WordPress Designer for Unique Travel Blog

Title: Creative WordPress Designer for a Travel Blog (Block Editor + Spectra + Stackable, No Elementor)
Overview
I need a creative WordPress designer to build a travel blog with a distinctive, editorial feel. This is a personal blog, not a corporate site. I do not want the generic "stacked sections" template look. Think hand-crafted, magazine-style, with personality. For the vibe and direction, look at saltinourhair.com. That style of layout, spacing, and storytelling is what I am after.
If you only build standard business websites from prebuilt templates, this is not the right fit. I am looking for someone with a real design eye.
What I already have

WordPress installed and configured
Astra Pro theme (licensed)
All core plugins I need are already installed

I want to keep the site clean and lightweight. Do not install extra plugins. If you believe one is genuinely necessary, ask me first and explain why.
Build tools (strict)

Block Editor (Gutenberg) only
Spectra Pro
Stackable
No Elementor or any other page builder
No new plugins without my written approval

Scope of work

Custom-designed Home page
Custom-designed Category pages
Custom design for selected Tag pages
All other standard pages (About, Contact, etc.) built to the requirements I provide

I will provide the full layout direction, page-by-page requirements, and all content (text and images). Your job is to translate my direction into clean, creative design and build it properly.
What I am looking for in you

A creative designer, not a template assembler
Strong sense of typography, white space, and visual rhythm
Comfortable building custom layouts in the Block Editor with Spectra and Stackable
Clean, organized build with reusable blocks/patterns where it makes sense
Performance-conscious (fast load, no bloat)

To apply, please send

2 to 3 travel, lifestyle, or editorial blogs you designed (links). Show me work that does not look like a standard business site.
Confirmation that you can work within Block Editor + Spectra + Stackable only, no Elementor.
Your estimated timeline and price.
One sentence on how you would approach the Home page to give it a blog feel rather than a corporate look.

Applicants who ignore the tool restrictions or send generic portfolios will not be considered.