The book deals with the characteristics of large housing schemes as well as turn-of-the-century houses - in fact a complete range of average housing stock - and examines the alterations people make to reflect their identity. Willats examines people"s responses to the architect"s design of their homes and the way they alter them to make them their own, he considers how people personalise housing which is often exactly the same as the space next door and therefore in need of individualisation.