We recently completed this shower installation in Washington, DC, and we had to get a little creative to accommodate the size and layout of the bathroom.

Since the sink was right beside the tub and the space was relatively small, we needed to use a sliding tub system. You can see from the tile work and fixtures, that the homeowner had invested a fair amount of time and resources renovating the space, and we wanted to spotlight that as much as possible. Because of that and the raised listello tile band around the perimeter of the tiled area, a standard bypass sliding system was not the right choice.

We recommended the Serenity sliding shower enclosure for a few reasons. One, it’s a very sleek and frameless system, which matched the homeowner’s design preferences and helped make the space feel more bright and open. Two, since the Serenity doesn’t require any metal along the wall, we were able to tastefully notch out the raised listello tile and seamlessly slot in the glass. Bypass sliding shower doors have metal wall jambs, so they would’ve been an impractical choice given the custom tile work.

To account for the limited space the placement of the sink, we needed to get creative with giving the homeowners an option to turn on and adjust the shower without getting soaking wet in the process. So we designed and fabricated a small glass window inset in the stationary panel of the Serenity system. That way, the homeowner could use the sliding panel to get in and out through the rear of the bathtub, but they could use the inset swinging transom to get the water to a comfortable temperature beforehand.

It ended up being a flawless installation, and the homeowner seems pleased with both the design and creative functionality of the unit.

 

The Serenity sliding shower door system is a good example of a new breed of modern sliding shower enclosures that are increasingly popular with homeowners and prospective buyers. Systems like the Serenity, Hydroslide, and Essence are popular because they maintain a sleek, frameless look while offering the space-saving benefits of a sliding shower system. In comparison to the bypass sliding shower door systems that these units are displacing, the hardware is minimal and stylish, and the glass is thicker (3/8” versus 3/16” or 1/4”).

The Serenity hardware package is one of our favorites in this product category. It has several practical features, such as small glass clamps for the stationary glass and innovative anti-derailing mechanisms, integrated into the header design. We also like the industrial, mechanical aesthetic of the hardware package, and this design motif is more and more popular in the Washington, DC Metro region. People are moving away from more conservative and traditional bathroom hardware options in many cases and opting for modern, minimalist sinks, toilets, tubs, tile, and shower enclosures.

We recently installed this Serenity shower enclosure in Middletown, MD, near our shower door showroom near Frederick, MD, in a bathroom that fits this bill. The homeowners had recently renovated the space, installing a gorgeous modern sink and a low-profile porcelain tub alongside immaculate new tile work. Based on their design choices, the space definitely needed a frameless shower enclosure to complete it, as a framed or semi-frameless unit would have clashed with the modern aesthetic. At the same time, the size and layout of the bathroom limited their frameless options because the space precluded the use of a swinging glass door. A modern sliding shower unit like the Serenity was a perfect fit in this context.

 

The Serenity system has a lot of benefits versus more traditional bypass sliding units. First, most bypass slider units are limited by stock heights, and since this homeowner’s shower enclosure set atop a tub and needed to clear a decorative band of listello tile, the custom height option was imperative.

Second, the layout required a return panel on the knee wall at 90 degrees like a corner shower unit, and the Serenity hardware system accommodates this layout with very little additional hardware to stabilize the glass. Many bypass systems employ a metal corner post where the stationary glass meets the sliding panels. However, with frameless modern sliding shower systems like the Serenity, the header fits into a cutout in the stationary return panel. That panel is then firmly secured to the back wall using a small glass clamp. It’s a smart, sturdy design that doesn’t sacrifice stability or rely on bulky metal hardware.

Third, the stock handle on the Serenity shower enclosure is a disc knob, which is both a handsome and space-saving piece of hardware. Since it doesn’t protrude like other handles and knobs, it provides an additional 3” of walkthrough space, which makes it more convenient to get in and out of the shower enclosure. It may not sound like a lot, but it makes a big difference in accessing the shower controls.

Everything came together as planned on this job. It’s always rewarding to match the perfect unit with the space we’re given to work with. In this case, the Serenity shower enclosure was a perfect fit with the homeowner’s layout and design preferences, and it will be the centerpiece of this gorgeous bathroom for many years to come.

 

We installed this custom angled shower door in Woodbine, MD last week, and we’re very pleased with the outcome! It was a difficult layout and measurement since the top of the shower enclosure had to be parallel with the angled ceiling. Another difficult aspect was the hinge location. You can see that we used a glass-to-glass hinge at the top and a glass-to-wall hinge at the bottom, which requires very precise adjustment and installation.

Our entire team did a great job though, and it really couldn’t have turned out better. With a job like this, things can go wrong at any number of stages. If the measurement isn’t perfect? The angle of the glass will not be perfectly parallel to the angle of the ceiling. If the fabrication isn’t perfect? The same problem can occur, or the gap between the shower door and the glass panels may be too wide, or the radius edge on the top right corner of the stationary panel won’t look right. Our fabricators did a phenomenal job on this one though.

The same goes for the shower door installation as well. If the installation isn’t perfect? None of the other steps matter, because the unit won’t look or operate as it should. Our installers took their time and made sure the installation was perfect, however, and it really shows. The homeowners have a custom shower enclosure tailored perfectly to their custom bathroom, and it should be a real conversation piece for many years to come. We always feel fortunate to be involved with “statement” shower enclosures like these.

We also feel fortunate to live and work in this area, because there are few drives as picturesque as those through Howard County and Carroll County. We do plenty of shower doors in Baltimore and Washington, DC—and there’s plenty to be inspired by on those commutes as well—but it’s hard to beat the greenery and rolling hills out by Woodbine and Westminster. It’s worth taking an aimless drive out that way if you’re looking for some peaceful and inspiring views. And you can always swing by our shower door showroom in Jefferson, MD—near Frederick—if you do!