Getting magazine style home page proving impossible

I am currently trying to build a site and I downloaded and installed the Bombax theme which shows what my ideal home page looks like here however this is the problem.

My home page merely has my main writing but no page excerpts even though this option shows as enabled. This is what my home page currently looks like. Boring and dull.

I have tried other themes so it’s not a problem with the theme I don’t think. I’m obviously missing something. Just how do you get those lovely text boxes with images on your home page?