Looking for good local website designer

I'm looking for someone to put together a website for me - not too flashy and full of gadgets, just with an eye for detail and beauty. I can handle the hosting/maintenance through GoDaddy but would prefer to have someone else design the structure. Anyone have recommendations? Willingness to barter skills for sweets is a plus

Dear Andrea:

My son has started a small local web design company. I don't know how busy he is at the moment with other projects, but I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to you about what he could do for you. His website is: http://www.hummingbirdstudios.net

Hope this is helpful.

Lois

Network Louisville on Bardstown Road is wonderful-they have been great help to me and many of my friends and clients have used them for their sites...ask for Chris, he is thw owner.

[Robin Garr]

Speaking in generalities, Andrea, there's a very broad range of competence locally (and, I guess, everywhere). Anyone you consider, no matter how nice and friendly they seem to be, look critically and skeptically at their work. Also, if you intend to maintain your own site, make sure you'll have full access to it. And if you'll have to depend on the developer for updates and fixes, get clear in advance how much it will cost, and interview a few of their past clients to get a sense how responsive they are.

I just switched to web.com. It's a DIY site with tons of templates to choose from and many are customizable. My new site is picture intensive, and you can embed audio, video, and lots of other features. You should be able to create a website for yourself using a template in a day or considerably less. You do not need html experience. Then once you explore the site more and play with all the features, you can jazz up your site. $12/month and you retain total control. The customer srvice is an 800 number (unlike GoDaddy) and they are very helpful. Here's my site if you want to look at what I've done. http://www.LouisvilleWeddingCake.com

I know the marketing guy, Jamie Barnes, at Blue Bus Cafe (502- 357-0685) which is a local website design firm. He could help you decide if their team could serve your needs effectively. They have designed the following websites for our church:

http://www.sojournchurch.com
http://www.the930.org
http://www.sojournmusic.com

Their wesite is:
http://www.bluebuscafe.com