Get a shower pipe such as this one that includes a hand shower. You can use the hand shower while you're adjusting the temperature and then switch to the shower head when you're ready to get wet.

Hansgrohe Croma 220 Showerpipe, 2.5 GPM · More Info

Lawrence, That's a great idea! I was thinking of getting a sole hand held if it can be used without needing hands or as a separate piece since I'm wanting the massage sprayer and I also attach a filter to the shower head. I am going with champagne bronze which might make it a bit hard to find a champagne bronze filter- Ha ha. esp on a budge. :) I love the idea and that helps a ton! I"ll take a look at what's out there.

Tatts, U made me laugh. U're right, it's not an art gallery. Also on houzz and other sites they don't show the shampoo so it's easy to expect the bathroom to look like that. :)

As far as the panel and door size, I meant that if I get a door I can have a larger door and a smaller panel but if I get a slider I imagine they'd both have to be the same size, which causes for a less quick get away from the water. But I think Lawrence might've solved my problem after too much thinking about this. I think with Lawrence' solution of the hand held showerhead I can then get the door that I want (and I get my mini art gallery cuz the niche will now go on the other wall. ha ha).

As far as the door verses slider, it may come down to cost since either can probably work. The barn doors also have a heavier look. If we do things right I won't have to decide that until the end, as long as I plan for either in the design of the shower.

thx much

I had a similar set of questions and problems when I put in a shower. I wanted it to look like the magazine pictures; all clean lines and sparkling. Then I thought about how I actually use the shower and the solution to all my problems was to use a shower curtain rather than glass . The curtain is flexible ie I can reach in at both ends, it saved me almost $3k, it doesn't need any holes in my carefully waterproofed walls and curb and it is easier to keep clean; I have two curtains and wash one each week.

when I shower I simply reach in at the shower valve end and turn the shower on full. I've set my water heater to a low setting so that the max on my shower is just right. I brush my teeth and when I get in the shower tye water is nice and warm.

one final thought, a shower curtain can hide an untidy shower, although I'm sure you'll keep your tidy.

With a thermostatic valve, you don't need to adjust the temperature - at least I don't in my current shower configuration.

I have two hand held shower heads plus a regular shower head with a three way diverter. One hand held is at the end with the niche and the bench.

This is the above the bench - I also have a few bottles on the bench.

This is where the shower door is. The hand held units I got are very sleek but supply as much water as my previous standard shaped ones.

With a thermostatic valve, the lower valve controls temperature and so it is just set once. If someone was really picky they could adjust in the shower but it would still be within a normal comfort range for people when initially turned on.

Upper valve turns on and selects which fixture will have water.

I love the green fade on those tiles.

If you have a well set pressure balance shower valve there should be no need to adjust the temperature either. I set my water heater to low and I've also set the anti-scald on my shower valve below the 120F the plumbers set it to. I just turn the shower on full as I know that will give me a warm shower and there's never any danger of scalding. Why should I heat water above 120F only to then dilute it with cold water at the shower. I realize this only works if everyone using the shower likes the same temp.

I think thermostatic valves are now code in some places...particularly in Europe.

This is my set up. The volume lever is always left at full and I just reach in and turn the shower on full. With the curtain closed I have easy access at both ends of the shower and no water gets out. It takes a minute for the water to run warm as I'm 3 floors above the water heater. I have a single rain head and a simple shelf with just shampoo that I use to wash everything....no need for soap.

Thanks much and beautiful showers! I am confused about the thermostatic valve. Is this something that I can buy separate and have it installed in the wall so that anytime I change out the shower handle/trim/valve it will automatically be there and still be accessible if it breaks and I need to change it? I hate to have more moving parts and things to break inside the walls. LIke this (although it looks like part of this would stick out of the wall?-another hole?: https://www.amazon.com/Rozin-Thermostatic-Mixing-Temperature-Control/dp/B01FAGWKTC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542006430&sr=8-3&keywords=thermostatic+control+valve#customerReviews 

Or does do certain valves come with it like this?: https://www.amazon.com/Hansgrohe-04231000-Thermostatic-Control-Diverter/dp/B07FDFK5SM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1542006430&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=thermostatic+control+valve&psc=1

I was wondering, also, it sets the temp but the initial issue of being cold while the water warms up since it has to run through the pipes would still be there, right?

