Help with Color scheme!

[Jon]

Hello! I’ve been lurking on the site for a while, but I’m new to the forums!

My team and I are working on a new social media website. The senior management decided that they wanted the color #00ccff, which is a fairly vivid sky blue as the main color. However, most of the feedback that I got from users and friends is that the blue is too bright, but my management stands by that color and tells me that perhaps I’m using the color wrong. I am having trouble coming up with a color scheme that actually works with the design:

http://jonleung.net/colors.jpg

Any help with the colors, as well as general input on the layout overall, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Jon]

Thanks for your reply, I’m actually a fledgling, self-taught designer that is trying out a different style than I am used to.

[Author]

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