Design Basics For A Master Bedroom Suite with Bath

When it comes to adding an addition to your home for a new master bedroom suite your options are only limited by your vision and your budget. Your master bedroom is the space for you to indulge yourself and express your creativity, but you need to consider your budget and lifestyle when choosing amenities, features and fixtures.

In it's 2015 Remodeling Impact Report, the National Association of Realtors found that the average national median cost for adding a 20' X 20' master bedroom addition using midrange finishes like ceramic tile and solid-surface vanity tops was $112.500 or about $280 per finished square foot.

The report also found that you'll recover about 53% of the cost when when you sell. But the real payback comes from the enjoyment and comfort a new master suite can bring. Among homeowners who added a master bedroom addition, the project returned a 9.7 “Joy Score.” This is a rating that measures a homeowners happiness and satisfaction with their project, with a 10 being the highest rating.

Here are some tips on designing the perfect master bedroom addition to meet your needs, increase your comfort, and fit your budget!

Where To Start: Planning Your Master Bedroom Suite

Before you begin planning, dream a little! What would you include in your ultimate master bedroom retreat if money were no object? Would you love a free standing soaking tub sitting in front of a picture window to take in the ocean view? A heated natural stone floor and heated towel racks? Maybe a multi-jet shower system? This is the fun part of the process!

Of course, budget does factor in to your final design, but often with proper planning you can afford some items off of your wish list. Your design build contractor can often offer alternatives like less expensive finishes or porcelain flooring instead of natural stone, that can save you enough for that must have soaking tub!

As you begin the planning stage, consider these factors – privacy, view, and separation. Choosing the right location for your addition is a key element. Before you choose consider:

• Privacy – Create a space that is a refuge for you and your spouse, away from the kids and the stress of the day. For that you want privacy. Place closets between you and the rest of the house – they act as sound barriers. Also consider the privacy of your addition with the neighbors in mind!

• View – If you have a view, make sure to take advantage! Place large windows to enjoy it, or if it's a first floor addition, consider adding outdoor access to a private patio, deck or secret garden. Remember, this is your personal oasis!

• Separation – Consider whether you want a door, or a small hallway separating your master bedroom from the main living space. An open plan incorporating the en suite can make the room feel bigger and more luxurious, but if you choose this option, make sure to install heavy duty ventilation to prevent odors and humidity from entering the bedroom.

Set Your Priorities: Choosing the Amenities

If you're starting your project with an addition, you're starting with a blank slate. Remember the list you made of your “dream” items? Here's where you choose your must haves! Choose fixtures and finishes that match your aesthetic style, features that you've always wanted, and amenities to make your life easier, like a double sink vanity! Here are some of the most popular choices of homeowners today! Keep in mind that when it comes to designing a master suite their are hundreds of variables that will affect cost. A marble bathroom floor is tremendously expensive when compared with porcelain tile. Contact the designers at Toulmin for pricing that's specific to your aesthetic as well as Tuscaloosa and our surrounding communities.

A Large Shower

A 4 foot by 6 foot enclosure is bug enough for two. It can include a bench, and a multi-head shower system for maximum enjoyment. Cost: $3000 - $5000

An Expansive Walk-In Closet

Decide if you'll be sharing closet space, or if you have the room for his and hers closets. 10 X 10 gives you plenty of room for both of you, plus enough room for a dressing chair. Build in organization like multiple hanging racks, shoe racks and drawers to keep your closet organized. Cost: $3000 - $8000

Radiant Floor Heating in the Master Bath

This is an indulgence that's worth the price. Not only is it an efficient way to heat the space, nothing feels better then stepping onto a warm floor first thing in the morning! Cost: $1500 - $3500

His and Hers Sinks or Vanities

Many couples say that the best investment they made in their project was a double sink vanity. It offers plenty of space for each partner, and nothing makes getting ready in the morning easier! Cost: $2500 - $5000

If you have the budget you can kick up the luxury level with some truly enjoyable features like that extra deep soaking tub, a passageway a private patio, or balcony, or even a sitting area with a fireplace to create the perfect place to read or meditate. It really depending on your creativity and ultimately your budget.

Your designer or design build firm can help you with every step of the process. From planning your space through making the best choices for fixtures finishes and amenities. Adding a master bedroom addition to your home can increase your comfort and enjoyment. With some planning and thought you can create the perfect private retreat that will meet your needs now and into the future!  

About Toulmin Kitchen & Bath Design - We're West Alabama's award-winning, premier kitchen and bath showroom. We're experts who are known for a design-build process that makes the construction process stress-free. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a design consultation.