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Category: Maryland

Window Panel in Smithsburg, MD

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Frameless Single Door with Window Panel in Smithsburg, Maryland

It was unanimous among the experts: this had to be the shower door of the week. It’s been awhile since we featured a pull door, and of course that window is something special! This is what we mean when we say “custom glass shower doors.” Your space + collaborative design + expert installers = shower magic. Getting enough light int a shower enclosure is something we always think about during the design process. Frameless shower doors alone create more openness and light than their chunky metal ancestors. Lighting is key – we love lighting inside the enclosure. (Pro-tip: dimmer switch!) But sometimes you can also just… make a hole in the wall? Heck yeah! This window is functional and, to use a technical term: cool.

We’re always up for a design challenge so get in touch if you want a free quote for your shower space! You can also send us your ideas on how you’d make the most of a shower window. We were thinking “puppet show,” but there’s a lot of potential there. Follow our other genius ideas and latest projects on Facebook and Instagram, if that’s your jam. Or come see our showroom in Jefferson, MD! Because we want to give each client our undivided attention, it’s best to make an appointment with us. Then we can get to designing!

Shower *Room* Experts

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Shower Room with Serenity Door in Catonsville, Maryland

Tiny shower caves with moldy plastic curtains are OUT. Shower rooms with glass doors are IN!

If you’re remodeling and have the space, consider creating your own wet room for all your showering and bathing needs. This is where custom shower doors truly shine. After considering the many options, this client decided on a Serenity panel-door-panel for a minimalist look that showcases the room – not the door. The Serenity’s low-profile header makes it float like a butterfly, but the anti-derailing fittings make it sturdy like… a hippopotamus? Hey, we’re shower door experts, not simile experts.

Two other design notes! The hardware is matte black, an excellent pick with the charcoal tile. Honestly, any finish would have looked great, but look at that matte black bath faucet! 🤩🔥 And for the finishing touch, the clients went with low iron glass. We haven’t talked about low iron in a little while, so to recap: regular glass has a slight green tint from its iron content. Low iron glass is more optically clear. We recommend it against lighter-colored tile, especially, but it gives any shower enclosure a more crisp modern look.

So what’s next for us? A glass shower house? A crystal palace of showers? The only way to know is keeping an eye on our socials! We’re on Facebook. We’re on Instagram. And, as always, we’re all over the greater D.C. area, making your shower dreams come true.

No Place Like Jefferson, Maryland!

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Phantom Unit with Oil Rubbed Bronze Hardware in Jefferson, Maryland

Jefferson, Maryland? We know that town! We should: Shower Door Experts has been here for over 30 years now. So we’re always happy to upgrade a neighbor’s shower door. And this Phantom install turned out great!

I wrote about a Phantom tub unit last week and the same idea applies: that glass header is the ultimate in a minimalist frameless look. And these neighbors also opted for low-iron glass “like some smart folks,” as Expert Schuyler noted last week. Why smart? If you’re already investing in a glass-tastic shower door, low iron glass comes without the slightly green tint of regular glass. The green is especially noticeable against white or light-colored tile, so we recommend it. But not in a pushy way! You do you!

Questions about the Phantom? Low iron glass? What to do in Jefferson? We got you. Get in touch anytime for a chat or free quote. You can also find bonus photos – including our very own comic series! – on Facebook and Instagram.

A Tale of Maryland Tubs

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower Door(s) of the Week: Three Tub Units in Maryland

Rub-a-dub-dub*, y’all! We’ve installed some very cool tub units lately and thought we’d showcase three of them in one post.

*Note: you might want to wait until our favorite holiday, Shower with a Friend Day (February 5th), to try fitting three people in a tub?

Bathtub #1: A Cambridge Education

This is our standard alcove Cambridge unit, with its sleek minimal dual-sliding system. It comes standard with one towel bar and one disc knob. (Fun fact: the disc knob will always be on the side of the shower head.) It’s not quite as minimalist as the Phantom (see below), but it’s a far cry from the metallic monsters of bygone days. Though I personally love fully framed and not ashamed shower doors…

Tub #2: Disc Knobs for Days

I’m just going to need to stare at these stunning walls for awhile. (…) Okay, I’m back! Do you recognize this shower door? Yep, it’s another Cambridge, this time a corner unit. Here you can really see how its low profile metal thresholds showcase custom tile work and stunning walls. (…) Here in the office we’re digging the choice of dual disc knobs – versus the standard disc + towel bar above. It’s a solid move for that minimalist frameless look. The best part is that choosing two disc knobs doesn’t even cost more money! Groovy.

