If I set up the “news” page with the rev slider and the sidebar then the sidebar appears part on top of the slider. To achieve the look my client wants with the sidebar and the set up more like the standard “blog” look (rather than using the post slider or post grid), I can’t use the rev slider at the top which automatically disappears when I set my posts page to our “news” page.

Help? Is there a way to have both the standard blog look AND the slider on top? Thanks!

I see, you may trick this by editing your index.php template in your Child theme. This is the template responsible for the blog listing page. You can then place the Rev slider into the code, look here, 4. The PHP Method:

http://www.themepunch.com/faq/ive-created-a-slider-but-how-do-i-add-it-to-my-page/

Obviously you will put it above the content/sidebar columns.

I would also add a check for the blog page using is_home().