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One thing we love to do here at the _floss is drop historical perspective. It’s something that separates us a bit from all the other smart websites out there. Yeah, you learn something new here, but hopefully you also learn something old, as well.
Along those lines, dig this: An article in the New York Times the other day began thusly, “Not since the Victorian age of starched sheets and starchy manners, builders and architects say, have there been so many orders for separate bedrooms.”
Now, while it would have been nice to know how many orders for separate bedrooms there were in the late 1800s, and in what country these orders were being placed, the Times is nothing if not diligent when it comes to fact checking, so I’m going to take their word for it.
I’ll also assume the whole separate bedroom thing back then had everything to do with sex and decorum (if you think otherwise, please, drop a comment). That’s not the reason orders on the same are up today, however. Nope, nowadays it’s more about the actual shuteye; the same reason so many people have prescriptions to sleeping pills. Check out these interesting stats from the article:
In a survey in February by the National Association of Home Builders, builders and architects predicted that more than 60 percent of custom houses would have dual master bedrooms by 2015, according to Gopal Ahluwalia, staff vice president of research at the builders association. Some builders say more than a quarter of their new projects already do. Or separate sleeping nooks. Or his-and-her wings.
My question to you, dear faithful readers of this blog, is this: whaaaaaaaaa?
60 percent of custom homes? Is it that I don’t spend enough time with the types who build their own homes or does this number seem a little high to you all?
Comments (11)
Comment
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Does that mean 60% of the people who request custom homes snore unbelievably loud?
I read too much Dear Abby to not know that some people choose separate bedrooms because their partner disrupts their sleep some way. Less sleep = cranky = arguments, and the ball rolls from there…..
posted by Kate on 3-22-2007 at 10:30 am
The spouse and I have slept separately for years. Works much better that way in terms of gettiing actual sleep and as a result our relationship is more peaceful.
posted by NR Davis on 3-22-2007 at 11:05 am
really? REALLY! I think that seems a little high. I know one couple that sleeps separately. I use ear plugs…. even when I sleep alone.
posted by Wader on 3-22-2007 at 11:26 am
Maybe they’re requesting an additional master bedroom for a reason besides keeping the husband and wife apart at night. I can think of a couple: an elderly parent will live with them or they will use the second one as a really nice guest room.
I think houses are just getting bigger, period.
posted by Jess on 3-22-2007 at 12:02 pm
We have separate bedrooms -separate closets, sepatate beds, separate bathrooms, separate “space” – it works.
posted by Priscilla on 3-22-2007 at 1:18 pm
Separate bedrooms and bathrooms here too. He snores and I move around too much. Also, I wake up at 4am and he sleeps until 9-10.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 3-22-2007 at 1:30 pm
I don’t think that is all that high because it says “custom homes”, most homes are not custom. so the overall percentage is really a lot lower than that.
posted by Caleb on 3-22-2007 at 1:42 pm
I’m with Caleb. Most people who can afford to build a home can find plans they like. The reason people have homes custom-designed is because they want special features not normally available. Such as two master bedrooms. Therefore, its a self-selecting group.
posted by Miss Cellania on 3-23-2007 at 7:54 am
Makes perfect sense to me. The “upper class” has had separate “ladies chambers” throughout history, why should now be any different. I have my own bathroom, and there are times, believe me, when my own bedroom suite sounds like a really nice idea.
posted by foxydot on 3-23-2007 at 8:01 am
My last boyfiend dumped me because I have sleep apnea. Seriously. That was all he could come up with. And because he was a jerk, of course. But even with a situation like that aside, I like the idea. I was an only child. I’d want my own room (and a pony. NOW!!!).
posted by Allison on 3-23-2007 at 5:24 pm
My boyfriend and I have separate bedrooms. I’ve always had trouble sleeping and having another person in the bed only makes it worse on particularly restless nights. And we both feel that having separate spaces will keep us from feeling that we’re being intruded upon and thus resenting each other.
We don’t spend every night alone, it probably breaks even. And it kind of adds a bit of high-schooly, sneaking around excitement. Its a good thing :)
posted by Sarah on 1-17-2008 at 11:18 pm