It’s been a while since I last reviewed a WordPress theme so I decided to start off the year with one. Today I’m featuring the ColdStone WordPress theme, one of the best looking premium themes around. Just by looking at the screenshot below, I’m sure most of you will agree with me.
ColdStone is a 2-column, widget-ready and feature-packed premium WordPress Theme created by Nick Roach of Elegant Themes.
Coldstone offers a unique blend of grungy and professional elements. The theme comes with three unique homepage formats, including Business Style, Blog Style, and Magazine Style, and a robust options menu that makes managing ColdStone fast and easy.
Screenshots:
Homepage
Post page
Features:
- Widget ready sidebars
- Theme Option Pages
- Custom thumbnail images
- PSD files
- Valid XHTML + CSS
- Smooth tabless design
- IE7 + IE6, Firefox, Opera, Netscape, Safari compatible
- WordPress 2.7 compatible
- Three Unique Post Formats
- Threaded Comments
- Featured Articles
- Gravatar ready
- Firefox compatible
- Advertisement Ready
My Take:
The key features of the ColdStone theme are the three unique post layouts, featured articles, advertising management, automated thumbnail resizing and in-depth theme options. ColdStone has three styles of layouts that you can choose from to suit your blog’s needs: The default or Business style (has a unique sidebar), Blog style which displays full-length posts and the Magazine style that displays the main sidebar on the homepage and has additional post and thumbnail options. With this theme, you can also feature your favorite posts on the homepage powered by a javascript scroller. For those of you who run 125×125 banner ads, you won’t need to install or purchase a third-party program or WordPress plugin to manage your ads because ColdStone has a built-in advertising management system. With the ColdStone theme, you only need one image for your posts and you don’t have to manually create thumbnails for your images because it uses the TimThumb script to automatically resize thumbnail images. This is the same script that my current theme is using. Since ColdStone is a premium theme, I wasn’t able to see and check the theme options.
ColdStone is widget-ready which is a must-have feature for widget lovers and it is also Gravatar ready so you won’t have to worry about installing a WordPress plugin or customizing/editing the theme’s comments.php file to enable gravatars. As an extra bonus, the theme author has included the PSD files for this theme for customization purposes. Although I’m not 100% sure, I’m pretty positive that it includes a PSD file for the header image so you can customize it and change it to your blog’s name.
One important thing to note is that the ColdStone theme is already WordPress 2.7 compatible so you won’t have to bother editing your theme files to work with the latest version of WordPress. Since it is compatible with WordPress 2.7, it also means that you can have threaded comments on your blog.
I’ve always admired the WordPress themes created by Nick Roach over at Elegant Themes but if you ask me based on what I’ve seen and tried from the demo, ColdStone is by far the best work done by Nick. I love every element of this theme from the color scheme to the custom graphics (especially the background image) to the overall layout and design. The ColdStone theme is very neat and professional looking. Honestly, I would’ve purchased this theme for JaypeeOnline if I haven’t just recently purchased one.
For those of you who arent’ familiar with Elegant Themes, for a small fee of $19.95/year you’ll have access to their entire collection of premium WordPress themes including the ColdStone theme and support if you need any help with the themes you purchased.
Preview or Purchase the ColdStone premium WordPress Theme
DISCLOSURE: JaypeeOnline is an affiliate of Elegant Themes.
Hello,
My client installed this theme. He has asked me to change the links on the featured articles. I have looked through the read me file and many places in the wordpress/coldstone setup but I can not figure t out.
Any idea how I can link featured articles to links of my choice?
Thanks,
Ron
Hey, what plugin are u using to show the user’s latest blog post? Very cool!
I also love this theme. I’m thinking of taking it for a spin since I paid $19.95 last August to download em all.
How to use the featured articles, “javascript scroller?
Thx.
AJ – I checked out the FREEmium WP theme, and it does look good. I might use it for one of my blog projects.
@loy – That’s great! It is indeed a bargain and aside from the price, the themes they have are very nice. Btw, don’t forget to use my affiliate link to join Elegant Themes ok? ;)
Regarding creating WordPress themes, you’re better off than me coz you can create your own theme. Although its my goal to release a free WordPress theme, I can’t do it alone. I’ll need someone to help me with it. :)
I might consider joining the Elegant Themes club, $19.95/year is a bargain compared to other premium themes which cost $30-80 per single license. But I have to save up on that. :-)
I know how to make WordPress themes but my design skills (aesthetically) are horrible. I hope you can come up with a premium-style WordPress theme that you can give away for free.
I saw this today bro:
http://www.blogperfume.com/theme-premium-wordpress-theme-for-free/
Best thing with this theme is… tada! FREE! :)
@Jehzeel – Oo maganda talaga tong theme na to. Let me know if you decide to use it on one of your projects. Also, don’t forget to use my affiliate link ok? Thanks! ;)
magandang theme to ah.. i love its rugged look :D pwede kong gamitin sa isang site ko.. hmmmmmmmm.. san kaya. .hmmmmmmmm…
@trench – Really? Cool! Glad I can provide you an option for your 2009 theme reboot. Thanks! Let me know when you’ve found a new theme or when you’ve done the reboot. :)
@loy – Same here. I’ve always liked grungy type themes. I also noticed that small red icon but it didn’t really bother me because that can be easily replaced.
Not people are fortunate enough to possess the programming/designing skills that you have to create their own WordPress themes. If you don’t have the skills and don’t have much time to design, create, test and fix your own theme then yes, it is definitely worth buying a premium WordPress theme. :D
I really like this theme. I need a reboot for 2009, and this might be it!!! I like dark colors with white backgrounds for text. Nice find!
I’m always a fan of “grungy” designs, so I like this theme. The only thing I don’t like is the small red icon on the sidebar of the post page. Looks a bit tacky.
I have never paid for a premium theme before. Might as well create my own theme and spend countless hours designing, testing, fixing bugs, etc. Is paying for a WordPress theme really worth the cost?
@jhay – I knew you’d like this theme. I also love the typography and graphics. I think those two elements contribute alot into making this theme look elegant and professional looking.
Wow, it’s an awesome theme. Love the typography and graphics, very elegant and professional looking.
@AJ – Thanks! Glad you like this review. Anyways, still haven’t found a new blog theme that suits your taste? :D
@Gem – Based on your previous blog theme, I know you liked brown. Yes, $20 a year is a bargain if the themes you’re getting are as nice as the ColdStone theme.
True and I can say that all themes available at Elegant Themes are well and neatly designed. Nick Roach, the owner/creator has really good designing and coding skills.
Great blog post and the theme looks really good. :)
Cool theme. I love browns and oranges in this one. And almost $20 each year – is a good deal, for me.
Not all designers are able to do such neat layout on homepages but this one is really nice and neat and away from the usual blog design that I see.