I’m still working away at the redesign, and I will be launching it February 1 as scheduled. I’m waffling between a clean, white minimal (well, minimal by my standards) look vs. my usual mix of patterns. Below is a little peek.
Any preferences?
* I’ve decided that’s a word, by the way. The opposite of minimal shall henceforth be maximal (e.g. my usual approach to mixing patterns).
Emily
January 30, 2012 at 5:15 pmI like the minimal best, but maximal is very nice, too.
Julia@a-living-space
January 30, 2012 at 5:23 pmThey both look great, but personally I’ve given in to being a maximal kinda girl. As clean and fresh and minimal can be, I just love mixing patterns! (it looks awesome, by the way. I can’t wait to see it all live in a few days!)
Ellen
January 30, 2012 at 5:40 pmMaximal *is* a real word! “Of, relating to, or achieving a maximum; being the greatest or best possible.” So, whichever you choose will be maximal! (I vote maximal, BTW. Love the border pattern.)
Faith @ Ordinary Mommy Design
January 30, 2012 at 5:54 pmThey both look really great, but I’m leaning toward the minimal. That floral pattern is pretty though!
Dana Rice
January 30, 2012 at 5:54 pmI love the mix of patterns you’ve selected for the maximal look. That has my vote. If you can’t decide between the two, why not go for a semi-max look and use only the beehive pattern and not the flowers? Can’t wait to see the new site! Good luck.
Bonnie
January 30, 2012 at 6:06 pmThe minimalist is SO much easier on the eyes!
Ashley
January 30, 2012 at 6:10 pmI really prefer minimal. It’s so much softer and prettier!
Jenn Kemper of Blue Goose Celebrations
January 30, 2012 at 6:20 pmI absolutely LOVE both, but please do maximal! it’s so “you” and lots of folks have something similar to minimal. the gold floral? to die for! way to go! isn’t it exciting to see all the hard work come together? my site launched today! we’re still tweaking & de-bugging here and there, but it’s such a rush!
Lisa
January 30, 2012 at 6:23 pmThe maximal represents your style so much better!! It really helps to define your personal brand!
Maria @ Orchard Bloom
January 30, 2012 at 6:30 pmminimal all the way!!
Shirley K
January 30, 2012 at 9:25 pmI vote maximal!
Krissy
January 30, 2012 at 6:32 pmOo, I can’t wait to see the new design revealed! Both sneak peeks look DELIGHTFUL. What about a combo of both? I love the freshness of the minimal, but I’m so smitten with that honeycomb pattern on the right hand side of the maximal. I think it would be the perfect combination of light and new and also a nice kick back to your blog’s “roots” so to say (since the honeycomb is reminiscent of this current design).
xo.
Making it Lovely
January 30, 2012 at 9:24 pmI do like that it’s a reference to the design I’ve had for so long.
Erin
January 30, 2012 at 6:35 pmMinimal!
K Stidham
January 30, 2012 at 6:37 pmI like the minimal better, it seems less cluttered and, since I have some problems with vision, less cluttered is easier to find the text and read it. I love the colors you have chosen!
Beth
January 30, 2012 at 6:44 pmI like them both, but I lean toward minimal. You do such beautiful work!
Tamsyn T
January 30, 2012 at 6:52 pmI love the beehive background with the minimal look!
Linley
January 30, 2012 at 7:23 pmI have to go with minimal. I’m just a minimaly person though :P
Emily
January 30, 2012 at 7:23 pmI’m typical a more is more kind of girl. BUT I love the minimal design! The images you’ll be adding will be more evident on a more subtle background. But both are beautiful!
alicia king
January 30, 2012 at 7:56 pmlove both! maximal maybe a bit more :)
Vivian P
January 30, 2012 at 7:59 pmI love both! But i think i would like minimal plus the beehive pattern!
Sara
January 30, 2012 at 8:02 pmI LOVE both. But if you were to put a gun to my head I would choose the ‘Minimal’ design.
gesikah
January 30, 2012 at 8:09 pmBoth are pretty awesome but if I had to choose…minimal. But that’s probably just my projecting my minimalist tendency on others.
Amanda
January 30, 2012 at 8:14 pmBoth are lovely,! I’d pick minimal if it were my choice to make, but you can’t go wrong. Also.. in case you haven’t already seen it, Maximalism is a fun book of graphic design to thumb through for visual overload– came out a few years ago but is still fun. :)
Jerith
January 30, 2012 at 8:25 pmI prefer the maximal. There are very few good design blogs on the internet that mix patterns as well as you do — I actually read your blog on your blog address instead of through a reader because I like the look so much.
