Printing Region With Content in Custom HTML
I haven't had any need for a blank page before, but couldn't you just create a new .tpl.php for the front?

Under site configuration, set a node as your front page, then create a copy of page.tpl.php and name it page--node--1.tpl.php (or whatever node ID you have) .

Delete all the divs and containers to make the page blank, and then render regions in php like normal.


  print render($page['your_region']);