shower Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Shower Door Experts

Steamy Riddles in Rockville

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Steam Unit with a Unique Transom in Rockville, Maryland

Two words: Steam unit. Check your shoulders. Are they tense? Steam unit. We install the floor-to-ceiling glass to keep all that warm goodness inside, where it melts your tension away. Steam is also great for your skin and sinuses. See that yellow pollen on your car? Steam unit. It’s like having a spa in your own house. We especially like this stylish bench – you’ll want to settle in and take full advantage of your relaxation session.

You might notice something unusual about this unit. Well, for one, the floor tile is stunning, but we’re not the Tile Experts! We’re the Shower Door Experts! See that bit of rectangular glass with hinges in the upper right corner of the photo? It is not, I’m assured, the world’s most useless cat door. It’s an inset operable transom. Quick lesson:

A stationary transom is a piece of glass above a shower door or header that brings the unit to the ceiling for a fully enclosed shower. It’s usually required for steam units with an overall height too tall (84”+) for a full-height door.
An operable transom swivels to regulate the volume of steam and can attach to walls, headers, or stationary glass. They can be completely inset into a door or stationary panel – and that’s what we’re looking at this week.

Why inset? With the angle of this customer’s ceiling, we had to find another spot for the transom. The inset design was an elegant and functional solution. So unless you want to invest time into training your cat to navigate bizarre obstacle courses, probably best to use the transom for letting out steam.

Bonus Puzzle

What else is there to say? Well, when I asked our new Expert Schuyler about the details for this particular unit in Rockville, Maryland, he put on a green onesie with questions marks all over and riddled me this…

The finish is so special, as memorable as the Fonz.

The finish in question might be oil rubbed _____.

If you’ve read this far and can guess the metallic finish, post the answer on our Facebook page for a chance to win a rubber ducky! You can also find custom showers and behind-the-scenes pics over on Instagram. And do get in touch if you have any questions about steam unit design, cat training, or where Schuyler got his onesie. While you’re at it, you are welcome to ask us for a free quote – or start one right here on the website. Have a relaxing day!

New Shower Door in New Market, Maryland

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Frameless Door and Panel in New Market, Maryland

The word of the week is “NEW”! In the midst of geeking out about shower door features, it’s easy to forget the most basic principle. We want you to have a new shower that makes you happy. That might mean upgrading from a shower curtain or the dingy shower that comes with your new house. Or maybe there’s some problem with your shower door’s functionality. Whatever the reason for the upgrade, you deserve to enjoy your shower experience.

We’re happy to report that our New Market customers love how their shower turned out – and so do we! This is a frameless door-and-panel unit that uses glass to glass corner hinges to seamlessly connect the 90 degree return panel to the face of the shower. All the hardware is standard, what comes with the unit, but we think it would outshine 99/100 other showers in comparison!

Which brings us to another point: we will never try to “upsell” you on features you don’t need or want. The shape and color of your hardware, for example, depends entirely on the design of your bathroom. For example, a minimalist look might lead you in the direction of a square or ladder handle best. More ornate designs could have you ooh-ing over our Concerto or Symphony handles.

The same goes for a feature like low iron glass. It’s more optically clear and looks fantastic against white or light-colored tile. It also costs more. So if you have dark or black tile? You might not want it, and we won’t push it on you. We’re the experts, not the hard sellers! So, in that spirit, don’t hesitate to get in touch with questions about how we can do “new” for you!

We’re on Facebook. We’re on Instagram. We’re in Jefferson, Maryland!

Thoroughly Modern in Kearneysville

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Modern Styling in Kearneysville, West Virginia

Are you digging this thoroughly modern shower door look? Let’s break down how to pull it off!

1. Matte Black Hardware

As we’ve written before, matte black is having a design moment! You can see with our shower door of the week that matte black hardware can be absolutely show-stopping. Especially against white tile. It also plays well with other metallics and colors. Actually, it’s pretty hard to wrong with matte black.

2. Clips

This shower is all clips, all the time. Going back to basics: clips keep stationary panels secure in frameless showers enclosures. So instead of having a bulky metal header or metal around the glass panels, a frameless shower unit almost floats off the ground! Its minimalism allows other design elements – like tile – to become the focus. We use brass clips that are plated in the hardware finish of your choosing. In this case, a matte black finish that matches their shower head and tile.

