What about getting a double rod and putting the liner on the inside one? If they are both full size curtains, seems like you could just pull the one closest to the water source over most if the way, or all the way, to keep the seam away from the water spray.

We went through this exact dilemma. Since there's a tub in the (only) other bathroom, we could have gone with just the large walk-in shower in the master bathroom. Personally, I think it's much more upscale, luxurious and spa-like than the tub/shower combo. However--- before you give up on having a tub, too, you might want to try looking more closely at your available space. We thought, "no way", -especially since I wanted two sinks- but we were actually able to do it, and it doesn't feel cramped. We made the vanity 5 feet long, we have a 3 x 4.75' shower, and a 60" x 32" soaking tub. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It did take a couple of rolls of tracing paper to find the right layout, but it works. It might be worth investigating a little more... post some plans here and folks might be able to help! If I were to do it over, I'd use a pocket door, but wouldn't change much else. The 2 realtors and 1 house appraisor who have been here since we did it all said we'd made the exact right choice for resale... This is the original plan, it changed a little bit: An old freehand perspective sketch of the room: And the real thing:

What does the rest of the bathroom look like?

If you indeed like color and pattern, go for it! Everything goes with black and white. Please don't be boring and get white towels and rug. How about a stripe for the towels? Or a contrast band on a solid color? Maybe an ombre effect rug. I do use light colors mostly in my own bath, light blue and sandy color, not for ease of washing, but because they go with my shower and floor. You can get any color perfectly clean without bleach by using an oxygen cleaner or vinegar in the wash. Less harsh on the fibers.