Honestly? It *sounds* like a good idea, but once you get a sudsy person moving around in that water, you're gonna have soapy water on EVERYTHING. IMHO, that would be MORE to clean.

I also don't get what you mean by "the other for the toilet/urinal making it possible to wash it down with the hand sprayer"... are we standing up to do our duty now? Sorry, but YUCK.

Oh my gosh, no, I did not mean the "hole in the ground"! That never crossed my mind, but you are correct, and interesting to learn what other cultures think. So you prefer an enclosed shower area, to contain soap, glass or curtain?
Exactly why I wanted to ask, and learn others opinions.
Thanks for your reply!

I would not like, at all, the idea of the guys peeing in the shower area. I'd have to clean the darn thing before every use and it still would feel gross.

As far as the open, walk-in showers. I think they're larger and wouldn't see that as low maintenance at all. If the water was well-contained and all worked well, I wouldn't mind buying something like that, though (with staff for all that scrubbing :)

I stayed in a hotel in Germany that had an open shower. I loved it! I didn't find that the soap went all over but maybe I'm a sedate bather : )

EW. Gross.

I have heard that the large, semi open showers that have no doors can be drafty and chilly, but no first hand experience. This totally wide open shower would,seems to me, really be not that toasty on a cold morning? Have wondered about the 1/2 open as we'll be redoing our MBR Bath some day. I'd consider the 1/2 open but not wide open. Feels like a boy's gym.

I don't think Bodica meant the boys and men would P directly into the floor drain. Right, I hope? Just that the drain makes it easier to clean the room because you can wash it down. There is a toilet in the photo.

In China and Taiwan, we saw open showers and bathrooms as described. I liked using them and they seemed like they would be much easier to clean. We have an open shower. It's not cold or drafty unless you leave the bathroom door open or shower in cold water.

And certainly not gross (not such a nice comment), unless I am misunderstanding Bodica's post.

>>an open floor plumbed with two drains would sell, especially with boys and men? One drain for the sloped shower floor, the other for the toilet/urinal making it possible to wash it down with the hand sprayer, fast, easy, sanitized and with no touching required I'm not sure exactly what she's thinking, but it has something to do with this stuff in the shower. ??? Not a very pleasant thought, imo.

I read the post the way squirrel did, and sorry if it's not nice, but I stand by my previous statement of "ew, gross." Makes me think of the episode of Friends where Chandler was upset that Joey kept using his washcloth. "What's the last thing I wash and the first thing you wash?" "OH. Ohh! EWWW." Joey responded. I rest my case.

Honestly, I didn't take the use of that particular descriptor all that seriously. It's just used kind of casually around here.

Now I'm wondering if the urinal is outside near the shower and is set in its own floor area (with a rim). So, a drain there, too? And then maybe she means to grab the shower sprayer for hosing that down? We don't have urinals in homes around here. It's just a foreign idea! : )

Best thing is to teach the guys to wipe up when they're done. Something I have never been able to understand.

I don't think Bodica meant the boys and men would P directly into the floor drain. Right, I hope? Just that the drain makes it easier to clean the room because you can wash it down. There is a toilet in the photo.

In China and Taiwan, we saw open showers and bathrooms as described. I liked using them and they seemed like they would be much easier to clean. We have an open shower. It's not cold or drafty unless you leave the bathroom door open or shower in cold water.

And certainly not gross (not such a nice comment), unless I am misunderstanding Bodica's post.

I'm confused, why is this posted again?

I like showering in an enclosed space. I have a doorless shower, but the actual showering space is pretty enclosed, and it is in a small room with the toilet, so I don't get cold. I think that the "open concept" would be too drafty.

I have 2 beautiful ones . They are not cold as we have heaters that are quite efficient and also the demand water heater is set higher in the winter than in the summer. With the skylights this is as close as you will get to an outdoor shower. On a full moon night it is a truly rapturous experience. As for the commode, in the master bath it is behind the pony wall and upstairs it is in the same room on the opposite wall. Pics below.

Masterbath open shower:

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pony wall w/ commode behind:

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upstairs open shower:

upstairs toilet and sink area:

I think it is a great idea, I want one or a snail shower in my next house. If you get a hand held shower head with a hose you can clean the walls of soapy residue each time you are done showering. It cuts down on cleaning.

We have a large shower and, originally, I was upset because I was very cold in the shower. I think this had to do with the fan light being in the shower area. But now it is less cold in the shower. I do notice that if I open the shower door before I'm completely dried off, I am very cold.

One thing about the open shower, I think the bathroom would get too steamy or wet without shower doors enclosing the area. Just something to think about.

From the viewpoint of someone who has a handicapped daughter, I can tell you that an open shower is a wonderful idea and a huge relief! You can't imagine how many so-called "handicap accessible" bathrooms aren't accessible at all. A wheelchair requires a huge turning radius, wide doorway, etc., points often missed by those who have never used a wheelchair nor had a family member using one.

With more and more people looking for a "forever" home, I think it's a very good idea to have an open shower.

An open shower is very european. I have stayed at many homes in europe with them. In my own home I have two showers that are enclosed by walls on three sides. I love them! We do not have a problem with water and soap splashing into the rest of the bath. As suggested by another poster, we wash down the walls with a hand sprayer after each shower and mist with a one of those spray products. My showers are alsways clean and I only "scrub" them about once a month.