Problem is, I have chosen champagne bronze and if I need to get the thermostatic control valve built in I think that will be hard. I'm already having a hard time finding a handheld and shower head built into the same. I might have to get a separate handheld to divert water or I'm back to the initial question of do I just push the shower head over to shoot towards the wall before I turn on the H20 or go back to the idea of moving the control valve?

Here's one of the options I was looking at for a showerhead before this discuss that I might need to adjust: https://www.amazon.com/58471-CZ-PK-H2Okinetic-4-Setting-Handshower-Showerhead/dp/B009MLXJN8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1542006748&sr=8-2&keywords=shower+head+combo+with+handheld+champagne+bronze

Just choose the type of control valve you want. The process of installing is basically the same for the plumber and you can always get at the parts by removing the cover plates. The difference between the valves is that the pressure balance valve controls pressure and that keeps the ratio of hot to cold flow constant and assumes that the temperature of the water from the shower is also controlled. The thermostatic directly measures the temperature and keeps it at a set value so many people think it's a bit better.

You might consider a pivot door....you would have the handle on the side away from the toilet, and when you open it toward you, the part near the shower valve would open to the inside giving you room to stick your arm in to turn on the shower...

This one isn't the right size, but you can get an idea of what happens here...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DreamLine-Flex-32-to-36-in-x-72-in-Framed-Pivot-Shower-Door-in-Chrome-SHDR-22327200-01/205337851

scroll down and watch the video, as it does just appear to be a normal door on first look...

You would, of course, have to make sure that you order one that will clear the shower head when you open it as that part would open in...

Whatever you do I think you need to be able to turn on the shower without having to step under the shower itself. Arrangement of shower heads and control valves needs to be considered a bit more as the size of the shower increases.

I just finished my remodel and had to decide between thermostatic and pressure balance.

A pressure balance has one lever valve and so it controls temperature and on/off with same fixture. My experience with a pressure valve is that it always needed to be adjusted when I used it even if I was the last person using it. I put one in my guest bath because I assumed people using that shower were going to be adjusting water temperature anyway.

After reading reviews and how people like each type, I opted for the thermostatic controls in the master bath. It has a separate control to regulate temperature and once I determined the temperature I like, it has remained constant. The second valve controls on/off and is also a three way diverter. Since I live in California, I need a diverter anyway as Code doesn't permit more than one water fixture to operate at the same time.

Based on my personal lay (i.e. non-pro) experiences with both types, I would opt for the thermostatic in the shower I use all the time. I am not sure why it would present more of a maintenance issue than a pressure balance - all things being equal in terms of selecting high quality fixtures to begin with.

I'm thinking the thermostatic valve came up so that I'd just have to reach in quickly and not go back through the water to readjust the water since the thermostatic valve could make it so I'd just turn a knob to a certain place and then just wait for the water temp to adjust. It seemed to me that one thermostatic valve sprayed water from it going downwards while adjusting to the temp. That'd be ideal but I might be mistaken. In that case I could do a toe tester but that's the only thing I'd use it for so if I were to get a hand held that would seem more practical to clean the shower down with after. I was wondering if I were to get a hand held on a pole (it's not easy to find the kind the 2 in 1 showerhead-hand held combo that Lawrence mentioned in champagne bronze and with a massage setting) that I could push up and down easily (assuming that you're able to do that with these set ups). If so, I could leave it low and I wouldn't get my head wet:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Delta-3-Spray-Slide-Bar-Hand-Shower-in-Champagne-Bronze-57014-CZ/203155470 

Also, good to know I wouldn't have to get a thermostatic valve built in as that does increase the trim valve by quite a bit-at least the valves I'm looking at.

Jeff, I wanted to ask about the tile u have on top of your curb. My shower will be similar to yours as far as subway and penny tile... but originally I was going to do a curbless shower with the same tile as the bathroom floor and I decided to go with a curb for piece of mind and to save money. Now I have to start thinking about what will go on top of my curb. I want a small curb. Did you get that piece at your local tile shop? thx!