It's not just you. Its' terrible design. No steam, no privacy if you share a bathroom, and if you only need a 3 foot wall, why is the back wall of my shower always wet? It kind of reminds me of the glass wall between prisoners and their visitors.

!!!! The last two hotels I've stayed in had this feature, and I, too, flooded the bathroom floor in both instances.

I've had the same problem. The tub mat gets soaking wet, and I feel bad that the maid has to mop up the flood. That said, I prefer it to shower curtains, although that's because I'm a little OCD when I travel and they always seem dirty to me (even when they don't look it).

I agree; this makes no sense.

It's stupid!

I've never seen one of these, but I would get upset if I did end up at a hotel with one of these tubs. I would get everything wet! The poor housekeepers!

It would not be possible for me to avoid flooding the bathroom. Bad, bad design.

I hate my sliding shower doors, because gunk just likes to build up in the crevices that are near impossible for you to clean, so I think I would hate this just as much.

This is not unfortunate at all. Each time I take a shower I wonder why I didn't install a half wall. May a two-thirds instead of a half.

Brilliant.

This is pretty common in the small hotels I visit in Europe. I've never had much of a problem with it. One adapts.

i hate these - i was renting a place that had it - it was impossible to turn on the shower without getting soaked. Useless.

The soaking is only one indignity. To me the worst is not being able to contain the steam to make the air in the shower nice and warm!

Some of them don't have much of the tub covered, hence the soaking. I much prefer this to shower curtains and am doing it for my bathrooms. Its perfect if you have kids too. My husband would totally flood the floors, but I wouldn't.

i am short so turning the shower head downward so the spray doesnt over shoot the glass wall isn't as much of a problem as it is for taller people who point the water passed the partition. that being said....even i sometimes manage to creat an unintentional slippery mist over the floor....not only is it a pain to have to wipe down but it's dangerous!

I think this is a cultural thing to do with the american acceptance of shower curtains. Elsewhere they're considered awful and I hate staying places that have them. I'd much rather a screen like that - easier to keep mold-free too. Maybe that one needs to be a bit bigger but in general if you angle the shower head slightly towards the back wall you make much less mess. It's all down to what you're used to, I guess.

I don't see the problem - I've used them and it's worked well for me...

i totally agree. I've seen a lot of these being used in design shows or magazines recently and have been frustrated by them. It's a fine idea, but not practical and honestly I don't love the appearance. Oh well, let's hope the fad passes.

used them all the time in hotels and whatnot.. never had a flooding issue and im a big guy who isnt short! infact im about to get some quotes to install one into my current place... can't wait.. considering a 1/3 fixed 1/3 swinging section .. covers most of the bathtub that way :D

The design sux. A good friend had her entire house rehabbed/remodeled and in her high end bathroom she opted for this. She says it's been a bust since day one. I've used it as well and unless you keep the shower head aimed 90 degrees to the floor it shoots water all over the floor. They are one of those 'oh so clever' stupid ideas. If they extended 3/4's of the tub length then they might be useful. As it is they look cool. Only. Function anyone?

I don't have a problem with these at all. I stayed at a great place in Phoenix, AZ called Hotel Indigo, which had the 3/4 glass wall and a circle cut in it so you could reach in and turn on the water. It's trendy, sure, but it was a nice aesthetic and didn't make a bigger mess than you'd get from the condensation of a steamy shower.

My family in Germany all have showers with a glass partition that swings over. My partner's family in Ireland have the same thing. As long as the shower head is aimed right, the water doesn't go all over. But the tub did seem deeper than the ones over here, so maybe that's why the water doesn't splash out.

These work - with the correct water pressure / showerhead combination. Unfortunately, the result is more of a gym shower that gets you in and out faster.

Conservation is going to make bathrooms less spa-like in the near future.

Shower curtains are much less likely to have mold if move the curtain to the outside of the tub after your shower. Also make sure the curtain is not hung too low.

It looks like terrible design. I think it would be rather cold too...a shower curtain or shower doors would make a lot more sense.

There are cool versions of both, although, personally I hate shower doors in my house for the following reasons:

1. Shower doors make taking a bath rather claustrophobic
2. I hate cleaning shower doors
3. I have hard water, which means tons of impossible to remove mineral deposits everywhere (see #2)
4. I hate having to squeegee the shower doors after showering (see #3...this practice cuts down on water spots)
5. Shower doors are always falling off the track (or mine are anyway)
6. Shower doors can look really dated, really fast

So, there's my rant on shower doors. Curtains all the way!

Practically every time I've showered in a hotel with a shower curtain, it doesn't tuck into the ends of the shower or tub properly, and a torrent of water ends up pouring all over the floor. I flooded the whole bathroom of a Hyatt years ago with a quickie 5 minute shower.