Making it Lovely
January 30, 2012 at 9:25 pmThanks. I’m going to be adding a lot of features that will be really pretty on the blog in the new design too. They’ll look fine in an RSS feed, but much nicer here.
Justine
January 30, 2012 at 8:30 pmI like the honeycomb-ish background on the maximal side, but without the floral pattern in behind. I like mediumal. :)
Little Edie
January 30, 2012 at 8:30 pmMinimal.
tracy
January 30, 2012 at 8:36 pmI prefer the minimal but they both really are lovely! I was wondering what the font you are using for the “January 29” is? I like it!
Making it Lovely
January 30, 2012 at 9:26 pmThe sans-serif is Quicksand, and the numerals are Sofia. Both are free Google web fonts.
H.
January 30, 2012 at 8:38 pmMinimal (unless the maximal backgrounds are faded back). Minimal is so pretty!
April
January 30, 2012 at 8:58 pmMaximal! :)
Tammy
January 30, 2012 at 9:04 pmI’m a minimalist at heart — and I think it would off-sent your “maximal” style well :)
Tammy
January 30, 2012 at 9:05 pmoffset, I mean :)
Julia
January 30, 2012 at 9:05 pmi’m a big fan of white space so i say minimal
katrina
January 30, 2012 at 9:26 pmmany many blogs sporting minimal these days. be different — go maximal!
Anna
January 30, 2012 at 9:45 pmMAXIMAL!!! It’s so gorgeous! Both are pretty, but I love the gold floral border. So you. X
Erinn
January 30, 2012 at 10:18 pmMaximal all the way!
colleen
January 30, 2012 at 10:35 pmmaximal!
Evelyn
January 30, 2012 at 11:19 pmI usually like minimalist but the max design is great. It just works somehow!
Bridget P.
January 31, 2012 at 1:01 amMaximal! Love the mix of the floral with the beehive.
Heather
January 31, 2012 at 1:27 amI like the minimalist look, it seems to have more pop! What about using the hexagon pattern behind your sidebar with the minimalist look? Just a thought!
Belle
January 31, 2012 at 1:58 amMaybe it’s the living in Denmark and the Scandinavian influence, but I like the minimal(ish) design. Less if more for me these days.
mribaro
January 31, 2012 at 2:18 amGo for MAXIMAL! It’s more you :)
Yee Von
January 31, 2012 at 2:24 amDefinitely love the minimal as readers can pay more attention to the contents of the blog :D Btw, I love the little flowers on the blog header!!
Shosh
January 31, 2012 at 2:39 amMinimal. Those flowers are lovely.
Bethie
January 31, 2012 at 3:14 amMaximal!
LisaInIllinois
January 31, 2012 at 7:22 amBoth are Lovely! Maximal is my favorite!
Diana @ Boy + Girl
January 31, 2012 at 7:25 amI vote maximal!
Shay
January 31, 2012 at 7:31 amI love the new minimal look of your blog! But my real reason for commenting today was to ask a very random question…..Has anyone ever told you how much you look like the girl in the Progressive Insurance commercials? She’s really cute!
Making it Lovely
January 31, 2012 at 9:43 amHa! People tell me that all the time.
Tanya
January 31, 2012 at 8:03 amMAXIMAL, it’s more you!!!!
x from a Sunny South Africa
susy
January 31, 2012 at 8:31 amactually – i really like the maximal. you’re one of the few people who actually does that look well. i say go for it. despite all of the different motifs in there, it looks like it’s still really fun to look at — and easy to use, too. i don’t know what your secret is to get that effect…but it’s really something. : )
Penelope
January 31, 2012 at 8:41 amMaximal! I love it!
Tory
January 31, 2012 at 8:44 amLove the minimal(ish) design! And is that illustration I’m getting a peak of by Rifle Paper? I LOVELOVELOVE them!
Amie
January 31, 2012 at 8:54 amMAXIMAL!
Kim
January 31, 2012 at 9:20 amMaximal all the way!
Erika
January 31, 2012 at 9:21 amI’m shocked to admit this, but I think I like “minimal” the best. Both are lovely.
Tara Jane
January 31, 2012 at 9:25 amminimal
Lisa Parker
January 31, 2012 at 9:48 amI love both, but really love love the minimal!
Jen B
January 31, 2012 at 9:48 amYes, both are lovely but the minimal feels like more of a change. Can’t wait to see, whichever you choose :-)
Nikka
January 31, 2012 at 9:49 amMaximal!
Clair
January 31, 2012 at 10:01 amI say max!
