Master suites grow in stature and style

Today's great master suite is all about luxury and comfort - a private sanctuary that pampers and pleases the eye.

Do you want an elegant, romantic space or a casual, charming spot? Do you prefer a neutral palette, or do you want to wake up your room with color? Whatever your style, builders have more elements than ever before to create the suite of your dreams.

Often new masters are comprised of a sleeping space, reading or sitting area, one or two walk-in closets and a private bath. These spaces unite to provide one large suite and the most personal space in your home.

Ideally, the suite should provide everything homeowners need to ease the morning rush and for winding down at day's end.

Let's take a look at some master suites that builders are showcasing in their new home communities.

Toll Brothers

Toll Brothers presents a memorable master suite in the Harvard, a luxury model in The Masters Collection of single-family estate homes at Bowes Creek Country Club in Elgin.

Tucked away from secondary bedrooms, this suite offers a private retreat where soft grays, greens and blues create a calm, soothing ambience.

The suite's standout feature is the floor plan where a nice long room is accented with round architectural columns that separate the sleeping and sitting areas, said Nicolle Bastian-Gardiner, senior sales manager at Bowes Creek.

"The beauty of this space is that one person can stay up and read or watch TV while the other is asleep," she said.

As one enters the suite through double doors, the room seems very spacious and inviting. A stunning coffered ceiling impresses and increases the height of the room by about 2 feet.

The room shows a very nice, elegant king-size bed with an eclectic mix of furniture for a romantic, elegant look, Bastian-Gardiner said.

Another wonderful aspect of this space is that it can accommodate large, bulky furniture for homebuyers who want to downsize but don't want to give up their treasured furniture pieces.

"We have people who keep some of their furniture and mix it with some new modern pieces to give the room a timeless appeal," Bastian-Gardiner said.

A couch, end table and flat-screen TV furnish the sitting area. The sleeping and sitting areas each feature crown molding while a walk-in closet has custom organization.

The bath with a calming ambience will help owners wash away the stresses of the day in the Roman tub or ultra shower with two shower heads and a tiled base.

Split vanities on either side of the bathroom allow owners to share the bath but keep their space and not bump into each other.

Ryland Homes

In the Napa model home at the Talamore community in Huntley, Ryland Homes presents a stunning master suite with an upscale Restoration Hardware look.

An unusual board and batten wall treatment is the focal point of this suite.

"We wanted to add texture to the room, so we did a really interesting type of paneling that was used in a lot of homes going back to Colonial days," said Helen Velas, president of Eleni Interiors, which decorated the model.

"We put vertical boards on top of wood veneer, which gives the room a lot of personality, and it looks and feels more expensive than it is. This treatment can be done in a variety of ways by creating different patterns with the boards. We used it here very simply so it doesn't take away from the room."

This is also a simple do it yourself project and a great decorating idea for homebuyers.

The room also features a Restoration Hardware furniture style with a bed upholstered in linen with tufting. This is a popular bed style and is very attractive to men and women, Velas said.

"It's comfortable, cozy, very warm."

Another attraction in the room is the hand-painted nightstands that are kind of sculptural, curved and beautifully done.

Corals, greens and mushroom colors are soothing, but not boring. A mix of patterns and textures on the wall and a comfortable bed make this a very inviting room that has been well received.

The bath with dual sinks is wrapped in wallpaper and features oil-rubbed bronze plumbing and lighting fixture packages that are an upgrade, but the finish goes beautifully with the Restoration Hardware decor of the home.

Shodeen Homes

The Canterbury design at Mill Creek in Geneva showcases a very dramatic master suite by Shodeen Homes.

A showstopper in this suite is the high cathedral ceiling that reaches up to 14 feet - a real "wow" factor when people enter the master suite through double doors, said Nathan Amidon, director of sales and marketing.

"With a soffit around the edge, it feels almost like a piece of art," he said.

The space features a cutaway that can be used as an entertainment center with TV or sitting area.

Another highlight is the master closet.

"It's massive; it's the size of a secondary bedroom; it's amazing," Amidon said. A window inside the closet brings in natural light, so you know what colors you're selecting in the morning. No more pairing a black with a blue sock.

By saying yes to a few options, homeowners will have everything they need to survive the morning rush. Consider a small coffee bar, center island cabinetry in the closet, dressing area, or a cutaway in the closet for an ironing board, Amidon said.

"We can include all of these amenities."

The luxury master bath features two separate vanities on opposite sides of the room where off-white contrasts with dark custom cabinetry. It has a real modern look with ceramic tile flooring.

Today, many people prefer a larger, spa-type shower with soothing sprays in lieu of a tub, which can easily be done in this bathroom.