Kate O. Lynch

Agave Custom Homes Website Redesign

This custom home builder website redesign for Agave Custom Homes  was such a fun project.  I am so excited to share the brand new look with you.  

I love any excuse to look at the photos of Agave’s Farmhouse Homes.  Imagine my excitement when I asked Tyler when we could update his website and he said to go for it!  

For the last 3 years I have been updating the Agave site with new home photos and details.  But I was constantly frustrated about how small the images of each beautifully crafted homes appeared throughout the site.  

The new custom home builder website design is a clean, uncluttered canvas.  Truly allowing the home photos to be showcased throughout the website. Through the website you can virtually walk through each home.  Tyler O’Brien, the builder, pays such attention to every detail of the homes he builds. 

Custom Home Builder Website

agave-custom-homes-website-redesign

Agave Custom Homes is an Austin and Central Texas area home builder specializing in American Farmhouses.  Through the images below you can take a look at how each page of the website gives you a glimpse inside of these stunning homes:

agave-custom-homes-front-page-redesign-by-kateogroup

agave-custom-homes-about-page

agave-custom-homes-portfolio-page

Head on over to the newly redesigned Agave Custom Homes website.  And get an even better look at these American Farmhouses. 

If you are in the market for a home in Central Texas be sure to contact Tyler he’s also a licensed Realtor and Broker!

Ready to work with KateOGroup

Let’s Get Started

Moodboard Monday: Dreamy Sophistication

Moodboards play such an important when I begin a design project.  Whether it’s a logo or a website, this is where I like to start.  The Moodboards I’m sharing today have dreamy sophistication.

I love this Nantucket inspired color pallet.  These weathered wood textures add so much character.

nantucket-moodboard-dreamy-sophistication

This moodboard was so much fun to create. It was designed for a project for a new business in the flooring industry. All of the patterns and textures…I just love the endless possibilities they represent.  As different as the moodboard below is from the one above, to me it also represents dreamy sophistication.

mood-board

 

Every time I start a new moodboard, the first place I go is to Pinterest.  I start gathering images and bringing them into Illustrator.  As I put them side by side I can see if they really create the story I’m trying to create for my customer.  Do they evoke the look and feel the brand represents?  I typically have a color pallet in mind when I start a project but it evolves as the moodboard comes together.

Rebrand: Charlie & Jake’s

Confession.  Every time I complete a project it becomes my favorite project.

Though I have to say it might take a little bit for anything to top this rebrand project.  That is simply because I got to do so many things with this project and they were all so much fun!

First step of course was determining the mood and style of this rebrand through the moodboard:
Charlie-&-Jake's-Mood-Board
Charlie & Jake’s is a Barbecue restaurant near Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway that relocated this year (just down the street).  Along with the relocation the logo got a revamp.  The original Charlie & Jake’s logo was a bit whimsical and fun:
Charlie-&-Jake's-original-logo
With the rebranding the owners where looking for a more modern design that would accompany the expanded menu.  We tried several variations with just a pig, with no pig and ultimately decided to incorporate both a big and a cow.  Here’s a look at a few of the options we explored as we worked through the design process:
Charlie-&-Jake's-Logo-Concepts
I was so glad I didn’t have to be the one to choose the final logo.  I’m not sure I would have been able to decide!

Charlie-&-Jake's-Logo-&-Elements

But once the logo was chosen the real fun began!

Charlie-&-Jake's-Street-Sign

Charlie-&-Jake's-Restaurant-Outside

Charlie-&-Jake's-Menu

Charlie-&-Jake's-Drive-Thru-Menu

This rebrand included giving the website a new look as well.  Be sure to check out the brand new Charlie & Jake’s site. In the mean time here is a look at the home page:

Charlie-&-Jake's-Website

We’ve still have a few more printed items to wrap up so be sure to head to the portfolio because I’ll be adding the additional work there.

Since I live in Texas, no where near Charlie & Jake’s, someone go visit and tell me all about how amazing the food is!

All photos by Yap Originals.

Moodboard Monday: Projects in Progress

I’m currently working with several clients and on a project for myself that I’ll be sharing more details about down the road but for now, I wanted to share each projects’ moodboard and hope to inspire you with any projects you are working on.  I love how much variety there is in each project!

Family-Office-Management-Mood-Board

The above moodboard is for a branding and website design project for a wealth management company.  We are just about finished with this project and I can’t wait to share the design details and printed collateral.

Shiloh-Boutique-Moodboard

This moodboard is the branding of an online boutique.  This project is just getting started so it will be a little bit before I can share all of the details with you.

KOG-Promotions-Mood-Board

This moodboard is for a new KateOGroup project and needed to gather inspiration as I think through all the details and logistics of the project.  Stay tuned for more details on all 3 of these projects.

The best way to keep up with all that I’m doing is to follow me on Instagram!

Instagram for your Brand

Instagram for your Brand

I am constantly striving to up my Instagram game but am by no means an Instagram expert. With that said, I’ve found some pretty basic concepts to help you Instagram for your brand.  These 8 tips have consistently helped my account grow and work for me, and I wanted to share them.  I am not promising over night success but you’ll be able to Instagram for your brand with more purpose if you implement these.

Here’s a look at my Instagram profile and feed.  Click on the image to visit my profile and be sure to follow KateOGroup!

KateOGroup Instagram Feed

1. Post Consistently
You need to post everyday. If you aren’t putting your company in front of potential customers and fans, then who is?

2. Use Similar Lighting
Whether you’re going for light or bright, be consistent. Be sure to take a look at not just your individual posts but on your entire feed. Do your photos compliment each other? Or does your feed look chaotic? For some of you using bright colors in each photo is your way of being consistent.

3. Do Unto Others as You Would Like Done to You
Like and comment on other people’s posts, this is how you’ll build a a community. Plus if you aren’t liking and commenting on posts why would people do that to your posts?

4. Think Before You Post
Be mindful about your posts. Make sure they are sending a message that explains and introduces people to your brand.

5. Mix in a Little Personality
Even though this is your business account, be sure to show your face every once in awhile and even glimpses into your life or behind the scenes. This helps people get to you know you.

6. Use all 30 Hashtags
I know it sounds extreme but it’s worth it. Experiment a little and figure out which ones work best for you. A little trick I got from my sister, keep your hashtags in a note and copy and paste them on your photos. Be sure and add the hashtags ASAP after you post your image. I like to copy them before I actually post my image so then I can immediately paste them into a comment. If you wait too long to add hashtags you lose the added benefit of posting them. Below is an example of how I post my hashtags.

KateOGroup-Hashtags

7. Study Other People’s Feeds
Look through the feeds you find yourself drawn to and really think about why and then figure out how to apply it to your own feed.  These are 3 feeds I absolutely love! (Click on the image and visit their feeds in person and don’t forget to show them some love!)

[one-third-first]Stephanie-Gilbert-Instagram-Feed[/one-third-first][one-third]Whitv-Instagram-Feed[/one-third][one-third]Emily-Wells-Instagram-Feed[/one-third]

Can you tell I’m a fan of muted colors and lots of white?

8. Join a Challenge
Look around and see if there are any challenges starting or already underway that work with your brand. This will be a great way to gain exposure and connect with new people.

Have you tried any of these tips? Do you find them successful as you Instagram for your brand? Let me know what works best for you in the comments below.