Tub #3: The Phantom of Middletown

Did we forget to install the shower door? Of course not! The Phantom unit is already about as invisible as it gets, but as Expert Schuyler notes, “They upgraded to low-iron like some smart folks. Phantoms look infinitely better with low-iron. Sexy af.” What’s he on about? (We ask. Every day.) Low iron glass is free of the slightly green tint that regular glass gets from its iron content. If you’re interested in the phantom invisibility against light or white tile, you should certainly consider it.  And the smart folks even splashed out for a glass towel bar! That’s some real commitment to glass. We love to see it.

If you made it this far, you might enjoy geeking out about showers, glass, bubble baths… we’re here for all of it. You can get in touch any time for free quotes, top tips, questionable jokes, etc. You will also find more photos (and questionable jokes) on Facebook or Instagram.

Bonus Content

My original poem to Schuyler, in thanks for his ongoing support for Shower Door Sunday:

Trend Alert: Matte Black Grid Door

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower of the Week: Gridworks bypass sliding unit with matte black finish in Frederick, Maryland

This grid shower door we recently installed in Frederick, Maryland is doubly on trend! Grid showers and matte black hardware are both having a moment, and we love it.

Expert Advice: Matte Black Trend

The doors we install are actually from the second generation of the grid shower door movement. Early grid showers had small rectangular panes of glass welded together with metal framing. The look was was an immediate hit, especially in urban areas with uber-contemporary design trends. The units sold like hot cakes, but they were ghastly expensive!

Other manufacturers have found better, less expensive ways to accomplish the same look. We source ours from Century Bathworks in New Jersey. By using a single piece of glass with thin grid framing adhered to it, Century is able to provide this trendy matte black look at a fraction of the cost of its competitors.

Matte black hardware is, in general, also having a moment. Oil rubbed bronze finishes are also popular, but their tone can run the gamut from super dark to super light. It’s definitely easier to pair black with black versus two different oil rubbed bronze finishes from two different manufacturers.

If you’re interested in this trend, get in touch! We’re happy to start chatting about what would work for your unique shower space. You can also get the ball rolling with a free quote. We also post more shower door pics and fun bonus photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Upgrade in Adamstown: Centec Dual Slider

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Centec Dual Slider with Chrome Finish in Adamstown, Maryland

Ready for an upgrade but don’t need every single bell and whistle? Our Centec dual slider could be the shower door for you! This traditional “bypass” style of door doesn’t get the same buzz as barn sliders these days, but they remain a great value option. If you’re upgrading from a shower curtain or getting rid of an outdated door, the Centec is an affordable sturdy replacement.

Did I say sturdy? Yep, I sure did. Our bypasses use heavy 3/8″ glass – not the flimsy stuff you’ll find at a big box store…

… and the Centec is completely customizable to your shower layout. We’ll do the measuring and installation so it’s just done, not a project that takes up your free time. During our consultation you can let us know if you want to upgrade the towel bars or change the hardware finish. Centec hardware finish options: brass/gold, chrome, brushed nickel, polished nickel, oil rubbed bronze, matte black. This blog post prompted some chat in the office about how cool a matte black Centec would be – etch some skulls in and you’ve got yourself a goth shower!

Okay, shower door friends, that’s it for this week but stay tuned for more awesome shower doors – and our favorite holiday of the year! February 5th is Shower with a Friend Day. (No really, it is!) We’ll be posting photos on  Facebook and Instagram as always, and we love to hear from our clients and fans.

Getting A-round in Annapolis

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Rounded Operable Spray Panel in Annapolis, Maryland

New year, new shower door – check out the rounded corner on that spray panel! Technically, it’s a ’10” radius edge,’ if you want to sound like one of our experts. But whatever you call it, it’s pretty darn neat. From an interior design perspective, the rounded corner means the door is taking up less room. That makes the overall unit look bigger than it is. A solid solution to a small shower space.

