customizing home page

I need to create a new home page for my website that was created in Front Page using a template. I don’t want to use FP and was recommended toward WordPress. I’ve been researching on certain customizing of the page that’s been incredibly helpful but I still have a couple of questions.

I will need to have the main “text” portion of the page as an image that will have links (either image mapped or text) to other pages on my present site that will eventually be all redesigned to match the new home page. The designer wants the navigation links to be across the bottom. There is some copy under the main image and there will be a header.

Is there a template that would allow complete customizing for size and content of the header as well as having nav along footer? I have found coding for no sidebar and I am also looking at plugins for navigation but not sure what will answer these particular needs. I know this will not be the classic wp blog look but I have to use this particular design and I want to use wp.

I’d appreciate any help!

Marcia