Rachel from Birch + Bird
January 31, 2012 at 10:08 amOh…maximal, for sure! I can’t wait for the big reveal. :)
Callie
January 31, 2012 at 10:12 amMaximal!
lori
January 31, 2012 at 10:25 amI am ususally a pattern-mixing fool, but I have to say I prefer the minimal… but with adding the honeycomb pattern from the maximal version. It would be the best of both worlds. Can’t wait to see the new design!!
lori
January 31, 2012 at 10:26 amuhh… that would be usually…
April
January 31, 2012 at 10:40 amMaximal, I like the hint and simplicity of the colors in the background. As long as it doesn’t get too busy.
Kelly
January 31, 2012 at 10:43 amI agree with Lori. I like the minimal with the honeycomb of the maximal. Can’t wait to see which one you choose!
Krys
January 31, 2012 at 10:55 amMinimal!!!
Both are lovely, but minimal is much easier to read.
lea
January 31, 2012 at 11:05 amIt’s hard because the minimal one is sleek & clean while the maximal one is just so PRETTY! I’d be happy with either.
Emily
January 31, 2012 at 11:25 amI love the minimal layout!
aure
January 31, 2012 at 11:26 amI’m a fan of minimal :) Minimal looks perfect :) and it would be a bigger change.
Skye
January 31, 2012 at 11:34 amWow, I can see why you’re waffling. I like the maximal style. The patterns make the page pop a little more…it makes the whole site look like art.
susan
January 31, 2012 at 11:57 amIt’s funny, usually I’m all about the minimal but there’s something about the maximal I’m really digging. Maximal for the win!
stephanie
January 31, 2012 at 12:05 pmMaximal!!!
Katrina
January 31, 2012 at 12:27 pmBoth look pretty, I say go to the MAX! :)
Beth C
January 31, 2012 at 12:27 pmI vote for maximal!
Brianna
January 31, 2012 at 12:40 pmCan I ask where you got the flowers?
Lindsey @ arkadian belle woods
January 31, 2012 at 1:28 pmI love them both but I say minimal! While I love the maximal design background. I feel like it might overpower the overall feel.
Hollis
January 31, 2012 at 1:48 pmI prefer minimal without patterns! But I like both a lot. Good luck with the transition!
Beth @ Remarkably Domestic
January 31, 2012 at 4:33 pmI definitely like minimal. But I’m sure it will be beautiful either way!
kristen
January 31, 2012 at 4:54 pmminimal…the other one is too busy.
shortsweetseason
January 31, 2012 at 6:16 pmI vote for minimal, but they’re both fun to look at.
Betsy
January 31, 2012 at 6:39 pmI vote for minimal! Your style is so sweet and lovely. Even the minimal carries a big impact!
rhonda
January 31, 2012 at 9:12 pmMaximal!
meghan
January 31, 2012 at 9:17 pmminimal, but i do think both are beautiful
Kayla
January 31, 2012 at 9:55 pmMINIMAL! :)
moominesque
January 31, 2012 at 10:25 pmMinimal (i’ve been reading you for three years and that’s the very first time i’ve decided to say something)
Marisu
February 1, 2012 at 2:28 amYou really are a talented designer, I like both! But if I had to choose, I chose the minimal.
Annie H
February 1, 2012 at 5:05 amMinimal!
Lauren
February 1, 2012 at 8:16 amMaximal!
arvee
February 1, 2012 at 9:41 amI’ve always loved minimal but let’s go maximal this time! ♥
Susanne
February 1, 2012 at 10:41 amI like both but I’d go for MAXIMAL! witch by the way is a german adjective ;O)
Anastasia Marie
February 1, 2012 at 11:22 amLove the minimal! It’s just the right amount.
Andrea Howe
February 1, 2012 at 11:23 am200 comments later, but I would say minimal :) the floral element sure is cute though. perhaps you could find somewhere else to use it?
Ayadet
February 1, 2012 at 12:14 pmAt first I didn’t think maximal, but now there’s this very encompassing feeling about that I like. Sort of like the simple square paintings they made in the 60s. It was only once you got up close to them, you could really feel the energy!
The New Site Design | Making it Lovely
February 1, 2012 at 12:49 pm[…] I needed.Hold up, did I say themes in that previous paragraph? Plural? Yep. Remember the whole minimal vs. maximal debate I’d been having in regard to the new design? Jessica left a comment suggesting both […]
Miss B.
February 1, 2012 at 3:14 pmIt’s GORGEOUS! Perfectly you!!!!
aam
February 2, 2012 at 11:13 pmJust getting to your new site design now! The minimal feels good, but the maximal is SO you. I also like the simple “bookmark or share” option on the maximal posts version better than the 5 choices (pin it, tweet it, etc.) on the minimal version. It appeals to the minimalist side of me. =)
You are such a hard worker and it is such a treat to have followed your blog for the past two years and see it change directions, but nevertheless stay true to your style, your flavor, YOU. Just lovely.