European Concepts in New Home Designs
I have to be honest, when my wife and I were looking at new homes, I started noticing a trend of open showers, multiple shower heads and doorless showers. I have to admit, I like a warm shower and the thought of a doorless shower just didn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. However, my wife insisted that we look at these European type showers. So I decided to do some research to see if I could disprove this doorless shower.
Well, I have to admit the doorless shower can accommodate what I want and what my wife is looking for in a shower for a new home. Given this new found knowledge, I thought I would provide you with some details to consider if you are thinking about building a new home and are looking at the European showers as an alternative.
Doorless showers provide no door to clean, no mildew and no water stains. They eliminate the heavy hardware needed for those heavy glass doors. You can even have a shower with no lip or curb at the bottom, so you can get in without stepping high off the floor or provide a handicapped or elderly person convenient access.
In Europe, where many showers have no doors at all, bathrooms are completely tiled to accommodate water spray. While spray can be kept to a minimum with a larger shower area, a doorless shower does not require a gigantic space. The shower area need only be large enough to shelter the water so it doesn't spray to the rest of the bathroom.
In the installation process of a doorless shower, you will want to keep a clean line in your shower. How the shower glass is installed will make a difference. So keep the thick, frameless glass that sits inside the long pieces of extruded metal called U-channels along the bottom and on the wall recessed into the floor and wall tile so no metal is showing. The better the metal is hidden, the more modern and uninterrupted the look will be.
Besides the doorless shower of the European style showers, here's a complete list of the most popular additional bathroom features for new homes and how they rated among buyers:
Source of statistics from Realtor Magazine Online
So, what do you think, is this something for you? Do you already have a doorless shower, if so, care to share your experience?
David L. Britt, MBA
Olathe, Kansas
David L. Britt Real Estate
Heritage Real Estate
The Heritage Real Estate Team
Olathe Neighbors 
Olathe, KS based Kansas City Real Estate Consultant specializing in New Homes, Rural areas, Land, and Investment Property. Providing advice and assistance in your real estate needs. Guiding you Home!
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I have been in these in Greece and Italy. The one in Greece was weird because it ended up getting water on a hardwood floor. The are not for me. Seems to much like PE class in the 1960's.
I stayed with a friend in New Zealand who had a shower in the corner of the bathroom, with no doors, and not even any glass. The entire bathroom was tiled and it didn't really matter where the water went as there was a floor drain. I also have a friend in Japan with a similar, although smaller, arrangement. I disliked both. I, like you, like a warm shower. At home in the winter I turn on a little heater in the bathroom first, then let the hot water run way too long (it wastes water, but warms up the shower) then I get in. The New Zealand and Japanese showers were cold and I couldn't wait to get out of them. I didn't waste any water though!
David, another masterful commentary on another new construction niche. Thanks for giving so much of your advice on showers. We have a walk-in but we did not do steam, next time!
I am glad I read this article. I am in the middle of renovating my master bath and am not quite sure what I want to do with the master shower. You have given me more info to research, thanks!
Hi David,
I was in a much smaller versions in Europe. I like the look and the fact that there is less cleaning and no mildew but I do like a warm shower in the wintertime.
Steven, PE class, boy I hope not!! :-) You did make me laugh, although my memories had more to do with the smell than the water on the floor! Thanks for bring back some memories!!
Joanne, I don't think I would like those either. I believe it can be done and with good taste in tile and glass. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Steve, thank you for your kind comments. Steam is a least warm!!
Jennifer, glad I help motivate you! Thanks for reading it!
Leslie, so far, I'm not getting any warm and fuzzy's on doorless showers overseas. I hope we have learn how to make this work in America! My visits overseas were in Switzerland and France. They had small showers, conservative on water, but no doorless ones that I remember. Thanks for sharing!
My aunt on Kauai's bathroom was completely tiled on the floor with many drains. There was the shower as well as two Furo's (japanese deep bathtubs you step up and then slide in.) and just a big open bathroom with plenty of windows for ventilation.
We have lots of doorless showers here in the Lakes Region of NH. They are really very nice.
Sally, Do you have pictures of this one! Sounds like something you could spend a great deal of time in! Thanks for sharing!
Kristine, they are in about 60% of all the new homes in the $250k plus price range in my area! It's quite interested to see and experience!
Tim and Pam, how big of an area are they? Any comments from buyers as to what they like best about them? Thanks for posting!
Howdy David
Congrats
You have done a very good and helpful post here.
I have not seen one of these doorless showers yet.
Dale, they are very popular in the Johnson County area. Take a look at one if you can find one in your area, you might be surprised by it! Thanks for commenting!
I love the idea of not having a shower door to clean, they are a pain in the butt. I also like the look of a doorless shower. When I redo my bathroom I am going to use this concept.
Linda, great, since you live in a warm state, you won't have to deal with some of the other issues we would here in Kansas. Thanks for commenting!
Not for me, but aw interesting post on this shower construction method.
Dave - great post but not for me...humble or embarrassed? I don't know, pick one! I enjoy my privacy!!! This concept feels too much like showering after gym class in the open showers. Ugh...I don't want to relive those days!!!
think I would like to have the door...... seem like water would go everywhere...
David - We recently stayed at a hotel in Lake Charles that had a doorless shower. We thought it was nice but both nights after we showered we had to clean up the floor...flooded. Maybe us Texans don't know how to use a doorless shower. When we left we suggested the management go up and try it out. He did and sent us an email saying they would have it repaired and gave us two free nights next trip to Lake Charles.
After that experience I think we want a door.