I launched Charles & Hudson in 2005, at a time when blogging was just beginning to go mainstream. Niche blog networks were emerging—covering local news, publishing and gossip, and modern small-space design—and I saw an opportunity to serve homeowners, renters, and DIY enthusiasts who were looking for practical, design-focused advice beyond traditional media.
Following the example of sites I admired, I built the original site on Movable Type using a simple template. A year later I worked with StudioLift in London to create a more distinctive look and introduce the logo you see today. That design remained largely unchanged for many years.
Over time, Movable Type fell out of common use and stopped receiving developer and community support. It became clear the site needed a modern content management system and a design that better reflects our tagline, “Be the King of Your Castle.”
With the help of Chad Everett, a CMS expert who has helped me through numerous technical challenges, I migrated the site to WordPress and moved hosting to DV Media Temple servers. My prior host, which had offered good service for nearly seven years, was no longer meeting the site’s needs.
The transition from Movable Type to WordPress proved far less painful than I expected. The available export and import tools made content migration straightforward, and Chad provided redirect codes so search engines and visitors could find the new site without issue.
Although the site is still being refined, moving to WordPress opens up many features that were previously on hold: enhanced photo and video galleries, smoother social media integration, and—most importantly—a responsive design so the site adapts cleanly to any screen size. Whether you visit from an iPhone, iPad, Galaxy, or desktop, Charles & Hudson will display and function properly.
I’m grateful to everyone who reads and supports the site. I’m excited about the improvements ahead and look forward to what’s next in 2013.
Timothy