My wife and I just spent a couple nights as guests at a client's house in Tennessee. The bathroom we used had a glass door and wall that I did not specify. I am now even a bigger fan of shower curtains.

What will the view be like out of the windows?

What will the view be like into the windows?

We are in a condo while awaiting construction and have a glass shower. It looks perfect after cleaning for 1 day, then back to spots and scale.

Front yard, clump of 3 palm trees, neighborhood road. Nothing special. Our backyard is waterfront on an intracranial inlet in FL. That’s where our view is.

Choose the right shower heads and water flow and your last two designs won't require a door.

That’s a thought! Would you expect much water splatter outside? Maybe wide shower head on an extension? Wanted a hand shower as well.

My dream tub. I am a small person and prefer to sit more upright than slide down in an oversized tub because my feet don’t touch the other side, lol.

One way to keep your shower glass looking good is to squeegee it after every use, then dry it with a towel. If you do this it barely needs to be cleaned. This is more work than some people want to do, so you have to decide whether you want to do it. Or don't do what I suggested and then it takes more work to clean it once a week. At least your plans have only one side of glass. Be sure to request low iron glass so it's doesn't have that faint tint of green.

However you place your freestanding tub, be sure to leave at least 12" around each side so you can get around it to clean the floor.

Made that mistake of not enough space around the tub in my previous house…

To add detail to the window in the plan, it is 36” above the floor level, and is measuring 54” wide and 60” high ( double window) on my elevation. I will have to choose some type of opaque window covering for privacy.

Remember to consider how easily you can reach your towel after your shower. And, if you can turn on the shower to the desired temperature before stepping in and getting hit by icy spray.

Rebecca Robeson, a designer you can find on this site, often has a rectangular opening cut in the shower glass right at the level of the shower controls. You can reach your hand in, turn on and adjust the flow and temp without splashing everywhere or burning/freezing yourself. I like your original plan because the tub has plenty of clearance for cleaning around it. One thing you can do to help with spotting of the glass is to give it a good wax job with non-yellowing car wax. You might also consider treating it with Rain-X occasionally. I'm sure there are some even more effective products on the market; look for something with nano particles.

Number 2 but keep the tub where it originally was.

Where are you planning on hanging your towels when you're done with your shower and need to grab a towel?

#1

- turn the tub parallel with the windows

- (opt frost for privacy),

- solid wall shower

As far as towel placement, we previously had a similar dilemma, and used a hook on the shower door for the towel (just to use after bathing), then hung it to dry somewhere with more space, like behind the door in option #1.

Here's a thought (maybe use a rectangular tub). Perhaps you could you a ceiling mount tub filler for added visual drama: https://www.us.kohler.com/us/Laminar-wall-or-ceiling-mount-bath-filler-with-0.8-orifice/productDetail/bathtub-spouts/420334.htm.

Also, have you considered placing a window between the two sinks like this?

Shower door handles can be longer and placed horizontally to do double duty as towel bars. I did this on my master shower doors and should have done it for a guest bath too.

Towel bar and door handle on the outside and more common door handle on the inside.

Frameless Shower Door · More Info

You can do horizontal on inside and outside.

New York Shower Door · More Info

Here is a better example of the double horizontal door handle/towel bar.

Shower Door with Handle / Towel Bar · More Info

Great idea!

In my upcoming bathroom reno, the shower will be 60"x42" with the shower head on the narrow end. There will be a 4' pony wall with glass on top along the 1st half of the long side. From experiments in my current shower, I know that the glass will get very little water on it. Most will hit the wall below the 4' high mark. I will not have a door to my shower because (from other experiments) I know that it won't be needed to keep the water inside the shower. If it turns out that I'm wrong, I'll put up a ceiling track and hang a floor length shower curtain the same colour as the wall from it. Either way, glass (and expense) is minimized while maintaining function.

Perhaps a similar set-up might work for you?

We had a pony wall in our last house and it did function well. Was considering that option too. Thanks for the information about the door. I have been wondering about the “splash zone” in this shower. My last was more square, so we have nothing to compare to. There were also previous suggestions in this thread about ditching the shower door. I am definitely considering that. We could always add it later if the shower felt too cold in the winter.

Looks like everyone so far thinks the tub should stay centered on the window, whether parallel or perpendicular.

It seems to me the concept here of having such a prominent bay bumpout is to exploit a freestanding tub location within it. Having it perpendicular, in each of your schemes, and pulling it farther away in consecutive schemes #2 & #3, doesn't meet that concept fully or at all. I always have a starting point in any bathroom layout having a freestanding tub as that is the wow factor - so the entry door sightline opens to it; it is a focal point; part of a less-obvious "relaxation zone," etc., then make decisions to back off that criteria as necessary from there. In my mind, here those decisions could be impacted by an option of relocating the bath door and toilet room, which then could offer, or not, a better overall ensuite layout - I'm all for examining all solutions.

Also don't forget to verify (quite early on with a slab on grade) all of these related things - where you want your tub filler to be, which way you want your view to face, and that your butt is not over a drain.

If you look at Japanese style tubs you'll find the more upright configuration you like.

Agree. The tub photo I shared is from Aquatica, and it is advertised that way. On the pricy side, but it is the perfect size and very deep!

