virginia Archives - Shower Door Experts

Fairfax Clamp Party + FREE Handle Upgrade

Posted on July 18, 2022 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Clamp Design in Fairfax, Virginia

Ol’ Clampy. Clampy McClamperton and the Clamptones. Clippity Sir Clamps-a-lot. The Clampinator.

This corner unit in Fairfax picked up a lot of nicknames over the week. And it’s easy to see why: it has a ton of personality! The contractor we worked with on this job is a big fan of clamps at the base of the shower – versus having a channel. We dig it! The side of the door facing us in the photo was a little bigger than normal, so we split that puppy into two pieces. It’s a cool “paneled” look that’s modern, distinctive, but not distracting from the overall bathroom design. The brushed nickel header keeps it all sturdy as can be and was a great color pick against the grey marbled tile.

Oh, and it gets better. Right now we are offering a FREE handle upgrade in chrome and brushed nickel. Any swing door with a chrome or brushed nickel finish qualifies for an upgrade from a standard handle to a 6″ or 8″ ladder pull. Ladder pull is what you see in the photo above. The 6″ LP is normally $85 and the 8″ is $150 value, so that’s pretty sweet!

Speaking of sweet, our beloved graphic designer Jordan of Gypsy Cab Studios created this for us last week:

We encouraged everyone to SHOWER the world in kindness last week and, you know, I think we all felt a ripple of good will spread out from Jefferson, Maryland. Are you wondering who that charming showerhead-lookin’ guy could be? That’s Showerhead! Protagonist in our very own web comic series. Showerhead and his trusty sidekick Barry have already been through intergalactic hijinks, so catch up and stay tuned for their continuing adventures…

Taking Serenity Up a Notch in Alexandria

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Custom Serenity in Alexandria, Virginia

Well, you won’t find this shower unit at the big box store! Nope, that’s completely custom work by your favorite local experts. The notch cut into the glass is a perfect fit for that angled ceiling. So if your bathroom has a unique layout, definitely get in touch!

If you’re a huge fan of our blog – and we’ll assume you are! – you’ll have noticed that this shower door of the week is the same as last week‘s. Kind of – they’re both Serenity units – a single-sliding door with a sturdy low-profile header support bar. And they both have gorrrgeous brushed nickel hardware and grey tile. But this week we’re giving you a different angle on how customizable our showers can be. So, you know, think outside the box and embrace serenity!

Also same as last week: you can find us on the socials. The Facebook. The Instagram. We post fun behind-the-scenes content including our very own webcomic series! And of course let us know if you have any questions. We offer free quotes and free unicorns. Okay, you caught me – I was just seeing if you read to the very end. The free quotes part is true! Happy showers, friends.

Serenity Now in Manassas Park

Posted on May 15, 2022May 27, 2022 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Serenity Corner Unit in Manassas Park, Virginia

Disclaimer: we can’t make you an enlightened yogi with just one morning shower…

But who doesn’t need more serenity in their lives? Our Serenity is a single-sliding door unit with a low-profile header support bar. The hardware is minimal and these clients chose brushed nickel to complement their mixed monochrome tile design.

Minimal hardware doesn’t mean a precarious shower door though. The Serenity is smooth and sturdy – just like our signature yoga pose! (Ever heard of Showervasana?) We’ll even let you in on the secret: anti-derailing fittings on the bottom rail. 🤫

Well, get in touch if you need some chill time courtesy of your local experts! Or let us know if you have any top tips for a relaxing shower experience. You can find us in the usual spots – the Facebook – the Instagram. Namaste, y’all!

Corner Upgrade in Fairfax

Posted on July 19, 2021July 19, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Frameless Corner Unit in Fairfax, Virginia

This week we are taking you on a journey from meh to fab! So many homes in our area built between the 1980s and 2000s have similar master bathroom layouts: a soaking tub adjacent to a shower stall. Often the corner shower has an ugly metallic frame. (Sorry, not sorry.) It’s a functional but outdated look. And that’s why this is our best-selling layout!

We put in a lot of frameless corner units like these when homeowners decide to refresh or remodel. It’s a solid investment, something you can enjoy every day and know will retain its value. Unless your clunky metal shower is actually made of gold, I guess. Then maybe keep the metal. Otherwise, frameless* is the future!

