Need a quick decision, should shower drain match shower head or blend?

9 years ago

I have a light beige toned shower, oil-rubbed bronze shower head and faucets. Need to decide today on an ORB drain or pale brass that blends into the floor. What do most people do? Never thought I'd be worrying about a shower drain color, my goodness.

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Babka NorCal 9b

9 years ago

IF it is just the little circle that screws in to cover the hole...aren't they all interchangeable? If you don't like the cover you decide on today, you can change it later????

-Babka

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Comments (16)

User
9 years ago
oh man, you sound like me, worrying about stuff. I feel your pain. I don't know the right answer but if the pale brass one matches your floor really well then I think it would look good and blend where it's less noticeable. Otherwise, the ORB will definitely work too since you're using it everywhere else...

ok, I think I just picked both.. LOL

I just googled some pics and I'm seeing the ORB drain more (maybe because it sticks out better)??
happyallison
Original Author
9 years ago
LOL I think you did! I think in a lot of the pics I researched people just had the stainless steel, as it seems not as stark as the ORB but it's hard to tell. I can't believe some of the things I'm worrying about, but each detail is a decision, so it's like you have to think about some of this silly stuff.
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User
9 years ago
I totally hear ya! Just when I thought I was done picking out stuff for my bathroom the contractor asked me what color grout I wanted. I freaked because it's a big decision in my mind. I looked at a thousand pics and had to run to a couple stores the night before it went up... My stomach was in knots on my way home from work when I get to see it. Luckily it turned out fine.

I really think the pale brass one will look good, assuming the color is very similar to your tile color. In a few pics I googled, I saw showers but couldn't see the drain so maybe those people used a drain similar in color to the tile making it less noticeable.

if you have to ask yourself if the pale brass one matches in color then it probably isn't close enough lol so the safe choice is ORB. I would do ORB before SS since you have other ORB nearby... Just my 2 cents of course.

Go with what feels right :)
happyallison thanked User
PRO
By Any Design Ltd.
9 years ago
The drain should match the fixtures I think.

Oil rubbed bronze is it's own beast. Each of the company's making it have a slightly different twist on how it should look.

If it helps and it's nit too late you can order any of the linear drains from ACO in Oil Rubbed Bronze.

This is the ACO channel drain and hair strainer.
loves2read
9 years ago
If you have chrome/nickel fixtures than SS drain is acceptable but if you are doing ORB or the new gold that is in fashion then I think you need to use that choice for the drain--

choosing something that is SS makes it seem to be just a cheap out vs style choice...even if SS might hold up better to soap scum...
happyallison
Original Author
9 years ago
Ah grout, yes that is next on my list. I understand that feeling! I'm glad it worked out. Your bath is really beautiful.

Thanks for talking through it with me! My contractor thinks the brass will look best as well, I think I'm going to just go for it! I have a few hours to change my mind if someone else has a compelling reason to go ORB. :)
happyallison
Original Author
9 years ago
Oh shoot, just saw the new weigh-ins.

John, I backed out of doing the curbless shower and am just doing a regular. It was stressing me out too much. I had too many worries and decided it wasn't worth it. The shower is the very last stop out of the house for all the drainage, and it's a private sewer system with a grinder pump. In the event of a clog or other plumbing issue, I didn't want to risk my shower getting backed up without a curb to help contain.

I tried actually ordering a matching drain when I ordered the fixtures, but strangely they didn't have one. Then I forgot about it, whoops.

Maybe it was the online retailer I used, but I'm searching now and still not finding a Delta shower drain in the Venetian Bronze, which is the shower hardware I ordered. I'd have to get something in another brand which wouldn't be an exact match.
nosoccermom
9 years ago
Is there any difference in keeping it clean?
Fori
9 years ago
I'd prefer it to blend. I don't mind ORB faucets and stuff, but a black drain just looks wrong all by its lonesome self. (I'm not imagining a slimy dark sewage back-up at all, no sir!)

Also what Babka said. I know there are fancier drains out there, but if you're using the circle thing, it's nothing to stress about.
Babka NorCal 9b
9 years ago
Regarding keeping it clean...hard water and soap scum leave more noticeable marks on a dark surface than say, ss or chrome.

-Babka
PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Glass and stone Mosaic shower floor · More Info

Have you looked into "ebbe" drain strainers? they have a lot of options and work with nearly all clamping drains..... desinger grate options galore! and interchangable....
happyallison
Original Author
9 years ago

Here is the pebble tile, the brass drain (it's not a bright shiny gold brass, and backside of the shower head (to show ORB).

If you look at the drain, the exterior square is grouted around, so if I changed the color later it would still have that brass exterior square. Or dig out and re-grout.

I am torn between wanting things to match or having the drain blend. Dang.
happyallison
Original Author
9 years ago
Tundra I have! They have very nice looking drains, but the ones I found were like 5x the price so I had to eliminate that option.
happyallison
Original Author
9 years ago
Fori I was laughing re: the slime comment. :)
PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
9 years ago
i have installed that drain in pebble have a look

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VQikch2cL9Q/TulCuSQBZiI/AAAAAAAAAbo/w4T2Vpb8BEY/s1600/IMG_20111214_161628.jpg

this steam shower has a mix of hardware ....... its a non issue as the drain blends better w/floor grout??

good luck.....

Need a quick decision, should shower drain match shower head or blend?

Babka NorCal 9b

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