WordPress Theme linking to a Sharetribe Database

I am a wordpress newbie and am building a site and am keen to use a WordPress Theme and then link it to a Sharetribe.com database. I do however want to have a multifunction search bar on the home page similar to that used by the website spinlister.com

My initial research suggests two options:

1) use a directory type theme such as https://themeforest.net/item/search-go-modern-smart-directory-theme/full_screen_preview/15365040 and link each component back to the database; or

2) use a standard theme and try to add a search bar to it using a tool such as https://codecanyon.net/item/ajax-search-pro-for-wordpress-live-search-plugin/3357410

Any thoughts on what would the superior approach and why would be MASSIVELY appreciated.

Cheers