integrate zen into tables built site

So I'm trying to integrate zen cart into a previously built site, the site is built all in tables for layout and I'm kind of stuck with it. But I'm trying to figure out the best way to integrate zen into it, keep my navigation and footer, header etc and just plug in the cart into the content section of the table. I've spent hours familiarizing myself with the set up and modifying things and I have an idea of how to do this but I'm wondering if anyone has done this before and would know the easiest way to plug this all in.

Unfortunately, this is not how Zen Cart is structured - where only the cart functions can be used.

It is designed to become your website and is almost no tables -

Most any design can be ported into the Zen Cart structure

I'm really limited with the tables, basically I've been contracted to copy a site that someone built and then the designer disappeared, leaving my client with a site on someone else's site and no hardcopy. the client is limited on money and even though i told them it should be rewritten, well they don't want to do that.

i'm trying to find the best option, build it within the existing framework, build a mock up of it and use that. all the graphics are cut up and would require some photoshop work to rebuild. the site's a disaster and a huge pain in my a$$.

any suggestions? if i were to make basic layout changes, do i make those in index or in tpl_main_page? if i can hide a lot of functions and make it look like it's the same structure, it might work.

Basically, there are up to 5 parts

header = tpl_header.php
left column = from the admin
center = depends and mostly builtin to display many different page items
right column = from the admin
footer = tpl_footer.php

There is no short cut way

Maybe what you need are buy now buttons if there are not many products

thanks, i'm working of seeing if i can edit the graphics to resemeble the layout and modify it to fit. I know enough php to be able to move things around, so hopefully i can make it look like you never left the site.