BuddyPress.org

I think you need to do some site architecture and wireframes first and then from there, do some custom theming. BuddyPress only appears to “take over” because the main navigation links to all of the BuddyPress directories. But you can make the main navigation whatever you want it to be… and you can make as many other navigation bars as you want as well… via custom theme work. Note than when you’re on a blog page, you’re not in a buddypress area… but the “main site” area.