In our parents' day, who would have thought they would hear that the most important space within today's floor plan design is the master suite? Almost every designer we talked to stressed the absolute essential role that the master suite plays in design. Whether a buyer has children or no children, in the high-end of the market or the low end of the market, the master suite is a key area in determining a home's salability. It is now viewed and designed as a retreat for homeowners.

"Five years ago, sitting rooms were a luxury item," says Bruce Hollenbeck, of Pinnacle Designs in Kansas City, MO. "Today they are a standard item in our market."

One can only speculate at why this change occurred. But it is clear from the designers we talked to that homebuyers in every stage of life don't just view the latest array of amenities in the master suite as "perk" items. They are "living" in the master suite more than ever whether they view it as a reward for their many years of hard work or as a place to spend time alone away from the hustle and bustle of family activity.

David Loftus, of Archival Designs, develops most of his designs for the Atlanta market. He explains that the upper-end buyers, at least in his market, are placing so much emphasis on the master suite because their fast-paced lives leave them little time to spend in the other areas of the home.

"There's more emphasis on apartment-style living," he says. "They want it all right in the master suite: a fireplace, TV in the bedroom and bath, juice bar, walk-in shower, heated towel bars - just the features they would experience in a luxury apartment or resort."