WordPress themes - Thesis, WPUnlimited? - UK Business Labs

**Kay** · #1 (**permalink**) 20-06-2009, 12:38 PM

Does anyone here have any experience of these WP themes?

I watched the Thesis demo video and kinda liked it. Then I discovered WPUnlimited. The more I learn, the more I discover how much I don't know.

**Ray Stewart** · #2 (**permalink**) 20-06-2009, 10:01 PM

I don't have experience of these themes directly but I do have a lot of experience with premium (paid for) wordpress themes.

One of the main reasons for choosing a premium theme over a free one is because they are much more customizable. Colours, placements, column numbers, fancy effects on the main page, a site that looks like a full website but integrates a blog but is all based on wordpress - things like that.

They each look daunting at first but generally they have a settings page which you can use to get started on the customizing, so it isn't too bad.

I never believe it though when they say "you can get started with just a few simple clicks".

To achieve the look you are happy with takes a substantial investment of time with lots of trial and error. I even had to get the assistance of someone else to get the current theme on my own website looking mostly the way I am happy with as some things were just over my head, and others had simply vanished and others were reacting really oddly for no reason.

It is satisfying though when you actually get the site looking as you envisioned it and is worth the heartache and hassles involved.

Your site is even bigger than mine so expect a few days of "fun" once you start

**Kay** · #3 (**permalink**) 20-06-2009, 10:14 PM

Lots of good points there, Ray, but I'm signing off for the night.

**AdamW** · #4 (**permalink**) 21-06-2009, 04:10 PM

I'm about to use Wordpress for my web dev site - you may ask why if it's a site for web developement, but my thinking was two fold. 1) for ease of use (can update on the iphone, everything is already there) and 2) to get more experience with Wordpress so I can add it to my skill set. I'm not wondering if I should cheat as these themes are customisable and the hard work has already been done!! I've no doubt I'll end up doing it myself!

**Kay** · #5 (**permalink**) 21-06-2009, 04:32 PM

Are you building a brand new web dev site, Adam? Or do you already have one? (Sorry if I've missed something.)

**AdamW** · #6 (**permalink**) 21-06-2009, 04:47 PM

I'm building a new one here as the vanity domain I was using is embarrassingly rubbish! I'm just waiting until it is live and sexy before I go public with it and didn't really want to mentioned I do dev stuff until I had a respectable site to send people too!!

designsbysteve · #7 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamW

I'm about to use Wordpress for my web dev site - you may ask why if it's a site for web developement, but my thinking was two fold. 1) for ease of use (can update on the iphone, everything is already there) and 2) to get more experience with Wordpress so I can add it to my skill set. I'm not wondering if I should cheat as these themes are customisable and the hard work has already been done!! I've no doubt I'll end up doing it myself!

I'd reccomend stripping Wordpress out almost completely Adam, if you are looking to add it to your skillset. The only reason for this is (though I'm sure you'd pick up quite a bit from an existing theme) there's a lot ot fight initially if another design is in place. There's a few good resources out there to help this, but WP Themer Kit is a good way to see how a blank theme can be built up into a full workable theme.

**AdamW** · #8 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 06:26 PM

Thanks Steve - I am playing with the default theme currently.. seeing what goes where, etc and will be checking that site out for sure!

designsbysteve · #9 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 08:06 PM

No probs. I only said that because the default theme does thro in some extra waste that you can end up fighting against. If you install a blank template from the themer kit you'll quickly get to grips with it I'm sure!

BetterWebSpace · #10 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 08:54 PM

I've used Thesis for a few sites and am really impressed with what Chris has put into it, I recently did a jump from quite an old version to an upto date version which had a huge learning curve with it.

However the learning curve was worth it, once I realised some of how it had been written it all clicked into place really well and is so customisable!

That said I haven't looked any further than Thesis in recent times: "liked it, settled on it, can't see the point in changing" sort of mentality about it!

Hope that helps!