I am fairly certain ( last I checked ) that blogger allows you to edit the style sheet and plug the widgets directly into the template. You should have full control over how it looks to my knowledge.
Have you considered finding a freelancer who specializes in Blogger templates?
I don't know who this person is but I dug them up on Google...
JudithShakes Designs: Blog Templates and Bling
They claim to specialize in blogger themes.
So long as you can edit the css you have practically unlimited capabilities on how to go about styling the page. From what I remember it was MySpace which was the first major website service to allow that sort of control. I find it odd that FaceBook being a website which offers so much less in terms of creativity blew them out of the water to tell you the truth... but that's besides the point...