Hi, we have just that setup. I'm not there to measure right now, but I know the opening is larger than 22 inches. We have a fixed rain head and a handheld on a rail. Honestly, the handheld is the one we use 95% of the time. It's a Hansgrohe and has a very satisfying spray. I can see having a handheld, or both handheld and rain shower, but I can't see having just rain shower.

Best advice we got here (although it seems obvious in retrospect) was to make sure the controls are at the open end of the shower, so you don't have to step in and turn it on while standing under it. I do usually remember to step aside when turning on the rain shower. That cold water draining from the pipe is not so fun!

We will be at the new house this weekend and I can measure the gap again. I remember having all these same questions, but then after they were resolved, I forget the answers!

Thank you so much! I'm assuming your handheld and shower head are at the opposite end of your opening? I ask because I actually saw an article that said "If you do use a more conventional model, mount it so that the spray hits an opposite wall rather than the shower opening." Also, did you need a specific type of shower pan?

BTW if you tend to be cold when coming out of the shower, I wouldn't recommend a doorless shower. It's colder. I know I used one in South Africa and even though the temp in the room was in the mid 70's and outside was 90, I was cold.

just asked my husband and his memory is that the opening is about 28"

We do have the shower head at the opposite end of the opening. I put a bathmat down right at the gap (ours is curbless), and a small amount of water splashes out onto the floor, maybe 6 inches. Less than I would have guessed before testing it.

Regarding the coolness factor. It has not been a problem for us. The new house simply has no drafts, so although evaporation is a real phenomenon, I have never felt like I was too cool when stepping out. But our bathroom isn't too big, so maybe that helps. Plus the floor is heated. In our current house, I step outside to dry off, and I'm not too cool then. Maybe I just take super-hot showers, though!

Here is a pano, I swear our walls are not curved! The squares are 24 x 24.

The linear drain is in the shadow at the base of the tub.

Hope this helps!

Yes, it does. Thank you so much. I wish I had enough room to also have a tub. That is gorgeous.

My contractor looked at me kind of funny yesterday when I told him this was what I wanted to do. "Are you sure you're going to be able to keep the water in there?"

Have you had any issues? We're using a shower pan and groutable vinyl on the bathroom floor.