After staying in a hotel last week with a walk in shower approximately 36" deep with a shower curtain, I strongly advise against a shower curtain. Assuming your bathroom will have an exhaust fan to help ventilate the moisture from the shower, you have to expect the shower curtain to be impacted by the moving air. The warm shower air is drawn up over the curtain into the fan. And of course more air needs to be drawn into the shower, so how does it get in there? That's right, it blows the curtain into the shower allowing the air to go under the curtain. Trying to shave my legs with a wet shower curtain sticking to my legs and arms and behind is very unpleasant. When I redo my master shower I will definitely be going with a glass door and/or fixed panel.

I agree with moccasinlanding that you should prioritize the floor over the shower door. IMO it's fine to use different tiles for the shower floor and the rest of the floor, as long as the tiles coordinate well. However, if they don't, the floors will end up being an eyesore that would be difficult and expensive to re-do. As for the shower door/curtain choice, if money were no object, I'd prefer a glass door any day. Shower curtains are a nuisance and an on-going expense. I use a pair of clear liners around my clawfoot tub. I try to get extra heavy, mildew-resistance ones, but even so, they don't last long -- I'm lucky to get a year out of them. I can wash them in my washer once or twice before they either tear or the grommets rust out. (You'd think that someone would make shower curtains with water-resistant grommets, but no.) Finding decent shower curtain liners at a reasonable price (If I had a regular show/tub combo, I'd use a glass shower screen instead of a curtain or full-width glass doors. They're available in fixed (non-moving), pivoting, and folding styles. They look like they'd be easier to keep clean than shower doors, and you wouldn't feel so boxed in when you take a bath. Here is a link that might be useful: Pivoting Glass Shower Screens

I really appreciate all of the input, suggestions and questions. The room is a big, ugly shell right now so now is the time for all major design issues to be addressed! John, thanks for the info on the drains and the flood test. Waterproofing is definitely a priority since our project has been complicated by uncovering evidence of water leaks that were previously unknown. We're in Michigan, unfortunately, too far away to take you up on your kind offer! I know that our door situation isn't ideal but it's one that we feel we can live with. We had considered using a pocket door but we're not able to relocate electrical switches to allow for it. I didn't try too hard to work around that issue though because I'm not a big fan of pocket doors personally. I'm definitely going to plan for niches right away, before the framing and plumbing is done. Emknc, thanks for posting a photo... You have a very spa-like room and I love your accent tile! Jglassdude, thanks for your input. I know that a 3rd sink would seem to be overkill but we (ok, mostly my micro-biologist husband!) prefer to wash our hands inside the lav area, before opening a door to come out and use a sink. Originally, the water closet fit within the square outline of the room and once we realized that we could bump it out and orient the toilet in the new space, we then added the sink where the toilet was planned to go. It's funny that you mention a bidet because we just tore one out... I used to use it for in-home pedicures and as a mop-sink for the floor! Lol! I should have mentioned that the shower head and control were shown on our drawing prior to the decision to hinge the door on the right. She correctly put the showerhead on the little corner piece because we can't run plumbing on an exterior wall but, as you pointed out, it angles straight at the door. We were thinking of instead having the NE corner of the shower built to accommodate a shower head that could angle more straight across the shower, especially since the door would swing away from it. It would seem that our controls then would be best on the south wall of the shower. Could you explain what you mean by "double acting door intent"? I'm not planning to hang towels in the tub area but there are raised areas on each end of the tub where towels can be placed while we are bathing. We've designed towel niches on either end of the tub step for extra rolled towels. We're planning to put a Runtal Solea towel warmer on the wall between the water closet and the shower. This is pretty much what the room looks like now... You can look right down into my kitchen and my dining room(!) The bifold door to the left of the ladder is my old linen closet door and will be walled off.

Enduring, After I had posted the glass block framed thingee and had a day to think about it I realized how much I disliked it! Still, for the right person and application it could work (though the one I had in mind had a frame all the way around and the frame was smaller). I always appreciate the help and postings on this forum. Overall, it seems to be about the friendliest and most supportive forum I have ever visited. When people take their time to respond I try to do a good job of saying thanks and also thinking about thier ideas. Even if I don't like exactly what they suggest it often leads to another idea that may work. But bototm line when a perosn takes their time to offer help it is something I always appreciate. The glass idea.. I need to meet with my contractors shower glass person. I have no idea what options he offers. I have seen shower glass with ORB trim on the top edges and actually think I like that especially if it helps avoid the brackets. I had not thought about ORB trim on the glass piece so thanks for suggesting that. It may very well work nicely. I had seen a shower glass web site which offered a bronze colored glass and thought it might be worth considering but the trim may do a better job. Given how small this will be I am actually feeling better about the glass idea. it is also very non invasive so if we do it and ayear later hate it, it can always be removed. I am now 1 week into the renovation (day 5) and while we are a bit behind in schedule it is shaping up. Tub frame is in, shower layout is in place (framing), floors have been leveled 9for tile), the wonderful popcorn ceilings have been scraped and Monday should bring in the plumber, electricians Tuesday and we should be off and running! At times this has been a tiring project and mentally draining but again the help I have received from you guys has been invaluable. Many many good and unique ideas!