People often suggest the need to design a house with the master bedroom on the first floor. You hear things like “someday you may not want or be able to climb stairs”. Possibly, but it may also be true that we could stay in better shape as we age if we are climbing stairs. My dad had serious heart disease. Three heart attacks and two by-pass surgeries later his bedroom remained on the 2nd floor of his home and his cardiologist was adamant it stay that way!

Stairs are great exercise!
If someone can afford to build a master bedroom wing (meaning the bedroom occupies its own ell) with a great cathedral ceiling, blissful spa-like bath and an exercise suite, then by all means go for it. However, if I were to put my master bedroom on the first floor of our house I’d probably utilize all the space I could and put another room above it; most likely a bedroom. This means that my bedroom would have a flat ceiling and every time the upstairs occupants got up or even turned over in the middle of the night, I’d hear them. Not a peaceful thought.

This second floor master bedroom has a private balcony and spectacular views of the coast!
On the other hand, should I put my guests in a first floor bedroom and place the master bedroom on the second floor, I’d have all the benefits of that wonderful privacy, the option of a cathedral ceiling, plenty of light, good exercise compliments of the stairs, and I’d have saved money in the process! But here’s the added bonus: I’d still have a first floor bedroom should I not want or be able to climb a set of stairs.
Hey, when it comes to money well spent, I’m always thinking!

This media room was specifically designed to become a first floor master bedroom should it ever become necessary.
I totally agree. I would like to use the bottom floor for more “living” space and get frustrated when most of the designs have the master on the first floor. Kudos to beambabe!
Our home is just like you describe. We have a small master on the 1st floor and our master is on the 2nd floor. My husband recently had foot surgery so we stayed in our 1st floor master until he could manage the stairs. But we love our 2nd floor master. Great post and beautiful photos on your blog. Thank you! Ever show a picture of your porch?
Hi Mary,
I will soon be writing a post on outdoor structures that complement a post and beam home; porches will be included! Stay tuned…
Thanks for some good tips as I’d never thought about who’s moving overhead or some of the really nice ceilings in master bedrooms.