You should use the content module ok k2. There is various options to set which item you want to display.
Go to tools->module->add

yes! thanks for the quick reply!

i have been experimenting with the k2 content module, and there are many position choices EXCEPT i can't find the choice that puts the items right in the central main content area... the position where ARTICLES appear if you select the FRONT PAGE option when you publish them using Joomla 1.5 without K2.

This area is not for module. It's the area for the current component. So if you want to display k2 items in this area, you need to modify the "home" item of your main menu to be a k2 component. (I havn't tested it, but I suppose it's the way to do it).

hello Matthieu,
I'm glad it was useful to you! =)
a little after I posted it, I also converted this to a standalone module... I attach it here because I think I did some minor fixes/upgrades to the html part I first posted.
best wishes

Hello Pocasolta,

 

can you tell me how to setup to show categories in 2 or more columns? I wrote in field "Select column count", but something does not work ok. Categories is shows one below another category in only one column.

 

Thank you in advanced.

You can look to the website I did with categories on frontpage :

www.arcadie-sa.fr

The number of columns is only css. So you need to change the css of your template to achieve this. If you want a particular order, maybe you need some php ajustement in the template too. It' a little far in my mind right know, so I can't be more specific, sorry.