Alternative front page template for the Genesis Framework--to allow a static home page with optional widget areas.

front-page.php

<?php

/**
 * Front Page template for Robin Works theme. Optionally adds widget areas to be used in addition
 * to a static home page.
 *
 *
 * @author  Robin Cornett
 * @license GPL-2.0+
 * @link    http://robincornett.com/
 */

add_action( 'genesis_meta', 'robin_works_front_page_meta' );
function robin_works_front_page_meta() {
	if ( is_active_sidebar( 'home-top' ) || ( ( is_active_sidebar( 'home-left' ) && is_active_sidebar( 'home-right' ) ) ) ) { // check for active home widgets. if using right/left, both must have content. for balance.
		if ( is_singular() ) { // check if the home page is a static page
			remove_action( 'genesis_entry_header', 'genesis_do_post_title' ); // if it is, remove the page title.
			add_action( 'genesis_entry_header', 'robin_works_home_featured_image' ); // if it is, display the featured image in the page header
		}
		else {
			remove_action( 'genesis_loop', 'genesis_do_loop' ); // if it's not a static page and widget areas are active, remove the loop (latest posts)
		}
		add_action( 'genesis_loop', 'robin_works_home_widgets' ); // regardless, show the widgets.
	}
}

function robin_works_home_featured_image() { // display the featured image for the front page. Large, please.
	global $post;
	$image = get_the_post_thumbnail( $post->ID, 'original', array( 'alt' => the_title_attribute( 'echo=0' ), 'title' => the_title_attribute( 'echo=0' ) ) );

	echo $image;
}

function robin_works_home_widgets() {
	if ( is_active_sidebar( 'home-top' ) ) {
		echo '<div class="home-top">';
			genesis_widget_area( 'home-top' );
		echo '</div>';
	}
	if ( is_active_sidebar( 'home-left' ) && is_active_sidebar( 'home-right' ) ) { // both left and right widget areas need to have content. balance.
		echo '<div class="home-left one-half first">';
			genesis_widget_area( 'home-left' );
		echo '</div>';
		echo '<div class="home-right one-half">';
			genesis_widget_area( 'home-right' );
		echo '</div>';
	}
}

genesis();

functions.php

<?php

// Do not include the opening php tag! Add this code to your functions.php file.

/** Register widget areas */
genesis_register_sidebar( array(
	'id'          => 'home-top',
	'name'        => __( 'Home Top', 'robin-works' ),
	'description' => __( 'This is the home top section.', 'robin-works' ),
) );
genesis_register_sidebar( array(
	'id'          => 'home-left',
	'name'        => __( 'Home Left', 'robin-works' ),
	'description' => __( 'This is the home left section.', 'robin-works' ),
) );
genesis_register_sidebar( array(
	'id'          => 'home-right',
	'name'        => __( 'Home Right', 'robin-works' ),
	'description' => __( 'This is the home right section.', 'robin-works' ),
) );

style.css

.home .entry {
	padding: 0;
}

.home .entry-content {
	padding: 40px;
}

.home-top,
.home-left,
.home-right {
	background: #fff;
	border-radius: 3px;
	margin-bottom: 40px;
	padding: 40px;
}