Custom-coded, not templated

Website Design and Development

Custom WordPress and Tailwind CSS builds — faster and cleaner than page-builder templates.

Why custom-coded instead of a template builder

Tools like Elementor, Wix, and AI website generators can get a site online quickly, but they all share the same trade-off: code you didn't write and can't fully control, extra builder scripts slowing down pages that don't need them, and a hard ceiling the moment you want something the template wasn't designed for. I check every line of CSS and PHP myself, so nothing ships except what the site actually needs.

For small business website design, this matters more, not less — a smaller site has less room to hide bloated code behind traffic and budget. A custom website development approach keeps the whole build lean from the first line.

Common problems with template-built websites

Bloated page-builder code

Drag-and-drop builders generate far more HTML and CSS than a page needs, directly hurting Core Web Vitals and page speed.

Generic structured data

Many builder themes ship with no schema markup, or a one-size-fits-all version that doesn't accurately describe the business.

Missing image dimensions & alt text

A frequent cause of layout shift and a missed, easy accessibility and SEO win.

No real ownership of the code

If the builder or theme stops being supported, or you want to switch hosts, you're often locked into that platform's ecosystem.

What I build

Custom WordPress themes

Built from a blank theme, not a page-builder plugin stacked on a generic template — faster load times, no framework ceiling.

Redesigns & migrations

Moving a site off a restrictive or expensive platform without losing SEO equity — including moving an e-commerce client off paid Shopify to a self-hosted WooCommerce store.

Tailwind CSS development

A utility-first framework that keeps stylesheets small and consistent, with proper dark mode and responsive design built in from the start.

Technical foundations done right

Clean semantic HTML, image optimisation, accessible forms, and structured data — the same standards I apply when auditing other people's sites.

Website redesign service

If your current site works but looks dated, loads slowly, or doesn't reflect the business anymore, a full rebuild isn't always necessary. My website redesign service keeps your existing content and SEO equity while rebuilding the front-end properly, with the same attention to performance and accessibility as a full custom build. I also work as a WordPress developer directly on existing sites that just need a specific feature or a performance fix, not a full rebuild.

“I'm extremely happy with the redesign — my site is faster, modern, and far more effective at attracting clients.”

Frank Den Blanken

How I work

Discovery

Understanding what the current site does (or doesn't) do, what's functionally required, and what success looks like.

Design & build

Custom-coded on WordPress and Tailwind CSS, with mobile-first responsive design and dark mode as standard.

SEO & performance built in

Structured data, image optimisation, and Core Web Vitals considered throughout, not bolted on afterward.

Handover

A site you can actually edit and maintain, with clean, documented code — not a tangle of builder shortcodes.

Frequently asked questions

Do you only build WordPress sites?

WordPress with a custom-coded theme is my main stack, paired with Tailwind CSS — it gives clients a system they can genuinely edit afterward. I've also worked with WooCommerce for e-commerce builds.

How is this different from Wix or Squarespace?

Builders are fine for a very simple site with no growth plans. The tradeoffs show up once you need real SEO performance, specific functionality the builder doesn't offer, or want to move hosts without rebuilding everything.

Can you redesign my site without starting from zero?

Yes — a redesign can keep your existing content, URLs, and SEO value while rebuilding the front-end properly. Which approach makes sense depends on how the current site is built.