CONCORD — One of the most critical parts of remodeling a bathroom is designing the shower enclosure. Due to the importance of both aesthetic and functional aspects, it’s important to choose a visually appealing design that also serves your specific needs. Fortunately, in today’s market, there are many shower design options to choose from.
One crucial aesthetic choice is whether to go with a framed or frameless enclosure. While a framed enclosure is a more conventional option, a frameless enclosure is a good choice for a modern and/or minimalist design. Going frameless is also optimal for a shower that features ornate tile or stonework, since there are no frames or channels to detract from the view.
Another important consideration is door design and orientation. If you have small children who need assistance with bathing, a swinging door situated midway of the tub’s length is a good option, as it will permit full access to the tub. In smaller bathrooms where toilets or vanities present obstacles, a swinging door may not work, in which case a sliding door may be best. Fortunately, sliders can also be custom-designed. They can even be curved to accommodate a round bathing area.
One increasingly popular design option is to fully enclose the shower for the purpose of steam encapsulation, which creates a spa-like atmosphere. A common feature of these shower enclosures is an operative transom above the door, which can either be kept closed to hold in the steam or opened to let it escape. By providing ventilation when desired, this feature allows for a fully customizable bathing experience.

Design Considerations for a Shower Enclosure

by Joe Matthews, a Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

Video: Shower Door Options

When planning a new shower enclosure, it's good to know the full extent of your design options. Today, we're in Concord with diamond certified expert contributor Joe Matthews of Shikre Luxury Shower Doors to learn more.

Aesthetics are very important when considering a shower door purchase. Most people aren't aware of the wide range of variety and options they have at their disposal when purchasing a shower door, whether it be a walk-in shower or tub application, something framed, or something completely frameless.

Here's a good instance of a completely frameless shower hinge door. Very clean, very modern. There's no frames or channels to hide the nice tile or stone work that you've done, so it's a very good, nice, easy to use, clean option.

Let's go over here and take a look at another. Maybe you've got a smaller bathroom or there are obstacles such as a toilet or vanity, and a swinging door isn't going to work in the room. Next option here is a slider. This one panel slides behind the other, giving you the access. This model itself has bent glass, so it's very attractive, has the curved pan, giving you a little bit more room inside, so when you're showering, you're not as cramped. So it's a very nice option as well.

Maybe you have a small child that needs assistance while bathing. This is a perfect model for that type of situation. In the closed position, you've got coverage for the shower. But when it's time to take that bath of the child, swing the door open, you have full access to the entire tub, making it very easy, clean, and simple.

Let's look at some more options, as more people are turning their bathroom into their own little spa experience while they're doing a remodel, adding things like steam generators and enclosures to create their own little oasis. For example, of a steam enclosure, we have the hinged door. Nice, great easy access to get in and out. This one has the operative transom above as well so that you can open this up on the days when you don't want it hot and steamy and there to ventilate after use.

Don't forget, during your remodel, it's very important to keep the shower door in mind during the process. You want it to be something that's both aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting and easy to use. Happy remodeling!

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