More CMS style home page

Hi there

I was wondering what the best option is to get a less blog type front page for my site.

I guess finding another template would be an ok idea, but I LOVE my current template, and all the custom graphics match it, so I’d hate to ditch the current template.

I’d just like maybe a block at the top with either the most recent 5 storys possibly in a rotator of some sort, or even better, an option where I can choose what stories go in there.

Then below that maybe just blog style, with the rest of the stories, not including the ones that were in the top rotator.

Or any combination – I would be ok with it just being in standard blog order, as long as i could change the layout.
Thanks!