3. Shapes

Both the clips and the square pull handle are rectangular, which is perfect for a modern look! Even the shower head is more of a square than the traditional round shape. Some of our door handles are almost ornate, so this was a deliberate choice to go modern and minimal. We truly enjoy helping you pick out the hardware shapes and colors that work best for your space, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat!

(We’re also on Facebook and Instagram!)

4. Low Iron Glass

The most subtle finishing touch on your brand new modern shower? Low iron glass. Regular glass has a slight green tint from iron that gets trapped in the glass. You might not even notice it against darker tile, but we do recommend low iron glass for light-colored tile. It has less iron and so is more optically clear. Perfect for a crisp modern look.

If you might be ready to embrace a new shower look, let us know! You can start a completely free quote here on the website or reach out to one of our awesome experts. Happy showering!

Times are Changing in Middletown

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Chrome Hardware in Middletown, Maryland

As we spring forward this weekend, let’s lighten things up! Recent picks for shower door of the week have been dominated by dark hardware. And there’s no doubt that matte black, in particular, is a trend that’s going to stick around. But shower door design isn’t just about following the latest trend. Your bathroom should reflect your style. We enjoy geeking out about design and helping make your vision come to life!

So, behold: the chrome hardware on this panel-door-panel corner unit is completely in keeping with the overall neutral and light look of the shower space. The ladder pull handle adds a modern touch and pairs well with that elongated handheld shower head. Also note the corner bench for storage and, ladies, somewhere to rest your leg while shaving. This shower is stylish and functional… we love it!

Please do feel free to stop by our showroom in Jefferson, Maryland to get an idea of the different units and hardware you could choose to upgrade your shower space. We’re open! You can just stop by, but we do encourage you to call ahead to schedule a time when we know we can give you our undivided attention.

In other Shower Door Expert news, stay tuned for the epic interview with our fearless leader, Tom Huck. He started this family business 30 years ago and has made some memories along the way…

Modern Minimalism in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Posted on February 21, 2021February 21, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Modern Minimalism in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

When you think “Harpers Ferry,” you might picture winding cobbled streets, quaint shops, and historic walks along the Potomac. You probably don’t think, “oh yes, Harpers Ferry, hot spot of hip modern design.” But let me tell you! Eye-catching shower doors are popping up all over the panhandle!

Last week on the ol’ blog we talked about minimalism as a trend. This custom shower unit exemplifies all things minimalist, from the frameless design to the square pull handle. As a bonus, the hardware is in suuuper-trendy matte black. Black against white or light-colored tile is a classic look that we can’t image will ever go out of style.

Speaking of the white tile – these clients wisely opted for low iron glass. Long-time readers will know that regular glass has a slight greenish tint from its iron content. Low iron glass is more optically clear, so we recommend it for light-colored tile. Especially if you’re after a crisp modern look like this one.

Design questions? Installation questions? We love all the questions! You can find us on the phone (301.473.5555), on the Facebook, even on the Instagram! In addition to stunning shower photos, we also share original cartoons and behind-the-scenes expert pics!

Headers Up Keedysville!

Posted on February 13, 2021February 21, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Oil Rubbed Bronze Header in Keedysville, Maryland

Me: Hey, experts! What can you tell me about the shower door of the week?

Emmarose: It’s a ORB GAP PDP CAR01 hinges. with a SQ6x6!

Me: …

Noah: It also has a custom WMZQ and an 80” LMNOP!

Me: Thanks, guys.

Do you see what I’m working with here!? Good thing you have your faithful blogger to demystify shower doors! Kidding aside, we really do try to take all the jargon out of the buying process and get right down to what’s important to YOU! Investing in a shower remodel is a big deal and should last you many many years if not generations. That’s one great reason to go with a timeless look. In that spirit, our shower door of the week is delightfully modern in a way that will certainly stand the test of time!

Minimalism is the trend in shower design. Think glass, glass, and more glass! But this custom shower in Keedysville, Maryland proves that you can have a dark header – in this case, oil rubbed bronze – and still keep that simple elegant look. The hardware is almost like a picture frame for the shower, showcasing that lovely tile.

We are always happy to chat about shower door design – jargon free. You can catch us over on Facebook and Instagram, where we share all our lovely pics and also fun bonus stuff like our own web comic. Look forward to hearing from you!

