It’s been a long six months, but the redesign of The Kitchen Magpie is now live!
You can see that the basic layout has stayed the same, Ā but I wanted to blow the lid off this site graphically. I wanted a design that was new and eye-catching, not to mention a look that was unique to me.
I wanted clean, fresh and a big bang visually as soon as you hit the site.
After running a website for a few years I knew there were a few things I needed to make sure were incorporated into the new design.
- A huge visual recipe index. We all love pictures of food and I wanted to give everyone the chance to be able to scroll through all my recipes on a big page of photos.
- Highlighting the fact that I am Canadian. I’m tired of everyone thinking that I must live in the United States since I make my living running this website. I wanted this site to shout (well, whisper politely, I AM Canadian after all) Ā to the rooftops that yes indeed, I am a Canadian blogger! Can you find the little clues that give that away?
- A little shout out to my city, Edmonton. Can you find it on the website?
- The opportunity to have guest bloggers and posts that will feature their avatar and not my own. Stay tuned for those guest bloggers!
- A header that can be changed with the month. This was the most important part, I wanted fresh pictures monthly but a header that was easy to change since I swear I am graphically challenged. See the Halloween pics? Those will be Christmas pictures soon!
- Bigger pictures! My post pictures are bigger than before.
- Better recipe printing. This is in the works and will be up ASAP!
Now, with a site redesign comes little growing pains and the site is certainly not finished. The sidebars will have additional content that is coming, but that all takes a little time.
I’d like to take this chance to ask YOU, my readers, what you would like to see on this site?
What are some things that drive you nuts about food blogs that you would like changed?
Is there anything that could be better?
What works?
What are the most important things that you look for on a website?
Since we are still technically in the middle of a revamp, I would love for everyone to weigh in on what you’d like to see. You are the most important part of this website, without you I am basically talking to myself!
Please tell me I’m not just talking to myself…..
So weigh in people! Tell me what you’d like to see on here. Lay it on me. I make no promises but I am always so interested to hear from you all!
Love,
The Totally Excited Beyond Words That My Site is Up Magpie
vvboutiquestyle says
Love love love your new site!! Congrats – all your hard work has paid off! Two things:
1. when I search the term “monkeys” or “circus” nothing is coming up???
2. I’m pretty sure the site would be WAY more effective situated on a nice little piece of property where grouse roam freely (till you or your sister hunts them down) in my neighbourhood. Just sayin.
Nicole
thekitchenmagpie says
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" profile_url="https://www.livefyre.com/profile/13091610/" ns="true">vvboutiquestyle I’ll get right on that monkey circus search mistake! Yes, acreage life would be great! We’ll see what happens!
lnury says
It looks great, I love it ! I’ll try one of your Canadian specialties soon, it will remind me of my exchange semester there, I loved it very much !
Keep up the good work Karlynn š
thekitchenmagpie says
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" profile_url="https://www.livefyre.com/profile/15507777/" ns="true">lnury Aw thanks so much!
pammay88 says
also like the pics for recipe index
thekitchenmagpie says
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" profile_url="https://www.livefyre.com/profile/22314928/" ns="true">pammay88 Good, I was hoping that people liked it. I love a recipe index with pictures, I am obviously such a visual person.
pammay88 says
love the wild rose and marigold ………..
thekitchenmagpie says
@pammay88 Yes! Someone caught the Alberta Wild Rose!
SherryIrvine11 says
KitchenMagpie love your new site!
KitchenMagpie says
SherryIrvine11 Thank you! I so love my new site too! Makes me all happy! My husband cmscritic not so much, he’s still hard at work on it!
fridge freezer says
nice site. it’s easy on the eye and there are some good recipes shown. keep up the good work.
Melanie says
This looks great! Clicked around a bit and enjoyed seeing how the recipes are organized by photo (yum!) and how you’ve sectioned off your menus. I really like the canadian stamp, your centre magpie logo and note, your edmonton photo and especially your signature! So pretty! My only comment is that the cake form in the top bar irritates me because it is too small. I’d replace it with… a fork or a measuring spoon or… a tea bag? š But not a big seal! Love it love it love it!
thekitchenmagpie says
@Melanie LOL you’re too funny! Thanks for the kind words!
ACanadianFoodie says
The images under the headers on the front page are great, too
So happy for you!
ACanadianFoodie says
Love your photo – finally – a good one deserving of how you really look! Love the recipes menu bar – have to look at the home page, yet. There is a little problem with the side to the left I think, unless the side berries are to be cut in half. Almost missed the secondary menu, but I like that subtlety. Love that you have your signature on the footer. I want that! I think the feather next watermark is too light. I didn’t notice is at all until intently looking at the scratches at the bottom. Great idea – Can it be a little more apparent? Hand washing photo – maybe there before = but is perfect. Love the links on your footer.
Excellent. It is YOU. It is gorgeous – just like you. Header is beautiful. Love the little symbols that reference who you are and what is important to you. Congratulations!!!
XOOX
V
thekitchenmagpie says
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" profile_url="https://www.livefyre.com/profile/2165094/" ns="true">ACanadianFoodie Thanks Val!
KitchenMagpie says
super_su Aw thanks!! It has been a long labour of love! I am so very happy with my new site!
supersu says
hey K-
looks beautiful – i see the ‘canada’ clues but not the #yeg shoutout
and i’m sure it’s just on my computer (i am the MOST un-tech savvy person you know) but the banner at the top is not all showing across my computer….the littler version below shows me that
i love the colors, and the pictures, and the recipe index in pics….super!
good job
su š
aka – totally in awe of your many many talents
aka – surprised that the second most pinned post is grape cupcakes – i would have thought that your beautifully decorated canada day cake would have been right up there – i still am amazed at the simplicity and beauty of that cake decorating
thekitchenmagpie says
@supersu What program do you browse with? The banner should be working, it glitched on a couple categories but now is fixed. The yeg shout out is below somewhere š
Thanks for the lovely words <3 !
Yvonne Schmidt says
It’s great!! Thanks for sharing…
thekitchenmagpie says
@Yvonne Schmidt Thanks!