Quick/Easy but Creative job - Layout/Graphic help wanted

Hi, thank you for your time and I hope you can help me with this. I'm a coder so I won't need any programming work. Background: The site I'm building is [login to view URL] which only has a banner which I've done based on the colouring theme I like to use. The page only has textual data describing the nature of the site. WARNING: I SHALL NOT entertain ANY communication directly. I'm looking at 100% communication through RentACoder (RAC). Please understand that any direct mails BEFORE bid selection will be identified as spam!! Objective: I'm not that great with colours but I do know what I want. I'm looking at a CSS oriented site with a left panel and main area side by side. What I need: 1. Ideas - (brief) textual descriptions (not theses) explaining your ideas about how the layout and colours should be. But I'd like to stick to the present banner colours (unless it's impossible to do so). 2. Support your explanation with RGB/CMYK and HEX colour coding where colours are mentioned. 3. Include some SIMPLE buttons - simple rectangles to show the shape and shading used. I don't need high-quality pics. I only need the concept with colours identified. Anything on Photoshop, GIMP or even MS-PAINT is just fine. BTW, I'm kind of 'allergic' to standard capsule buttons :) 4. Finally any good tips that you think I can use to make the site look classy and professional. NOTE: I only need simple ideas - I can build up from there on. I'd appreciate a few alterations. And most of all please make your pricing reasonable. ## Deliverables What I need: 1. Ideally some layout information and ideas for alternative layouts - even simple rectangles on MS-Pain. 2. Sample buttons as described - even as MS-Paint files. 3. For all colour-schemes, I'd need to have the colours identified as CMYK, RGB and Hex to allow me to recreate them on my system. 4. Any tips on making a professional-looking site (not essays, just tips). What I don't want: 1. Copyrighted material in ANY FORM 2. Templates that are available online already (I've seen very many already but either don't like them or can't choose) 3. Open source material or templates. Conclusion: I need 100% original work by a creative colour and UI-oriented person. QUERIES WELCOME !!! * * *This broadcast message was sent to all bidders on Thursday Jun 5, 2008 7:33:09 AM: Attention bidders. I'm always open to negotiations and welcome clarifications. But please DON'T send me generic 'resume-style' or 'profile-based' messages. While I respect you for your skills, I'm not interested in reviewing (a mega-long list of) your past work like a resume. So please specify the following where possible along with your bids. 1. Your price 2. Your time zone (doesn't matter but will help) 3. Duration (days) required to complete the project 4. Availability of chat (text/voice) programs - I prefer Skype, but for those who can't make it, I have Google talk and Yahoo Messenger as well. 5. Name/Version of graphics programs you'll be using. It's got to be NOTHING NEWER than the versions mentioned below (IF you're using them). Photoshop - v.6 Gimp - v.2.4 Ms-Paint - that runs on Win XP/2000/9x I'm afraid I don't have any other graphics apps. As for text, you could use whatever WP upto MS-Word 2003. 6. Also please don't misunderstand me but kindly indicate if you're thorough with colour specs in CMYK, RGB and Hexadecimal. THIS IS THE ESSENTIAL PART for my design and without it, the whole project would make no sense to me. Please understand. 7. Have you seen the current colour schemes on the initial site? Thank you very much! * * *This broadcast message was sent to all bidders on Thursday Jun 5, 2008 8:55:17 AM: I'm sorry to see some folks out there still quoting for a photoshop/sliced design when all I'm asking for is something far simpler. Let me spell it out. Please don't get the wrong idea but I have to spell it out like this as some people just don't get it. I AM A CODER. I CAN DO THIS STUFF ON MY OWN. BUT I NEED HELP WITH COLOURS AS I HAVE A SLIGHT COLOUR-BLINDNESS! And of course I'd appreciate a few tips on button shapes. THAT IS IT!! I'm attaching a file with a sample of what I would like to see based on the current banner that I DID already. Please look forward to it on RAC. Thank you!!! * * *This broadcast message was sent to all bidders on Thursday Jun 5, 2008 2:22:11 PM: Hi all bidders... Either because of lack of understanding (miscommunication) or over-enthusiasm, I've been getting offers beyond what I need. So I'm going to simplify the whole matter. But first, please be honest about these points: 1. You should have seen my draft site so that you know the nature of the site to be. 2. You should be creative about colour mixing and be able to specify the colours in HEX and RGB because this is what I really need. 3. You should have a chat program for voice+text, particularly, Skype. So on this understanding, I only ask for 30 minutes at most of your time, on voice+text chat where you'll offer me the following only in word (voice) and text. 1. Ideas on how to layout the homepage and other pages - remember just your words. 2. Ideas on shapes of buttons and their shades - specify them in textual descriptions stating the colours in RGB and HEX. (Please look at the posts I've made from the start of the bid for clarification and examples) 3. Any tips/advice on background colours and border styles/colours that I should use. That's it. So all those who have made their bids already are also welcome to revise and re-quote and of course you'll be required by Sunday the LATEST at a time convenient to me. Thank you and I hope this simplifies the matter. ## Platform Not relevant.