LOL =)

First time I've heard it called that. Almost sounds like 'master' will be the next politically incorrect word?

The next question is...will this become a Canadian expression that gets picked up by the US or will it remain unique to Canada? After watching a few Canadian decorating shows I realized they never use the term "master bathroom"...they call it the "en suite" (Or is it ON suite???). So if they don't like the word "master" for a bathroom I'm not surprised they wouldn't like it used for the bedroom either.
Maybe we should rename it the Madame Bedroom. ;-)

I have also heard the term "Owners Suite"

I hadn't caught that change, but it makes some sense as "principal" connotes size and importance rather than the identity of who sleeps there. I do notice that auxiliary bedrooms are often called secondary bedrooms rather than guest rooms or children's rooms...same idea as calling the master bedroom the principal bedroom, I guess.

I think the term Master bedroom is passe. I manage seasonal rental homes, and at least for the last 5 years have used the term "primary" bedroom. Owner's bedroom doesn't fit either.

Here in Canada we have 2 official languages, English and French. The term 'en suite' is French for a set of rooms forming a suite and is pronounce ON suite, as ogoopogo says.

I do think 'principal' bedroom will likely soon make 'master' bedroom obsolete. After all, the latter term is not very politically correct. Wonder if it was the "Canadian House and Home" mag gurus that started this?

Too amazing to think us staid Canadians could be hip! LOL ;-D

I have also heard the term "Owners Suite"

I have seen that on plans, but what happens when the house is a rental???

Quote:I have also heard the term "Owners Suite"
I have seen that on plans, but what happens when the house is a rental???

As I said earlier, it then becomes the "Primary Bedroom."

I'll still be calling it Master or Main with rentals. If I said "Principal" I'd probably get some very funny looks ;)

I still say Master bedroom although I have heard principal. Master bath or en suite are used regularly and interchangeably here, but estate agents call it the principal bedroom or bath. We say en suite here, not on suite. Perhaps because I'm in Ottawa and we are a pretty bilingual city?

Since visiting Gardenweb on of the main Cdn/US differences I see vacab wise is remodel versus renovate. We don't remodel here, we renovate.

In french, the term "chambre principale" is most often used instead of
"chambre des maitres" ( master bedroom); I went searching on Canadian House and Home's website and they do say principal room instead of master.

When I googled principal room, this thread also appeared, lol......

I like principal bedroom. I think it's more accurate.

Something else, I notice on another Canadian show Income Property, Scott uses restroom instead of bathroom.
In the states I think commercial establishment when restroom is used.
Is restroom now being used for home bathroom north of the border?

I apologize in advance but I have to say it:

I have a hard time reading 'Principal Bedroom' let alone calling my MBR that. I just see flashes of well....dress up games going on and someone being called to the Principal's Room!

Sorry - but it makes me chuckle!

When looking for our house 11 years ago, we were told at that time, that Master Bedroom is term that is not politically correct and was being replaced with other descriptions. I've heard, "main bedroom" , "first bedroom", "owners suite", "largest bedroom". Of course we still hear "master".

A suite is, by definition, more than one room---not counting the bathroom as a room. So calling the MBR the "owners' suite" is usually inaccurate as well as ridiculous, IMO. It makes me think of all those new house layouts in the 1990s when the living rooms shrank to the point that builders were calling them "morning rooms.".

And then I looked at an American house plan book/mag and saw that there is now something known as the "owner's retreat". That must be the evolution of the "master suite". In the plans, there is usually entry through a sitting room of some kind, then into the bedroom, with the accompanying bath(s) and closet(s).

See, I always thought of a retreat as a cabin in the woods. A place to get away. If we are building retreats into our own homes, what is that saying about us, anyway?

Maybe we should rename it the Madame Bedroom. ;-) Beats the hell out of "Mistress Bedroom." I know I wouldn't allow one of those in my house!

LOL!

Something else, I notice on another Canadian show Income Property, Scott uses restroom instead of bathroom.

I heard that too, and thought it was odd, because I think that washroom is more common in Canada.
In fact I was somewhat embarrassed at a restaurant once in Canada. I was visiting my now DH for the first time at this home in British Columbia, and he picked me up at the airport in Vancouver and took me out to eat at the Tea House in Stanley Park. I got up to use the restroom, and I believe that I asked the hostess where the bathroom was, and she gave me a puzzled look and said "oh, the washroom is over there". I started to wonder what else I was going to get "wrong" on that trip.
On a trip to Australia, I felt awkward asking for the "toilet", but that is how they are labeled there.

Separated by a common language, eh?

It avoids the paternalistic and offensive master/slave construct.
Like Seinfeld asked, "are you master of your domain?"
Casey

Eh, indeed!

Linda Reeves is the publisher of Canadian House & Home and I believe she is the one who coined the term "principal bedroom". Saying "master" bedroom was one of her pet peeves. She had a TV show and I can remember her and Colby Ladner (the old editor) discussing that many times.

I live in BC and have an ensuite, say bathroom but wouldn't bat an eye at washroom or restroom. Whatever you're comfortable with, eh. ;)

people get carried away with this pc stuff.
you can be the 'master' w/o having a slave. I'm the master of my domain. Doesn't mean I have any slaves - or would want any. It means I'm in charge of my own place.

I can live with master bedroom, but vivre la difference!

Restroom has an institutional connotation to me as well. We generally use the term "washroom" in party of Canada. I know that that drives my UK colleagues crazy. We use "loo" pretty commonly too though.

Since I never was able to figure out "master" bedroom, I'm okay with "principal". I've never lived in place with an "en suite" nor do any of my friends have them (we live in old houses - having a bath and a 1/2 in the house is the norm) so the whole idea is a bit bizarre. The parents, or resident adult(s), take the biggest bedroom. Or not if kids need the larger room. My parents had a smaller bedroom than the rooms my brothers and I had. Enough space for a double bed, two dressers and a chair. I guess they didn't feel the need to hide in their room to get away from us. Well maybe they did want to do that but they couldn't!

Jakabedy, good question about the "retreat," lol.

Fun thread... you all are on a roll! :)

Just catching up on Sarah Richardson videos and she's talking "principal" bedroom. I like it a lot! There are so many things wrong with the word master, starting with gender and ending with slaves. Can't solve all the world's problems, but, as Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

I’m in Canada and the townhome we just bought used “master bedroom” and ”second bedroom”. The bathroom is actually “master bathroom” too, though en-suite is more popular.

I think “principal bedroom” works well, especially if describing short term rentals (where multiple couples might share a rental), rentals by you adults (again where roommates might be sharing), or multi- generational homes. You still want to confirm which room is the largest, but there isn’t a need to explain who then “master” of the home is.

Random point- when I’ve booked Airline tickets for my son, he always gets the prefix “master” vs “Mr” on his tickets/booking. Hubby and I always get a good laugh, as there are definitely days where it feels like he runs things in our home! Maybe he should get the new master bedroom haha.