This paper presents a density functional study of multisite amphiphile molecules with the number of sites in the amphiphile ranging from 2 to 12. The molecular sites of the amphiphiles are fixed with either a freely jointed or rigid rod geometry. The difference between these two geometries is explored in detail. The paper studies the lamellar phase of these amphiphiles, as well as structures (such as monolayers and bilayers) against spherical hard bodies. The hard body surface can be tuned from solvophilic to neutral to solvophobic, and the phase behavior associated with these different arrangements is explored. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.