homepage questions

Hi, I am just getting started with Elgg. I would like the homepage to be very simple. Just to display a image with LogIn and SignUp buttons. With some "About Us" text .

I have attached a basic schematic of how I want my site to function. Will Elgg give me the capabilities to create something like this. Will it require creating original scripts and html code ?

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gzOhctnHxLc-5tmGVox9gQ?feat=directlink