The Norumbega Inn
Award-Winning WordPress Website
Tools Used
Challenges
- Change the color of the theme based on the season.
- Research and select a booking system that fit the client’s needs and budget.
- Celebrate the seasons and highlight nearby local activities by season.
Solutions
- Implemented PHP-based logic to control seasonal theme switching. Themes were structured within the CodyHouse framework for seamless integration. Key site elements such as the header, typography, buttons, footer, and logos dynamically update color palettes based on the active season.
- Identified RezStream as the ideal booking platform, aligning with both functionality and cost requirements. Customized booking pages to match the site’s design and branding for a cohesive user experience.
- Developed a custom component that displays seasonal activities using WordPress custom post types. Integrated AJAX functionality to enable dynamic filtering by season without page reloads, allowing easy content management and a smooth user experience.
My Role
This project focused on building a fully custom WordPress theme for The Norumbega, a historic inn in Camden, Maine. The goal was to highlight what Camden has to offer throughout the year — from vibrant summers on the coast to peaceful, snow-covered winters — showcasing how each season reveals a different side of Maine and encouraging guests to return. The website blends refined design with dynamic, interactive features that capture the inn’s charm and the rhythm of the seasons. This award-winning website received two Addy Awards, earning both Gold Addy and Best of Interactive, in recognition of its creative design, functionality, and engaging user experience.
As the Front-End Developer, I translated an Adobe XD design into a custom WordPress theme using Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) for flexible content management. I ensured pixel-perfect accuracy, responsiveness, and strong accessibility by adhering to WCAG 2.0 standards, a critical consideration for a hospitality website. Given the site’s image- and video-heavy content, I optimized performance and site speed without compromising visual fidelity.
I implemented engaging GSAP animations and microinteractions, integrated Google Analytics, and applied SEO best practices to improve visibility and usability. The project combined creative design translation with technical precision, resulting in a fast, accessible, and visually compelling website.
Disclaimer: The project showcased here was developed by me. It may have been adjusted by another party, and the current version may differ from my original design.