Presented in twelve understandable “lessons,” this book explains in everyday language architectural concepts and design secrets that are essential to designing a dream home uniquely and perfectly your own. Beginning with an exploration of design philosophy, the grammar of architecture, concepts of spaces, and discussions of how to make spaces be appropriate and gratifying for the people living in them, these “lessons” explore issues of scale, daylight, making a house feel like a home, unifying a design, flow, and proportions. All concepts that are too often overlooked in today’s homebuilding. Hirsch says, “A great house doesn’t have to cost more. It just needs to be thought through properly.” In this book, he shows you how to do it.

Hirsch answers questions like: How do I get started? How do I select a building site? What kind of house can I afford within my budget? How do I make my dream house just right for me? Other topics include: site analysis and selection, programming, schematic design, style, room relationships, budget, working with professionals, selecting a builder, methods of contracting, and more. Numerous beautiful color photos and drawings illustrate the book's major points. This book will pay for itself many, many times over.