*Within the shower industry, “frameless” refers to any shower enclosure that doesn’t have metal adhered to the edge of the glass. Some people think frameless means no metal whatsoever. This is not the case. Frameless units can be virtually metal-free, except for clips on any stationary panels, hinges, and handle. But frameless also covers units that may have a header atop the unit and u-channel on the stationary panels.

For more upgrade inspiration, follow us over on Facebook and Instagram! If you’re ready to get started on our refresh journey, you can start a quote here on the website or get in touch for a chat. We are always, always down for a shower chat.

Bronze Pentagon in Leesburg, VA

Posted on December 13, 2020December 14, 2020 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Glass to Glass with Brushed Bronze in Leesburg, Virginia

This client came to us with a vision of brushed bronze hardware – and we made it happen! It’s one of the great joys of our job, turning your visions into reality. And we really love how this one turned out.

As Expert Emmarose notes, “This is a big boy!” The pentagon shape makes for even more space and requires the two panels to meet at a custom angle. That’s where the specially ordered brushed bronze hardware comes in! Even though it’s a big enclosure, the overall look is still light and open with just the notes of bronze seeming to hold it together.

Also worth mentioning: these clients wisely chose to invest in optically clear low iron glass. We recommend this for clients with white and light-colored tile. Regular glass has a slight greenish tinge. You might not notice it against colorful tile, but for this much white tile it does make a difference.

In other Shower Door Expert news, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Santa has already been handing out gifts to employees and contractors. Strangely, our head honcho Tom never seems to be around when Santa visits…

For more seasonal photos and shower door inspiration, find us over on Facebook and Instagram!

Swing Into the Shower Cave

Posted on October 11, 2020October 11, 2020 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Swing Door to Wet Room in Middleburg, Virginia

Sometimes all you need is one simple swing door to make all your shower dreams come true. As shower door experts, we’re known for our technical custom work. We geek out about challenges like last month’s custom 4-sided shower door of the week. But sometimes the beauty of design is in its simplicity.

This single panel door opens to an enclosed wet room. The dark tile and minimal lighting reinforce the feel of a cozy shower cave, a retreat from the rest of the house/world!

What do you think about the shower cave? We share our Shower Door of the Week on Facebook and Instagram, so you can let us know.

Expert Advice: Our Trusted Tile Companies

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Emily Watkins

Choosing tile is the time for your inner interior designer to shine! There’s something special about making a unique interior space that’s all your own. But who do you turn to for options and advice? Who actually installs your dream tile? We often get asked for referrals, and with 30 years in the shower door business, we’ve made some excellent local contacts. Please do let them know that we referred you! But without further blogging ado, here are our most-trusted tile contractors:

Frederick County, Maryland

Epic Kitchen & Bath / Scott Phucas / 301-363-5531

HH Homes / Hank Parater / 240-870-2985

J Grubbs Construction / John Grubb / 301-748-7374

Lighthouse Craftsmen / Pete Ring / 240-315-832

Newell Property Services / Tom Newell / 301-371-0645

PKS Home Improvements / Paul Sager / 301-337-0134

Premier Contracting Services / Tyler Timberlake / 877- 928-7767

Quality First Home Improvement / Dave Farnum / 443-398-1100

Woodsboro Craftsmen / Jeff Crum / 301-304-0945

Carroll, Howard, & Washington Counties, Maryland

Woodsboro Craftsmen / Jeff Crum / 301-304-0945

Montgomery County, Maryland

PKS Home Improvements / Paul Sager / 301-337-0134

Washington, D.C.

Falcon Construction / Kaz Malachowski / 301-294 – 3100

Loudoun County, Virginia

Goode Guy Handyman / Ronnie Goode / 703-431-2754

Berkeley County, West Virginia

Miller’s Residential Creations / Travis Sprouse / 304- 918-0007

Tristate Home Improvements / Chris Hill / 304-240-0646

Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Innovative Kitchen & Flooring Supply / Ryan Stouffer / 717-263-2611

Note: We are not responsible for any mistakes, mix-ups, or mayhem caused by these contractors. Kidding: they’re good people. But please let us know if you have a negative experience that might cause us to retract our recommendation. And definitely get in touch when it’s time to plan for your perfect shower door! In the meantime, follow along on our social media (Facebook and Instagram) for tile and other design inspiration!