We are off-grade, but I definitely plan to finalize my decision ASAP. I do think that the idea of the sight line to the tub when entering the room is a valid point. I am thinking that option #2 with the tub pushed against a solid wall (off center) just will not make sense. I was thinking that placing a small chair/stool.to the left of the tub may help to balance the space, but probably not.

I was also worried about cleaning all that glass. It looks beautiful to have all that great light but then there is real life, haha. I opted for a wall of tile and then just an opening for a door. We did an arched doorway because we have an arched shower in our original 1930s bathroom and arches throughout the house (it’s a Tudor revival) so it gives a nod to that. I also have a can light and a can fan in there — plenty of light but also like that i can have it dark and cave like. We have had our bathroom mostly done for about 4 months now - 0 regrets. A tub looks so pretty to me centered over the window, even if it’s not good views.

Also someone mentioned having the controls so that you don’t get wet when turning on the shower — we have exactly that with a wall of tile instead of glass. When I enter the shower, to the right are all the controls. We also have a control for each element (which I like): one for the jets, one for the main shower head, one for the handheld, and one for the waterfall. I know this is extreme for a shower but my husband really wanted all these features, and I will have to begrudgingly admit that I think they were worth it! I included a pic of the controls and right beside it is the shower door. Another thing to think about: everyone kind of automatically assumes you want a niche or built in bench (if the shower is big enough). I suggested a ledge and a teak bench and am really happy with both choices. I can move the bench around and sit really close to the jets or under the waterfall — I love it. The ledge is big enough for any product I could possibly ever have.

@User, I've made similar decisions about my shower-- controls beside the entrance; ledge not niche; moveable bench. Your shower is gorgeous and it makes me feel confident of my decisions. Thanks for sharing it!

Here is what we did for our shower. Controls are handy. The tiny pony wall now has a hook for a towel right outside the door. Glass stays relatively clean since it's higher up.

Jennifer K — thank you!!

We used rainx for shower doors and haven't had an issue with cleaning at all. Thought it would be awful but it's fine. 

Consider using a pocket for for your toilet room for accessibility (and space).

I agree that the tub should be oriented parallel to the windows.

Thanks for everyone’s opinion and advice!

Didn't have time to read all the comments, but all I know is we have a glass shower and we never need to squeegee it or wipe it down. Keep the glass, definitely do NOT succumb to a shower curtain!

Get Showerguard glass.

Have the contractor install a fan above the shower. This will help dry it out after use, and lessen the squeegee effort.

I have considered 3 alternatives

I like best the suggestion to place the tub IN the window.

Other thoughts:

- I'd take the toilet out of the closet. The closet will be small, dark and claustrophobic -- and harder to clean. It doesn't contain storage space for toilet paper or medical items you might need as you age. It does require emptying a second trash can each week.

- If you're dead-set on the toilet-in-a-closet, consider flip-flopping it with the shower so the closet can have a window.

- If you do go with a toilet-in-closet, the door should not swing inward.

- Where will you place a hamper for dirty clothes?

- Will towels be stored on the shelves near the tub? If you turn the tub horizontally, be sure not to cut off easy access to those shelves.

- That's a ton of counter space. Excessive space can lead to clutter.

- It would make sense to have the shower head and the toilet "back to back" to keep plumbing consolidated.

- Have you planned storage IN the shower? If you go with a pony wall in the shower, you'll be able to hide purple shampoo bottles, etc. behind it -- and that's better than those less-than-attractive things being on display. Don't skimp on in-shower storage -- you don't want to build a lovely shower, then have bottles rattling around on the floor.

- You have a lot of empty space in the middle of this bathroom, which can end up feeling cold and, well -- empty.

It looks perfect after cleaning for 1 day, then back to spots and scale.

Yes, this is a lot of glass to keep clean. I'd consider an old-fashioned shower curtain, which would also bring in some color and texture.

Wanted a hand shower as well.

Definitely

My dream tub. I am a small person and prefer to sit more upright than slide down in an oversized tub because my feet don’t touch the other side, lol.

Yes, I prefer a DEEP tub but not a BIG tub.

Other tub thoughts:

- I like to read in the tub, so I'd want a sconce or some other light positioned in the right spot near the tub.

- I also like the water coming out of the wall rather than a freestanding faucet, but that's just personal opinion.

One way to keep your shower glass looking good is to squeegee it after every use, then dry it with a towel. If you do this it barely needs to be cleaned. This is more work than some people want to do, so you have to decide whether you want to do it.

I think pretty much everyone falls into the "more work than people want to do".

You can reach your hand in, turn on and adjust the flow and temp without splashing everywhere or burning/freezing yourself.

This is an important detail.

As far as towel placement, we previously had a similar dilemma, and used a hook on the shower door for the towel

I was going to ask where you would place towels -- the shower handle is a good idea, but you still need somewhere to hang tub towels. I currently have hooks instead of a shower bar, and I hate it -- the towels often don't fully dry.

2 of my favorite things from our new bathroom are a towel warmer and a bidet seat. 1000% worth it. We put the kids swimsuits, pajamas, bras etc on the warmer; it is the best. I maybe only need to wash towels once a week which probably sounds kind of gross, but they just don’t get moldy! Then a bidet seat speaks for itself haha. I used hooks for robes and rings for hand towels.