The sleep room trend hasn’t hit southeastern Wisconsin full force yet, but several builders have had requests. Surprisingly, the room is not being constructed only for the snoring partner. "They come in handy for grandparents who want to have a grandchild (an infant or toddler) sleeping adjacent to their room," says Jonathon Schoenheider, president of Pewaukee’s Regency Builders.

Schoenheider has built sleep rooms for on-call physicians who don’t want their spouse disturbed by emergencies. "They tell us that they get 30 to 60 pages in an evening while on call," he says. This "secondary master bedroom" is outfitted with a closet or bookcase, a desk with a computer connected to the hospital, a phone and a television. Think office with a bed.

Mequon’s Embassy Construction Corp. is building a variation on the theme with dual master suites that bookend a house. This second suite has multiple uses including single women who want to invest in a home with a sister or girlfriend who each want the same kind of luxury in their bedroom, says Kathy Schmidt, president of Embassy Realty, a division of Embassy Construction. Elderly couples, with one of whom need a lot of care, are also prime candidates. A second master suite serves children returning home after a divorce or to take care of mom or dad as well as traveling empty nesters who plan extended visits with friends.

JFK Design Build, Pewaukee, has just completed plans for a three-season bedroom located off of the master suite. "The clients wanted to feel like they were sleeping outside with no air conditioning or heating," says Steve Wollersheim. "What their desire is is to connect with the outdoors." As the baby boomers age, prepare to see more variations on the sleep room theme.