Trying to pick a theme

[happy2bnmarketing]

I'm very basic in my skill set... so I like things that are easy to customize the way I want without a bunch of code 🙂 I love the Genesis framework, but I just don't love the themes. The 2 I have so far are 3rd party ones that are no longer being sold through StudioPress.

Anyway, I've been thinking about the Lifestyle one, but I'm not loving all parts of it. I'm especially concerned about the footer widgets since it's not in the demo. The sites I googled that seemed to have them, it felt weird, like it wasn't really the footer. Any good samples of this site?

Also, it seems geared toward featured blog posts on the homepage. This site won't have a blog. Just a few pages. So will this work okay for pages vs a blog?

I saw someone link to site they did using the Executive Pro theme and I liked it, but I don't want to have a large cover image to deal with. I'd rather have a header image (she's already got the artwork) and then use a 2 column section, but this one shows 3. Guessing that's not an easy adjustment?

Is there a good way to find 3rd party themes not on the Studio Press site? I want to make sure I get excellent quality and a theme that will be supported, so a bit leary of buying elsewhere without honest recommendations.

I wish there was a way to be able to see what my actual options for customization were before buying a theme. There's not is there 🙂

Thanks for reading my ramble. I'm just frustrated I think that these themes are close, but none seem ideal.

[Susan]

Which themes do you currently have?

I love the Pretty Darn Cute Design themes, but I'm biased, as I provide support for them, and do all the theme customizations. 🙂

Pretty Darn Cute Design

[happy2bnmarketing]

I have optimal and creative burst. I checked those out previously but they don't really go with the style for the website and her existing custom art that she'd like to use... I'll keep them in mind for other projects though.

[Susan]

If you like Cre8tive Burst, try The Pixelista - she does third parties themes.

[happy2bnmarketing]

Thanks, I've looked at theirs too, but is there any list of good choices out there? And do you know why StudioPress doesn't just allow more 3rd party themes?

[HelenaDenley]

Hi,

There are a number of other companies providing child themes for the Genesis framework.

Off the top of my head:

Restored 316
The Pixelista
Web Savvy Marketing
Bylt
ZigZagPress

Hope that gives you a starting place for some new inspiration.

Helena 🙂

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Helena @ DIY Website Coach I offer Theme Setup & Customisation and WordPress Training.

[Susan]

To answer your question about why StudioPress doesn't allow more third party themes; that is something you might want to address directly with them, but I suspect it's because they don't have the bandwidth. I'm sure that each third party theme they offer has to be audited to ensure that the coding is done to SP's standards, as SP stands behind them with a refund policy.

That's just pure speculation on my part, though.

[Summer]

My first "go-to" shops to look for 3rd party child themes are Themedy and Appfinite. Just my 2c 🙂

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WordPress / Genesis Site Design & Troubleshooting: A Touch of Summer | @SummerWebDesign
Slice of SciFi | Writers, After Dark

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