One of the most frequent items seen on our
clients' wish lists is a master suite. Master suites are a relatively recent
trend in home design, so most older homes do not have them. And in our
experience, the master suite often becomes the crown jewel of the
renovation.
Besides the bedroom, a private bathroom is an essential part of a
master suite. The use of luxurious finishes adds to the sense of escape
from the pressures of daily life
The third element of a master suite is a walk-in closet. By
using a variety of options for hanging or folding clothes,
organizing shoes and storing luggage and other things this space can
be attractive as well as functional.
Renovation Design
Group | ; a sanctum where adults can
relax.
Renovation Design Group |
This
happens because people love their master suites. One of our clients, Donna
Bates, will tell you what her life was like before she got a master suite: "We
just had this little bedroom that was the same as all the other little bedrooms
in the house, and we had to share a bathroom with the kids," she says. With her
eight kids, we should point out.
But now that Donna has a master suite, she calls it her "little sanctuary."
For the Bates, like most of our clients, the master suite becomes a sanity space
that is off limits to the rest of the family, an inner sanctum where adults can
relax.
There are two ways to get a master suite: Rearrange or add on. If you have an
extra bedroom in the vicinity of your master bedroom, this space can be
transformed into the master bath and closet. Or you can add a master suite to
the first floor by expanding into the yard, if your yard can accommodate such an
addition. Alternately, you can consider adding a second story, which will mean a
major renovation to your roof and giving up space on the main floor to add a
staircase.
A typical master suite consists of three functions: A bedroom large enough to
fit a king size bed, a couple pieces of furniture, and possibly a sitting area;
a bathroom with a separate shower and tub, two sinks, and a toilet (often within
its own room); and the master closet, which is typically a walk-in closet with
built-in organizers.
All this will require about 400 to 800 square feet and will cost about $150
per square foot for a remodel and about $220 per square foot for an addition.
The cost per square foot tends to be higher than in other parts of the house
(except the kitchen) because a master suite often includes more luxurious
fixtures and finishes—from a jetted tub and granite-lined steam shower to a
private fireplace to cedar or mahogany closet organizers. On the other hand, a
master suite helps resale value and you may eventually get much of that money
back.
Of course you don't have to go all out with your master suite if your
budget won't allow, but you will want to add at least a few touches of luxury so
the master suite truly becomes your inner sanctum. Giving yourself the treat of
a space all your own is truly a "suite" deal!
Architects
Ann Robinson, AIA, and Annie Vernon, AIA, welcome your design
questions at Ask@RenovationDesignGroup.com.
Robinson and Vernon are founding principals of Renovation
Design Group, a local architectural firm specializing in residential
remodeling design.
To register for "Designing a Remodel with Character &
Class," call 533-5331 or click
here for details.
© 2005 Deseret News
Publishing Company
