You are right, that is the best solution-if you are going to mostly store the shower curtain inside the tub. I'm only going to be using this for an occasional shower at, if at all so the shower curtain will usually be hanging on the outside of the tub. Even I even keep it hanging; I may just have the contractor install the rod and skip the curtain for now. Can anyone who showers with a rain shower help me??? Does the water splash less towards the back wall???

well, good idea but here's the problem - the faucet for the main shower head is just inside the shower door and I can turn that on and not get wet when the cold water comes down and wait for the water to warm up. But to turn on the rain shower head (or the hand shower - each water source has its own faucet), I have to be standing at the end of the shower where the three water sources are located - so I'd get doused with cold water turning on the rain shower head. In fact, even after the water coming out of the main shower head is warm, the rain shower spits out cold water at first. So what I've been doing when I can't stand being dripped on by cold water is endure a dousing in cold water in order to have those incessant drips be warm. Not a happy solution. It drips all the time once it starts. It doesn't start until a couple of minutes have elapsed. It drips even if I've not used the rain shower head in weeks (I tried not turning it on for awhile yet it dripped cold water on me daily). I guess I do have a diverter (sorry, I don't know all the technical lingo) - I know that I just inside the shower (imagine a long shower with the door at one end and the bathing area at the other end) I have a faucet that turns on the regular shower head. At the other end on the wall, there's the faucets for the rain shower head (on the right), the hand held (on the left) and to set the temperature for all of them (in the middle).

I find when they function for hair rinsing they are better than the standard small head because I am not only getting clean I am also engulfed in warmth and the experience is quite comforting. I dislike my large one for cleaning and do not wish to waste water just to get the relaxing benefit which is why I despise that one. I would happily change it to another better pressured head but it is my bald husband's favorite. Many bath show rooms have multiple tubs and shower experiences to try. Just bring a bathing suit and towel. Or read the reviews for the ones you are considering at least because some are truly blissful in form and function while others do not function aswell.

Kim, It does kind of look like that but no, you don't hug the wall at all. As the matter of fact you can turn sideways and elbows, nothing, ever touch the fixtures or wall. My husband is a tall person and even he finds it plenty roomy. The flow is such that it does project outwards a bit, and yes the tilt feature can help with that. Attaching another photo here. The furthest outward projection of the head itself is 26" from the wall. The control on the left side of the shelf panel (see 2nd pic) is for either overhead, hand shower, or both (as the hand shower can act like a body spray since, in it's cradle it projects outward). The flow is controlled by how far you turn the knob in the direction of whatever feature you are activating. On the hand held itself there are multiple flow options (gentle, strong, and pulsing). On the right side of the shelf is the temperature control.