We have 8'4" ceilings, and used a wall-mounted Kohler shower rail (has a hand shower and switch on the lower portion) that has a very high arch, and then added the rainfall head. It is plenty high for just about anyone, and gives a definite rainfall effect. With your ceilings you could mount the shower rail even higher, or maybe get one that is longer.

Running PEX through the top plate and over to the ceiling is also not that hard, but unless your attic is conditioned you will have to keep it insulated to prevent freezing.

Bruce

The crawlspace above will be insulated with R-50 blown insulation. My main concern was the Truss that is resting on the wall plate and having to drill through the bottom chord of the truss. I can't go beyond the surface of the studs or the drywall/tile won't be able to be installed. here is an additional picture I have from another angle.

Will this be the only shower head? Have you had a rainfall head in the ceiling before?

I ask because I never experienced one until I stayed at a hotel that had only a rainfall head in the ceiling. Both my wife and I hated it. Its either pouring on your head, or not hitting you, or you're leaning out of the way to get some water (and warmth) but not drenched.

If its the only head, and you've never had one before, I recommend the wall mount. Then, if you hate it, you can change it back.

If you've lived with a ceiling mounted rain head and love it, disregard everything I just typed up and enjoy!! :)

If we do a rainhead then we will also have a handheld sprayer mounted to a slide bar on the wall so that either one could.be used.

@Kevin good plan!

I'm not a framing expert, but what you are calling the bottom chord of that truss is probably not an issue if you drill through it. Since all you have is empty attic above, the main purpose of that chord is to keep the ends of the rafters in place and provide a place to install the ceiling. The attic floor is not rated for a live load and I believe it only has to be strong enough to hold the ceiling up and keep the rafters in place.

Bruce

Bruce , it's a hip roof design where that end truss it tied into a girder truss running perpendicular to it. is that still acceptable to drill through? My understanding was that it was not acceptable to drill through any truss components.

interesting perspective. I suppose if I put in a small bulkhead over the shower that would be a way to run the supply like to a ceiling location.

Yes. You dont want the ceiling too high anyway. I will remember that for next time.

ok so regardless of whether I was doing a ceiling mounted shower head or just a standard wall mounted shower, I should drop my ceiling height (via bulkhead/soffit) to around 8 feet ? I didn't realize that 9 foot tall ceiling would be an issue for a walk in shower.

9 foot is not terrible. Mine is 10 foot and it is like taking a shower in a barn.