Craftsman Collection · Master on Main

Craftsman plans where the master suite is on the main floor.

Craftsman plans drawn so the owners never have to climb stairs to go to bed. Primary suite on the entry level, secondary bedrooms upstairs or in a finished walkout, and the great room oriented to the porch and the view. Right for empty nesters, aging-in-place buyers, and any couple that decided to live this way on purpose.

6 Plans Available
320sf+ Avg. Master Suite
$1,495 From (PDF Set)
Browse 6 plans Why master-on-main matters
Designer's Pick
Chimney Top

Plan No. MF-7918 · Craftsman, Cottage · 2-Story

Chimney Top

Chimney Top is a 4-bedroom, 3-bath craftsman mountain home that spreads 3,378 square feet across two stories with a golf cart garage and two master rooms on the main level. I designed this plan for sloping lots where…

3,378 Sq. Ft. Sq Ft
4 Beds
3 Baths
Golf Carage Garage
Explore plan → From $1,495
6 Craftsman Plans · Master on Main

Craftsman plans with the master on the entry level.

Every plan below puts the owner suite on the main floor — full bath, full closet, easy access to the laundry. Secondary bedrooms live elsewhere.

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What does master-on-main mean?

A master-on-main craftsman puts the primary owner suite — bedroom, bath, and walk-in closet — on the entry level, so the owners never have to climb stairs to sleep, bathe, or get dressed. Secondary bedrooms typically live on a second floor or in a finished walkout, used by guests or kids. It is the dominant request from buyers over 55, and increasingly from younger couples who want the option to age in the house they build today.

Real Numbers · 2026 Data

What master-on-main actually adds to a craftsman build.

Cost difference between a master-on-main craftsman and an upstairs-master version of the same square footage (2,400 sq ft, mid-range finishes).

  • Larger main-floor foundation Master suite footprint adds ~500 sq ft to the main $8k – $15k
  • Larger main-floor roof More roof area over the wider main $5k – $10k
  • Master-bath plumbing on main Drains and supply on main floor only $2k – $4k
  • Main-floor laundry alcove Tucked between master closet and kitchen $3k – $6k
  • 36-inch master + bath doors Wider doors at master, main bath, entry $0.6k – $1.4k
  • Reinforced bath walls Wood blocking for future grab bars $0.4k – $1k
  • Curbless or low-curb shower Linear drain, properly sloped floor $2k – $4.5k
  • Smaller upstairs offset Secondary bedrooms finish cheaper than primary −$5k – −$10k
  • Net added cost Versus upstairs-master version, same sq ft $16k – $31.9k
Master-on-main is the layout I am asked to draw the most in 2026, and the buyers are not all retirees. Couples in their 40s building forever homes have done the math: pay slightly more for the master to be on main now, never have to retrofit later. The plans that get it right do not look like aging-in-place plans — they just live that way.
Max Fulbright Sr. Lead Designer + Builder · 35 Years

Numbers reflect 2026 national averages on a 2,400 sq ft craftsman build with mid-range finishes. The net added cost is small — the layout pays for itself the first year a knee starts hurting.

Master-on-Main Decision Guide

Is master-on-main right for your craftsman?

Five questions to confirm the layout fits your buyer, your lot, and your build budget.

01

Will the primary owners be 50+ within 10 years?

If yes, master-on-main pays back. If no, you are buying convenience without the aging-in-place math.

Yes → continue
02

Do you want laundry on the master floor?

On master-on-main, the laundry should sit between the master closet and the kitchen. Daily-use proximity matters.

Yes → continue
03

Where do secondary bedrooms live?

Upstairs (smaller main footprint), walkout (sloped-lot move), or all on main (largest footprint, narrower buyer fit).

Pick before drawing
04

Does your lot support a wider main-floor footprint?

Master-on-main plans have larger mains than upstairs-master plans. Narrow or steep lots may push toward walkout-secondary.

Confirm with site plan
05

Are accessibility upgrades in the budget?

Wider doors, reinforced bath walls, curbless shower — small upcharges at framing, expensive retrofits later.

Spec at framing
Master-on-Main Layout Comparison

Four ways to put the master on main.

Same idea, four different building strategies. Pick the one that matches your lot and your hosting habits.

True Single-Story

All on main

Master + secondary bedrooms all on the entry level. No upstairs, no walkout. Largest main-floor footprint. Right for flat or near-flat lots, smaller families, single-floor forever homes.

Best size1,800 – 2,400 sq ft
Lot typeFlat to gentle
Cost ratio$$

Master Main + Upstairs

Most common

Master on main, two or three secondary bedrooms upstairs. Smaller main-floor footprint than true single-story. Guests get full privacy upstairs.

Best size2,200 – 3,200 sq ft
Lot typeAny
Cost ratio$$

Master Main + Walkout

Sloped-lot move

Master on main, secondary bedrooms and second living area on the walkout level below. Best move on a sloped lot — cheapest square footage you can buy.

Best size2,000 – 3,500 sq ft
Lot typeSloped
Cost ratio$$$

Master Main + Loft

Cottage scale

Master on main, secondary bedrooms tucked into a sleeping loft above the great room. Smallest footprint of the four. Right for cottages, cabins, vacation homes.

Best size1,200 – 2,000 sq ft
Lot typeAny
Cost ratio$
Before You Build

Master-on-main readiness checklist

Six questions to confirm a master-on-main craftsman fits your buyer, your lot, and your build budget.

Common Questions

Quick answers.

How big is a typical master-on-main suite?+

The honest range for a master-on-main craftsman is 280 to 420 square feet for the bedroom, plus 80 to 140 for the bath and 50 to 90 for the closet. So a full suite lands at 410 to 650 square feet — call it 500 average. That fits a king bed, two nightstands, a chair or bench, a double-vanity bath with a separate shower (curbless if you are smart) and a closet that holds two adults' clothes without fighting.

Should the laundry be next to the master?+

On a master-on-main plan, yes — almost always. You are designing the house so the owners do not have to take a stair to do anything daily, and laundry is daily. The honest move is to tuck the laundry between the master closet and the kitchen, served from the same plumbing wall. The plans here that nail it have a 30 sq ft laundry alcove right off the master closet — small footprint, big quality-of-life win.

Can I age in place in a master-on-main craftsman?+

Yes, if the plan is drawn with aging in mind. Master-on-main solves the stairs problem, but you also want: 36-inch-wide doorways at master and main bath, a curbless shower (or one designed to be modified later), reinforced walls in the bath for grab bars (cheap to add at framing, expensive to retrofit), and at least one entry door without a step up. Several plans in this collection are drawn aging-in-place ready without looking institutional.

Where do guests sleep?+

Two honest options. First: secondary bedrooms upstairs over the main floor — gives upper-level guests their own private zone, away from the master. Second: secondary bedrooms in a finished walkout — even better on a sloped lot, because the lower level becomes a true second living zone with its own great room, bath, and sometimes a small kitchenette. Both work; pick based on lot and hosting habits.

Does master-on-main craftsman cost more to build?+

Slightly. A master-on-main plan typically has a larger main-floor footprint than a comparable two-story plan, which means more foundation, more roof, and more main-floor finish. But the trade-off is honest — you are buying single-floor convenience for life. Expect 4 to 8 percent more in foundation and roof line items, partly offset by a smaller upstairs that finishes cheaper than a primary suite.

Keep Learning

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