We have a design that uses custom button graphics with mouseover events for the main website menu, as such we cannot use the dynamic solpart menu, each menu will be hard coded to link to an associated DNN page.  We will however still require the admin menu when logged in to access those features.

How should we handle such a design, ie with no dynamic main menu?

Yes - that's how I used to do and it works when I'm doing flash based skins - You can also use the Snapsis CSS menu which allows you to neatly place into the skin a very slick and unobtrusive admin/host dropdown box - it's pretty cool because it's very small - and can drop in anywhere - http://www.snapsis.com -  There is also an admin menu packaged here - http://november.skincovered.com/skinobjects.aspx  which includes that and another admin menu.

You can also keep the admin skin or as previously suggested.. or you can keep a page that is visible to administrators only, that sits on the home page and only visible when logged in

Nina Meiers

Not sure I am clear on what you mean? "or you can keep a page that is visible to administrators only, that sits on the home page and only visible when logged in"