The spray panel is operable, that is, it will swing out so you don’t have to shimmy yourself into the shower. The operable spray panel is hinged off the stationary panel with glass-to-glass hinges. Add in a square towel bar to match the squared shower head, and you’ve got yourself one cool little shower!

Interested in a new shower this year? Get in touch! We can get you a free quote quickly, so you can start to make plans…

Expert Advice: Matte Black Trend

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Matte black is a bathroom design trend that’s here to stay! We get quite a few questions and comments about matte black options, so here are some ideas to consider when you’re considering a new shower look…

Black and Light

One of the most popular – and show-stopping! – iterations of the trend is black against white or light-colored walls and tile. This beige space, which could have been dull on its own, is completely transformed by the black hardware.

Mix and Match

Matte black can stand alone, but it also plays well with other metallics and colors. Here the black shower frame is paired with silver-tones, marble, and stone for a unique but entirely cohesive look. Grid showers are also having quite a moment, and these two trends are a match made in shower door heaven!

Be Bold

Chrome is the standard choice for bathroom hardware, but it can fade into the background. Totally fine if a neutral is what you’re after. We love how these folks in Frederick paired a more neutral handle with a bold black faucet and painted panels. And that tile! This unit definitely makes a statement!

Or Start Small

If you want just a bit of black in your bathroom, it’s easy to switch up your cabinet pulls or faucet. For the shower or tub that could mean just a black shower head or handle. Who knows, you might get carried away by the trend!

Get In Touch!

We’d love to know what you think about this design – really! Matte black: yea? nay? We are quite active on Facebook, and you can also get in touch the old fashioned ways – well, not carrier pigeons but, you know, phones and email! We’re also on Instagram where we share even more shower door pics for design inspiration.

Or if you’re ready to dive in, you can get a free quote anytime!

Sandblasted Fade in New Market

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Sandblasted Fade in New Market, Maryland

A sandblasted shower door is perfect for anyone who wants to shower without the “show”! Our friends over at Rowland Glass Studios do custom sandblasting, so you can request your perfect height. How cool is it to have privacy but still be able to see out? The un-blasted top also lets in more light, which is a plus. But you still might want to include lighting above the shower, as these clever clients chose to do.

That’s all for this week, but we do wish you a happy Labor Day weekend! We’re so grateful for all our hard-working experts, and for the customers who keep our small local family business thriving. 30 years of shower doors!

Drop us a line if you have any questions about shower doors or want to discuss why Sandblast Fade would be an awesome name for our company band. You can also get exclusive content over on our Facebook and Instagram.

Glamor Clamps in Eldersburg

Posted on by Emily Watkins

Shower of the Week: Door and Panel Door with Clamps in Eldersburg, Maryland

Clamp your eyes on this shower door! The most noteworthy feature of this door and panel unit is the clamps along the bottom. Usually there would be a channel, but clamps are a minimalist and perfectly sturdy option too.

Ding ding! We have another low iron glass door this week. Long-time readers know the drill. Low iron glass is more optically clear than regular glass and looks great against light-colored tile. Iron particles give glass a slight green tint, which is why low iron glass is more clear. It doesn’t matter as much against darker tile, but with the marbled tile here it was a good choice.

The other upgrade for this unit was glass sealant. We’ll never push it on anyone, but it is quite nice! Especially if you’re not a huge fan of scrubbing glass. Even though glass looks smooth, it actually has lots of teeny tiny ridges and valleys where scum accumulates. Sealant fills in those microscopic gaps so your glass stays cleaner – and easier to clean!

You can keep up with shower of the week – and lots of other fun pics! – on our Facebook and Instagram. We’re also always on standby for shower door chats. No question too small or weird! Get in touch with your friendly local experts!  (That’s us.)

What our Clients Say

"Professional and Attentive"

“After much research we decided to use Shower Door Experts, and we are extremely happy about our experience. They are very professional and attentive to your needs!”

"I LOVE It!"

“Would greatly recommend Shower Door Experts. Very professional. Had my shower door installed yesterday and I LOVE it!!”

"You Can Have the Best"

“Sometimes you can have the best. The folks at Shower Door Experts know how to install a quality shower door and the end result is well worth the money.”