Simple Zen + my screenshot design possible?

[b16_madman]

I ask this unsure if this is asking too much or not. I am new to php and have been working on a site design on my nights/weekends for a startup jewelry business. I designed this and hoped to make it fit the zen-cart as best as possible.


Anyway, Simple zen seemed to be the best template to begin with but I'm a bit lost and look for help from others that have been down this same path. I want to strip the zen down to the basics and keep the aesthetics high. I have seen a few zenners out there that have nice jewelry site. I'm not making enough money out of this deal to warrant every waking breath, but I do want a job done well too. Anyway. Applicable links, faq's that will work with what I'm doing will be awesome. Here's how far I've gotten currently. Obviously I have some work ahead of me. The business side is working, but we're not taking orders yet.

http://www.thatsbeadiful.com/store

[kobra]

First I would suggest that you turn off the new products among any others on the main page

admin > config > index listing > Show New Products on Main Page > set to "0"

Then If you have a bit of html savvy, edit your defines_main_page.php file through the admin > tools > defines page editor > main_page.php.

This will accept most all html commands.

You can use the slick text wrap approach or just create a table for the text left aligned and one for the images next to it

[b16_madman]

Well the client today said, where are the new products @ so they'd like to keep them. Now just to figure out how you can say only have the 3 newest products, 2, 5 etc

[kobra]

That is also settable in the admin

[jettrue]

Absolutely doable. Its quite my opinion that anything is doable in zen cart... just a matter of whether or not you are capable of doing it. Personally, what I would do is make that WHOLE top of the site, including the NECKLACES BRACELETS EARRINGS CONTACT FAQ section the logo.gif.

Then, I'd make those links work via an image map.

So then all you have left is the body background, the center content (I'd break up that rounded box into three images, top curve, left and right sides, bottom curve), and the footer.

Not too complicated at all, IMO.

[b16_madman]

I have jumped in headfirst doing this on and off nights & weekends. I'm primarily a photographer learning php. Totally related right? Well, sounds like you guys are really helpful and I'm doing a lot of reading. Trying to mod this simple_zen template to fit my application. Main thing is the drop down menus. They want em, & I can't cleanly set them up. Apple_zen is a decent template I noticed, but it didn't work when I chose it. I think the busy weekend with some bad things happening have messed up my progress.

Image Map, I'll search it to see what you're talking about but feel free to reply what that is.
You can see my personal site/blog/portfolio in the works... www.andydonnan.com