In my brother's home in Sweden, both the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms have open showers. It's pretty much standard over there, and I did not find that I was cold or that the room was drafty. It was much easier to clean without having all the glass surrounds like we do, and the mirrors, which were on a wall at the opposite end of the shower area, didn't fog up at all.

This is a very interesting thread. Trailrunner, thanks for showing your pictures. It really helps to illustrate what bodica is describing. In our new home, we did a doorless walk in shower, but it is still enclosed. I'm not sure how comfortable I would feel showering without any walls around me, but maybe if I lost 10 lbs? ;-) I'm feeling rather modest these days.

Here is our shower, almost completed... The shower is the door on the right hand side of the picture. Pedestal sinks will be directly in front.

And this looking straight on at the shower.

I think her question is about the two-drain scenario, which I'm still not clear on.

Squirrelheaven, I don't know why my post got up there twice! I certainly didn't intend for that to happen. Kind of embarrassing!

I love all these bathroom pictures.

I like open showers and since you have to live with I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you are concerned about resale certainly give a little thought to how its done to make it a little more appealing to those with second thoughts. I personally would buy one if it were well done like trailrunners.

I too interpreted the original post to mean there would be a second drain in the floor in the area where there is a urinal and a toilet, both to be used as such with the drain just making cleaning easier. Another more european concept which I think is very practical. Far less gross yuck factor than repeatedly dragging dirty bucket water around.

We have no problem with fogging of mirrors or of splashing soap and water. I wanted a very simple look so I did not get the handheld showers. We have the rainshower heads from Grohe so there is no splashing at all. It is quite easy to wipe down with a sponge and I cover the drain with a cloth and let the water get a little deep in the base and then rinse it out when I clean.

We lived in the Netherlands for a year and had open showers. That is what gave me the idea for these. You will notice that the floor of the showers is 2 1/2 inches lower than the room floor, inset as it were. I didnot want the "institutional" hospital LOL , due to my career choice ! (RN)

We have a wall heater in our master bath and a ceiling heat lamp/fan in the upstairs bath. These easily keep the areas warm.

As to the open room and modesty I wanted the outdoor shower feel and the freedom that comes with that openness. We love it and I don't even think about my shape or lack there of LOL. All of our company says they really like it and have never said that it makes them uncomfortable. I think that since they have no choice they "embrace" the concept and may feel a little wicked...who knows. I always have candles in each bathroom and the shower runs a LONG time when company is upstairs !

Jay, you are welcome. I love your space too ! Very similar to mine with the clawfoot and pedestals. Very very nice. c

Jaymielo!! I adore the color of your walls! Simply beautiful.

And, another hotel reference from Tokyo - I stayed at a British owned hotel in the Urayasu area with a huge and spectacular bathroom (I think it was bigger than some downtown apartments!). The shower and tub were open but with a glass wall so it wasn't cold. Here's a picture from their website

Opposite the shower/tub was the commode, with heated seat, and the sink with a very long counter. It was quite luxurious.

I would LOVE an open shower BUT would prefer to have a hand rail along one wall -- and possibly a seat too. And places to stash soap pumps, shampoo etc.

Would a heated floor work in this situation?? I really don't know -- but just wondered .......

And lots of hooks for towels and robes.

DH (who grew up with three brothers) says "no" to the urnial idea ......

I agree that it is a great concept and yes, you do find them in other countries. I am not sure why we went to doors in this country except that perhaps with having kids in high school and having to share a bath, the girl could be putting on her makeup at the mirror while the boy was showering, i.e., Jack & Jill baths. If the kids are grown and gone and not having to access the same bath for their intimate needs, then an open concept is great, and as we age, more and more of us will be thanking God we have them. Assdionnemoore stated, it is very difficult for someone who is wheelchair-bound to get a bath in a bathroom that is confined by doors, steps, etc. I have been there, done that, and I had to be literally lifted into the tub by my husband and he had to stay with me while I was there. An open concept makes much better sense. I am able to get in and out but who knows when I might be wheelchair-bound again? Certainly not I. Or it could be my husband. At this point in our lives, neither of us is able to lift the other. It would become a task too difficult.

Thank you All! Most Fascinating! Love the aditional photographs too, thanks! I personally do believe builders should take handicap accessablity very seriously. Building so is no negative for the able, and critical when needed. Sloped and smooth floors are a plus, no ledges to step or roll wheels over. The cold open shower experence is a reasonable concern, I would hate that too, but adjustable heated floors will manage that for each persons preference. My photo example does show an American style toilet on the left and the walk in shower with drain on the right. With a hand shower with correct length hose, keeping a normal toilet perfectly clean could be quick and easy. The drain has nothing to do with toilet use, only sanitizing, oh Please! LOL! Often toilet placement is very awkward for the person cleaning to reach around and behind, and get to all those ugly intestional curves on the outside only there for more work to clean.
Thanks again for all your opinions. Lots to think about!
Ps. I personally do not like toilets in bathrooms at all. I prefer they be concealed powder rooms. I love bathing to be a beautiful relaxing experence in an elegant setting.

As far as designing for resale, just make sure that there are studs in the walls where you might otherwise have a door so that a future purchaser can install a door if desired. Also, it's a good idea to have blocker boards behind the walls to allow for future hand rails. And keep pictures of the walls (with tape measures next to the studs and backer boards) so that future purchasers can see where the studs and backer boards are.

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That isn't really so scary or gross, is it?

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