Questions
What is a handmade site?
It can feel a little odd to describe websites as handmade. After all, is code ever truly crafted by hand? When I use the word handmade, I’m talking about building a site with the core languages of the web (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and the feeling it creates while you browse. These are sites where you can sense a person behind the work rather than a single click on a template. The design might echo your personality, feel like a house by a river, or be a bit rough around the edges.
Who is this for?
Writers, bloggers, artists, institutions, small businesses, anyone who needs a site that is practical, maintainable, and isn't locked into a platform.
Can I update it myself?
Yes! Static sites need some HTML knowledge. Kirby sites have a friendly panel.
How long does it take?
Usually 6-8 weeks. Single-page sites are quicker, multi-page sites with Kirby take a bit longer.
How does hosting work?
For static sites, I recommend using GitHub Pages (free). If you already have a hosting provider, we can also work with that as long as they have basic SSH support (most do).
For Kirby sites, I use NearlyFreeSpeech or Digital Ocean (around €5–15/month). Down the road, you can always move your site to another server.
Can you build a very interactive site for me?
I focus on making straightforward, readable sites. It depends on the project, of course, but I tend to design less interactive, flashy websites. Sometimes people refer to this as a website having, HTML Energy.
I'm a designer, can I design the site and you code it?
Yes, get in touch and we can discuss more. You'll need to provide detailed design files that I can work from.
How is this different from any other web design studio?
It's fairly similar, but in this case there's a focus on hand making sites from scratch. The websites I design are not slick or flashy. You can see some examples above.
Can I hire you to make a shop website?
Probably not. I find most e-commerce platforms closed source environments that are difficult to work with. If you need a shop I would recommend linking out to a Shopify store and using a basic template. I am happy to help with the rest of the website.
Do you use LLM tools to code?
Sometimes. That might sound a bit contradictory to a handmade approach. I believe there is a balance between using these tools and writing everything from scratch. I treat LLMs like any other tool. I like to write HTML and CSS by hand and at times I use an LLM to help with more complex JavaScript. Sometimes there is no need for it and I appreciate those moments.
Do you use frameworks?
No. Most sites don't need them. I use plain HTML and CSS. If a little JavaScript helps, I'll add just what's needed.