Shower With a Friend Day

Posted on February 5, 2021February 21, 2021 by Emily Watkins

That’s right! It’s our second annual Shower with a Friend Day! Over on Facebook, we learned that many of you prefer to shower alone. And that makes sense – more hot water for you!! One of you was a lot more excited about snow showers – fair! And some expressed regret that they missed this important national holiday. To them we say: mark your calendars! The duckies will be back next year. And hopefully it will be a lot safer to shower together in 2022. Be safe and well out there. And enjoy your shower however you like!

Shower Spa Day at Home

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Wooden Spa Shower in Great Cacapon, West Virginia

Well hello, gorgeous! Unanimous agreement amongst the experts: this gorgeous spa alcove shower stole the show! It is giving us strong sauna vibes and we love it. We can’t take credit for the wood panel design. (Though we can recommend tile contractors.) But we’re proud of how this panel-door-panel shower door turned out. Some details:

Glass to glass hinges eliminate the need for a header system, so these Great Cacaponers get a beautiful minimalist look.

Matte black hardware – the ongoing trend! A brassy or bronze hardware would fade into the wood, but the black is eye-catching in the best modern way.

Low iron glass is more optically clear and helps give this spa-like shower a crisp clean look. Regular glass has a slight greenish tint, which you wouldn’t want to distract from the lovely wood color here.

There’s no reason why you can’t have a spa experience at home. With the right tile and glass, even the smallest shower space can be made more bright, open, and relaxing. We’re always, always happy to discuss design, so get in touch for a chat or free quote. You’ll find us over on Facebook and Instagram, sharing design tips and bonus content. Look out for our first music video coming out soon…!

Be well! Relax! Enjoy your showers!

Almost Heaven West Virginia Shower

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Panel Door Panel in Kearneysville, West Virginia

This West Virginia shower sure does look heavenly to us! Okay, that might be the photo flash, but that’s not the point… We truly love how this project turned out. It’s a perfect example of how you can mix darker hardware like matte black or, here, oil rubbed bronze with both greys and browns. Matte black was the superstar of 2020, but we’re also seeing an uptick in oil rubbed bronze hardware recently. Mixing and matching patterns like the grey rectangular tile with brown pebble floor is a fun way to add visual interest to your shower space.

These Kearneysville clients also went with low iron glass. If you’ve been following along with the blog, you’ll know that low iron glass is more optically clear than regular glass. We recommend it for light-colored tile, especially. If you haven’t been following along, welcome! You can also find us over on Facebook and Instagram, where we post lots of design inspiration and also fun content like our own comics series.

Enjoy! And do say howdy if you spot our van anywhere in Berkeley or Jefferson county, West Virginia! We’re often out that way and love it when people say hello.

Serenity & Privacy in Middletown

Posted on January 17, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Serenity Unit with Sandblasting in Middletown, Maryland

The Serenity shower door is a single slider with a low-profile design. It’s a smooth and sturdy door with anti-derailing fittings on the bottom rail to ensure stability. It’s minimal hardware makes the glass appear as if it’s almost floating. What we’re saying is that it’s already kind of a magical shower door. But the custom touches on this shower door of the week go past serenity straight to nirvana:

Sandblasting

Our friends at Rowland Glass Studios never disappoint! This is another great example of custom sandblasting in the middle section of the door for style and privacy. As we’ve said before: an entirely textured door limits the amount of light that gets into your shower space. When you opt for sandblasting you can enjoy both privacy and light. Genius!

Low Iron Glass

Low iron glass is more optically clear than regular glass, which has a slight greenish tint. For these Middletown clients, we recommended low iron against that lovely white tile and paint. It gives the shower space a kind of brilliance that goes perfectly with the lightness of the Serenity unit.

Custom Design

It’s happens in every blog post: now we get to the shower door geekery! For this custom unit we installed a notched return panel to accomodate that partial knee wall beside the vanity. Sounds a bit technical, but the takeaway is that we always measure carefully and create custom solutions for every single shower space. No angle too acute for us!

In other shower news, last Wednesday was National Rubber Ducky Day! There’s still time to name this ducky for a chance to win a rubber ducky and one of our collectable tee shirts! Just head on over to our Facebook page and let the creativity flow.

Tag: shower