Web Design ideas.....HELP!!

[Andy.]

I have been asked to do a website for a jewellery company. I am doing it as a favour for the owner of the company as they cannot afford a professional to do it.

I am technically good enough to make a site with some flash banners etc but am completely lacking inspiration on how to make the site look.

The only design brief that I have been given is that they would like a photo of some of their necklaces as the site background and that it should scream jewellery......

Does anybody here have any bright ideas on how to add "bling" to a site? Any suggestions on layout would be greatly appreciated as I am stuck in a rut with this one.

Cheers!
Andy

 

[Track'd]

I've never really seen any bling jewellery websites, as the emphasis is meant to be on the items. Most are so simplistic it's untrue, all 1 colour, white/greys etc. Just have a look at all the big players and you'll see what i mean.

Have modest flash without going over the top, like sparkles etc

 

[Galzzly]

If they want a pic of a necklace or whatever in the background, then it could be a good idea to take picture of one of their necklaces on a model or a stand, make it sepia in colour (so that it doesn't overpower the page) with white space/frame for the main content. If you get what I mean there anyway.

 

[Andy.]

Cheers guys. I am going to have a rummage around t'internet and see if I can find some ideas. I have come up with three different proposals so far and they have all been too corporate.

Some of their competitor sites:

here
here
and here

 

[KDF]

The first thing I would do is tell them if you want me to do the website don't tell me to put a huge background image circa 1990 design on the page...

But maybe thats just me..