Which homepage looks best?

[blown away]

I am trying to make our home page look more "e-commerce".
have a look at this dummy page I've created , http://www.staffskite.co.uk/newhomepage.html , tell me if it looks better than the one we have now, and more importantly tell me how to improve it.
I quite like the look of the cotton traders site and the new marks and sparks one, I'm considering putting a scrolling picture frame instead of the 2 large images at the top of the page.
I have downloaded the designers pack from dyos, so I can change the html in the menu, header and footer. I'm loathe to change any of it though because I don't actually know much about html, apart from copy and pasting it!

Is there anything I can do to change the boxes to have rounded off corners? I have created them using tables and cells, but could I copy and paste something onto the page to get a rounded box with a coloured border just at the top etc?
I've even though about paying for someone just to design the homepage layout as I know what I want just not how to do it. Any ideas on cost?

 

[adamjblakey]

I think it looks slightly better but still could be better. IMHO i think a new header image would look so much cleaner, i think that image is really low quality and if this was changed the whole site would look a lot more professional.

Here is one i did quicky: adamblakey(dot)com/header.jpg

 

[ShopDesigner.co.uk]

Regarding the header.. I think it takes up a little too much room for viewers in 1024 resolution. I would scale it doan so as to further promote deals in your home pages 'hot spots'.

Good luck.

 

[RedEvo]

I think it looks like a 'non-designer' has put it together. It's hard to be specific but you can look at sites and usually pick out those designed by a 'proper' designer and those put together by people who are not.

Just my humble opinion.

d

 

[eddie@ohiget]

I think your site looks ok. Just that the header image should be changed to a clearer one. Then the "e-commerce" feel will be there.

Perhaps all of you could also visit my newly launched site to see if you have any comments (either on the design or function). You can Join As Seller and list your business profile for FREE there. My website is ohiget.com

 

[rightwholesale]

Your site looks good.

Suggest you emphaise your domain somewhere in homepage.

 

[lex]

I dont like either, the colours are awful. This needs to be an energetic type feeling site, but its just dull. You could do better by going to monstertemplates.com

 

[brandyace]

Yeah, the header, like everyone said. If you keep the sky, add some motion to it...much more interesting. And get rid of the black mountains! Cuts the page too much.

 

[blown away]

I think that I will have a header and logo designed for us, it really needs to have a kite in there somewhere.
I had some address labels done with a kite on them and they look great.

 

[Matt1959]

when you can get such vibrant and bright colours from a landscape shot it seems odd that your shot looks like it was taken on a grey and dismal day in November! Looks very uninspiring to me. My site has a big header pic on the home page and I changed it and the difference in the feel of the page was stunning. The new pic was dull, the old one was bright so I swopped it back again.