They were SUGGESTIONS, and I was referring to a TYPE, not those exactly. You could certainly create a 'fresh paint' looking background fairly easily in Photoshop, getting the texture just right.

It's a company that does painting, why would you use a background that looks like a wood floor?? If they want to promote their painting, then use something that relates to paint in some manner. I can certainly see the client's point. Ultimately, it's not what you like, it's what the CLIENT likes and wants.

Sorry I forgot to post this but the client told me that the business also does interior decorating and the wood floors would be appropriate if done correctly.
I have made some changes to the site and they are available to check out on that website once again. Is this a step in the right direction?
thanks for all the help!

Well, it wouldn't be my choice, but I'm not your client . It's more of a grunge look than sophisticated, but again that's me.

My suggestion - pure white background - nice and clean and fresh - use a very clean and bold image of a paintbrush, or paint pot or wet paint etc... and set your site layout just slightly over it.

Take a look at http://www.aol.com << their background technique and use an image like this one :
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3420728/2/istockphoto_3420728-red-paint-can.jpg

Very sexy, clean, fresh, etc...

I suggest that you also change the color of the background of the page. Black is not blending with your desired light colors. Maybe you can change it to more lighter than black to give more life to the page.