Written for everyone who dreams of building a house, Essence of Home provides a step-by-step look at the planning process. Author and architect Liesl Geiger presents seven elements that are crucial to the success and livability of residential structures: design origins, site and scale, language and style, openings and light, spheres of living, flow of space, and sustainability. Twenty of today's leading architects—Richard Gluckman, Deborah Berke, Ted Flato, Peggy Deamer, Turner Brooks, William McDonough, and others—offer practical advice and experience.

Geiger emphasizes the expectations and opportunities inherent in the architect-client relationship and presents a vocabulary with which clients can describe their preferences for lifestyle, space usage, and design. Case studies illustrate the principles of the design concepts, offering tangible and compelling examples of how a customized home is a remarkable opportunity for personal expression.