Get a different glass company and google frameless showers to show them what you want.

Was it a contractor or a glass company that you were talking with? I'd hunt around for more opinions and quotes.

A header is one thing, but why the vertical jamb's? They shold have used glass to glass pivots. That does not appear at all to be custom to me. That is an Alumax package that they added to in my opinion. The door is frameless the rest is not even close. I would not be happy were it me.

You need STABILITY for frameless hinging.

Do this ( you'll have clips at the ceiling on fixed panels

WHY?? as below. the sides are fixed to the ceiling, the door is shorter, Otherwise? Not possible ,

Look at the back wall/shower head on the pic below. That's where the door is hinged. for stability!!

THIS?? UNNECESSARY FRAMING.

Could have been completely frameless.

For yours? A minimal top frame, satin nickel or chrome should be possible, and much less in your face. Like below or as my first pic of "do this"

Or............drop the ceiling we can't see, over the shower space, STILL have what you want: ) a bit less glass.

Un framed glass has a height limit/ hinging requirements. When attached at ceiling? You are freed from that constraint.

I think what your shower supplier told you is BS. There are plenty of examples of frameless glass showers with no so called header.

@millworkman I think the photo the OP posted is what they have now, and they want to upgrade to frameless.

@Gai Llinot get a second opinion from another glass company. I have had frameless showers installed in both my houses (I had the bathroom in my old house remodeled, and now built new). The glass company that made the shower in my old house insisted on a header due to the size and angles of the glass panels and door. A different glass company made and installed the shower in my new house and though the panels are larger and the door is at an angle again, they said no header was needed. The glass does not go to the ceiling in either shower. Glass to glass clips, brackets, clamps, and hinges were used on both showers.

I think my first glass company was trying to cover themselves just in case, and yours may be doing the same.

If you look closely at her picture, and curb foot print? You will see her hinge issue.

Just take the sides to the ceiling!

It CAN be completely frameless W/FIXED PANELS

to the ceiling.

She has an unimaginative glass guy : ( WAH.

The photo I posted is what we have now! Thanks for the input everyone!

JAN, I think what you said about the height limit for door hinges is probably why they told us that. I am working with an experienced designer and it was her glass contractor who said this. I’ll have to consider taking glass to the ceiling, or learn to accept the header. Thanks

Another idea would be to build out the wall out on the side the shower head is on and attach the door to that new wall. Except now we’d be stepping straight into the flow of water.

We recently switched to frameless. Our old shower doors had the frames like yours currently do. Due to the design of the shower we had to have the header for stability. I was worried about the look, but honestly it’s a non-issue. There’s so much glass that you don’t really even notice it. Good luck!

If you do have to have framework.. avoid black…pick a color that blends into the background better…since it is a feature you don’t like

Just show her this??? The door isn't going to the ceiling. The fixed panels DO.

Best is "Heavy" glass ( 1/2 inch ) , with shower guard. ( no spots)

Really. It's that simple. Her glass source .........is lacking: )

Once the sides have the stability of curb to ceiling fixed glass? The door hinging directly TO glass w/no frame is not an issue.

If you are keeping your oil rubbed bronze shower faucet then I wouldn’t change to a lighter color finish on the frame. To bring the glass to the ceiling you will need to extend your tile up as well. Are you going to be changing the tile? To my eye having the sides up to the ceiling with a shorter door looks odd and unfinished. The big question is this; if you are doing a face lift and not a total bathroom redesign is it worth the extra cost of the extra tile and extra glass to do this correctly? A professional interior designer is duty bound to bring in other professionals who will do the job correctly within building codes and correct methods required; they may not give you the answer you want to hear but will tell you the right way to do it. If you really have your heart set on all frameless than go for it, but do it right. If not, put your money in another area like beautiful new light fixtures, or a medicine cabinet with built in outlets and fog less mirrors. In the end, don’t settle, but if the budget run’s over make sure it’s worth it to you.