Adding sidebar to homepage of prestashop 1.6 default-boostrap theme

[vegaskev]

I'm a developer that is super noob to prestashop.  I've been working with PrestaShop for about 2 days now and some stuff still evades me.  

 

I'm using the default-boostrap theme, which I've copied and renamed into a different folder and modified slightly (slight html/css mods).

 

I am trying to figure out how to get a sidebar to appear to the left of the products module.

 

From what I can see, I may even need to remove that products module and replace with another one (not sure which though).  I simply want "recent products" to be displayed, rather than the tabbed products module which gives user ability to filter between 'new', 'popular' and 'best sellers'.

 

So I guess I have 3 questions.

 

1. How do I add a sidebar to the left-hand side, which I can place other modules in (like cart block, categories list (maybe another block module?) and 'new products' block.
2. How do I switch the existing products module with one that only shows the recent products?  I would imagine I just unhook the existing module and hook a new one...but which one? lol
3. Currently these things are in the displayHeader....wouldn't it be better to hook these items into the 'displayHome', so they only display on the homepage?  Or am I not fully grasping the concept of the PS hook system?  Please advise.  

I'm trying to read as much as possible, and as fast as possible to get the hang of PS, but obviously with a lot to read and limited time, I could use your experience and guidance folks.  Thanks in advance.

 

SCREENSHOT >> http://awesomescreenshot.com/0be2va6ec1

[vegaskev]

Since nobody seems to have time to answer my question, in the event someone else needs this answer....u can use the hook displayLeftColumn to achieve what I wanted.  Also, to get rid of the tabbed module switcher, you simply unhook everything from it and rehook your module into displayHome to achieve these results.