Controls and Advise Needed

I'm looking to make a large project most likely in C# (I'm posting here because converting VB code to C# is easy and there are more .Net developers here. It's also not related specifically to C#) and there are some controls I will need that I would like to try to make myself.

I need a menu with gaphics in it (like VS' menus). I also need some sort of splitter that acts like the ones used in Dreamweaver/Flash/etc where you click an arrow button on the splitter and it hides it (puts the splitter on the side of the screen) and when you click on it again, it expands. I also need a way to create buttons similiar to outlook 2003's buttons (the ones that says Calendar, E-Mail, Tasks).

I would prefer to build the controls myself, however; I have little experience in making my own controls. What would you recommend to accomplish this?

Also, I am thinking of using .Net 2.0, however; that would require users to update to 2.0 (it's bad enough not a majority of users have 1.1). Should I go with 2.0 or stick with 1.1? I know if I go with 2.0, it'll fix my problem of the graphics in my menu.

Thanks!