My new setup is a rain head, a handshower and body sprays, all on separate volume controls rather than using a diverter. Much simpler to operate. So, basically the same as what you want, except substitute the sprays for the fixed head. All three things operate independently, so you can run one, two or all three at one time.

I went with Harrington Brass for the valve and volume controls. All in polished chrome. They are gorgeous--heavy and substantial and the plating is absolutely stunning!! I felt it was easiest to match chrome with other things later on like towel bars, accessories. I loved the polished nickel too because it is warmer but I felt that polished chrome was most classic and easiest on a number of fronts, including maintenance.

For the shower heads and body sprays, slide bar and wall outlet, I went with Hansgrohe. I think that this is their area of strength and they have a lot of choice, much more so than if you were to try to use the matching stuff for whoever you choose for your valves, etc.

I don't think that Hansgrohe has anything special in the valve and faucet area. In any event, you will want to match your valve and volume controls to your sink faucets.

Hope this helps.

Hi, you may have a reason for wanting a fixed plus a handheld, but I have the Hansgrohe system with a rainhead (from the wall - up high) and a handheld on a bar that is adjustable to any height. It works perfectly as a fixed showerhead, lots of flow and power (and I don't have good pressure) with multiple flow settings. You didn't ask, but in my opinion a fixed would be unnecessary additional expense and clutter. I just have a diverter with no volume control because my water pressure is so low I couldn't imagine ever wanting to turn it down. The temp control is included on/in the diverter and always stays on the same setting so there is no fiddling to get the right temp (but I am the only one using the shower). I love the whole set up.

Hansgrohe litertaure syas this:

"The Quattro 3-way diverter allows for selection between
any of the three functions, or any combination of two."

So I think this means you can select either :
a or
b or
c or
ab or
ac or
bc or

Can't to abc. Maybe I'm wrong. And will the diverter allow all off? (Sorry to ask more questions instead of providing an authoritative answer.)

I like the simplicity of 3 volume controls, as bluedevil said. I'm using volume controls in a 2-function shower.

Re chrome - I'm choosing chrome because it looks better with my tile compared to brushed nickel. 30% less money is a nice reality.

Bill

@nycbluedevil...I just had the thought of using the handheld as the regular shower head. Are the handhelds and the regular shower heads similar in functionality? Would it clutter it up to have three volume controls vs. one diverter? I really don't think I'd want all three on ever.

Thanks all for the opinions, this is very helpful.

I agree with Olychick about not needing the fixed head because the handheld functions as a fixed head (with the added advantage of flexibility if it is mounted on a slide bar). The only reason for adding a fixed head would be if you are trying to make this a two-person shower and don't want to rely on the rain head for the second person. Is that what you have in mind?

We went with Delta in our MS. On my wall-rain head with handheld(w/in-wall diverter) On DH wall a regular shower head. Each wall has an on/off w/seperate temp control. I chose chrome. It looks awesome in this particular situation. I liked it better than the SS option. Ofcourse a bonus is that it's cheaper.

I think the functionality of the handhelds and the fixed heads is pretty much the same. I had the same question when I started this process and I decided to go for the handheld as the second head. I am very happy with the decision--the handheld is a great shower head. We went with the Hansgrohe E150 which has three different sprays. The E150 is a 6" head. You could go with the 120, which is a 5" head. The primary advantage of the 5" is that it is a bit less awkward to use as a handheld because it is a bit smaller. Hansgrohe even makes the 100, which is a 4" but I think that is a bit small to use as a legitimate second head. We went with the 6" handheld because we will use it mostly as a second head and don't anticipate taking it out of its holder very often except to clean the shower. By the way, the "E", "C" or "S" denotes the trim--the E and C are more classic and the "S" is more modern.

Sorry, forgot to answer the clutter question. No, I don't think the volume controls create too much clutter. In fact, I like the way they look. The thermo valve is underneath and the three volume controls are lined up horitzonally above it, well-spaced. And if you skip the fixed head, you would only use two volume controls anyway.

I agree with Olychick and nycbludevil posts...I have been told the rainhead fixture might feel good but don't have the "regular" showerhead pressure etc for washing long hair(which I have). We are opting for the rainhead and handheld with a bar. There are various configuration based on what I have been reading. Some of the posts outline them fairly well. For us, I need to keep it simple- thermostatic and two volume controls. I'm doing Jado fixtures so far I'm satisfied with quality. HTH

We had a similar set up. Instead of the handheld, i have spout. we could do what you want to do in terms of a,b,c functionality.

The hansgrohe we got is thermobalance III. One diverter that is also the temp and volume control. all in one. amazing piece of faucetry.

OK,So I think I have decided to do a Rain Head on the ceiling, a hand shower on a bar and three body jets (with a diverter so that I can have at least two of them on at the same time). This Hansgrohe stuff is pretty expensive. I think it'll be about $2100 for Brushed Nickel. The Delta options that are fairly close to Hansgrohe are about $1120 for Stainless Steel. Are the Delta items comparable to the Hansgrohe?