Feeling Fancy in Alexandria

Posted on September 12, 2020May 25, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Symphony Hardware in Alexandria, Virginia

There are so many ways to make a shower truly your own. For our shower door of the week, you can see the eye-catching tile, always fun to shop for. On the practical side, there’s bench seating and a handheld shower head. Nice! But hardware is an often unsung hero of shower design. Not here in Alexandria! These clients are singing loud and proud with their Symphony hardware upgrade. Handles, hooks, and towel bars can really add that extra something to your bathroom design. Hardware can take almost any look toward more modern and sleek – or here something a little more classic. Shower door expert Emmarose calls this one “fancy”!

Corner shower unit in Alexandria Virginia with Symphony hardware — Shower Door of the Week

You can let us know on Facebook or Instagram what you think about this style. Are you more of a ladder pull lady? Coda guy? Stay tuned for our upcoming quiz to finally find out “Which Shower Door Are You?” We also have a new expert / model in the showroom who you’ll definitely want to meet. He doesn’t say much, but he has a fantastic t-shirt collection…

Getting Steamy in Arlington

Posted on July 12, 2020August 28, 2020 by Noah Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Steam Unit in Arlington, Virginia

Two? Two transoms in one? Have they gone mad!? Yep, we’re crazy about this steam unit design!

Steam units require tall glass. Usually we recommend either a fixed transom or an operable one. But this custom enclosure has such a high ceiling that we put in both to ensure good symmetry and proportions. The homeowners loved our design! And our expert technicians were pretty proud too.

Shower door nerd note: If you’re still in the designing phase, you can also consider using a bulk head from the ceiling to keep the unit height more standard. But for neo-angle or corner units, it’s important that the bulk head aligns with the curb below. That way the reveals will stay consistent from top to bottom.

We truly love to chat about shower design, so get in touch or even start a free quote!

Best Shower Door Installations, June 2020

Posted on July 5, 2020August 28, 2020 by Noah Watkins

Washington, DC + Mt. Airy, MD + Aldie, VA

It’s a 3-for-1 special for this week’s #ShowerDoorSunday! With everything going on the last few months, we took a step back from weekly posts. But with the grand reopening of our showroom, we’re ready to get back into the swing of things.

Frameless Door & Panel in Washington, DC

For alcove shower (i.e., standard wall-to-wall) openings, the frameless shower door & panel is the most popular swing option. For opening widths over 60” homeowners sometimes opt for panel-door-panel configurations instead.

This 60” opening in Washington, DC had a toilet we needed to clear with the door swing, so we went slightly narrower on the door (24” instead of the standard 28” width). The modern ladder pull handle complements the modern hardware fixtures within the shower.

Frameless Corner Shower Enclosure in Mt. Airy, MD

A handsome corner shower enclosure in a handsome bathroom in Mt. Airy, MD! The mixed use of materials in the bathroom space is part of what makes this installation so attractive. Marble floors, granite slab horizontally on the curb and vertically on the outside wall, a river stone shower pan, and gorgeous neutral gray tile within the shower. Even the niche shelves use different materials! And yet it all ties together in a wonderful way.

The use of a knee wall on the left side lets good light into this shower, and we accommodated it with a custom notched panel that extends about 2” to the centerline of the 4” wide granite cap. The homeowner wanted to pick up more towel-hanging real estate in the bathroom, so we installed an elegant through-the-glass towel bar on the inline glass panel beside the shower door.

Frameless 2/3 Neo Angle Shower Door in Aldie, VA

Just another gorgeous shower space! Which obviously makes it easier for our glass shower doors to really shine. The use of river stone for the shower pan and in the vertical panel on the back wall is simply masterful.

This 2/3 neo angle design in Aldie, VA required an angle mount on the shower door hinges since the right wall isn’t squared off at 90-degrees. Fortunately, we’ve been making atypical details like this work for the past three decades, so it didn’t pose a problem. The homeowner preferred glass clamps instead of low-profile u-channel at the base of the stationary glass, which we were happy to accommodate.

Interested in a quote for a new shower door? Our online quote request form makes it a super simple process!

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