The hotels probably figure the floods will be no worse with these half screens, and they're cheaper to install and easier to keep clean.

I like them and have no problem keeping the water in the tub... unless a really awesome dance track comes on the radio.

Works great with the rain shower heads. I love mine.

http://kayingleside.com/bath_after.JPG

Glad to see this post as I have been wondering about these shower doors as they never worked for me in hotels.

I recently removed the old shower doors in our bathroom to make it easier to bathe our two infants without trying to reach over or straddle the painful bottom of the doors. I was trying to avoid replacing the doors with shower curtains but these 1/2 doors seemed to be the only affordable other option and maybe I'm just too American but I would need to have a wet-vac in bathroom for one of these to be viable.

I totally agree with Aussiegirl:
- retractable panels, so you cover almost the whole of your bath
- deeper bath
The ones presented here look great, but they aren't practical.

Glass panels may not be design-y, but they are easy to clean and much more hygenic than shower curtains.

I think shower curtains look great, but you can't avoid moss, plus I get entangled in the all the time. I hate having those in hotels, where you can't be sure of who used the shower...

I've always thought these were daft. You can get the same type of look with a large glass shower with on section of wall missing. Of course, you need the space in your bathroom for that and a separate tub. If you have to have this type of wall on your shower/tub combo, some of those super absorbent tiles would help! I took a tipsy bath in a whirlpool tub at a hotel once, during which the water ended up on the floor, and after a few minutes, it was completely dry! The tiles felt soft, like stone coasters.

I don't like shower curtains at all because they easily stick to my body when taking a shower and it's just awkward. Unfortunately, due to piping in the wall we couldn't install the shower screen we used in our previous apartment.

Here's a picture of what we used to have (that's not our bathroom, but the screen is the same): http://wp1115212.wp151.webpack.hosteurope.de/fewosaathoff/pics/badewanne.jpg

It's not "spill proof", but I also didn't flood the entire floor. ;)

I guess that next time we move, I'll be looking for such a screen that covers about 2/3 or 3/4 of the bathtub, but it does need to be foldable, else it's rather impractical.

Note that "spastic" (an individual with cerebral palsy) is one of the most taboo insults to a British ear.

I just learned that in American slang, the term is largely inoffensive, and is generally understood as a casual word for clumsiness.

That would explain why I nearly choked on my cornflakes when reading the word here, yet no commenter has referred to it!

If the water is hitting the back wall or falling past the end of the screen then you have the shower head angled incorrectly - point the shower head downwards more and you should have no problems with these screens - showers are for a quick hop in and hop out - they are not supposed to be steam cabinets!

I'd choose a glass screen any day over a shower curtain that invariably clings to your body - urgh!

In my case, one of these glass screens was the only option as my bathtub was unfortunately placed under a sloping roof! No chance of hanging a shower curtain. It takes some getting used to (I agree with violetsrose... you just have to find out what the correct angle is for your shower head) but I've mastered the art now. That being said, as soon as anyone else uses my shower, it looks like a tsunami hit my bathroom.

I find that if the shower isn't enclosed, it's hard not to get cold while taking a shower. My brother's house has large walk-in showers (like closet sized) with nothing covering the entry door. It wasn't needed to avoid getting the whole bathroom wet, but I was chilly.

And not to be the total grammarian, but that is not a "rotating" piece of glass - it is "rounded." I kept clicking through the images to find the one that moved!

Wow - I'm actually going to convert my cramped and curtain covered bathtub to a shower stall with a sheet of glass.

While I assume there will be more of a draft, I plan to put in a rain shower head so that the water will fall at a better angle - so as to not flood the bathroom. I figure the glass panel will make our small bathroom look bigger and a bit more modern.

As for hard water spots on the glass - a spray bottle of a light vinegar solution is the best remedy for that - and it's GREEN!

I love mine!

This design has been around for about 30 years. I just installed one in my very small bathroom. You need one that pivots to be practical. When you take a bath or turn on the shower intially you just have it open. Much like you would with a shower curtain.

There is no flood, sure a few splashes come out but no more than with a shower curtain that flies up in the air.

It is a great solution for small spaces and it lets more light into the shower area.

I have this with a rainshower head. I have had zero problems. Plus, if you have spent a lot of money and consideration on tile and bath fixtures, why do you want to keep them hidden behind a shower curtain? Let the bling shine through!

@home body -- I understand your confusion -- none of these pictures show that the panel actually pivots on that rod against the wall. But it does. A hotel I stayed in in Paris had this, and my husband and I would swing the glass an inch or two into the tub area to avoid water spillage. It really was annoying.

yes! i stayed in a place in ireland that had one of these stupid things. i could not figure out how to take a shower w/o getting water everywhere! not a fan.

I've never encountered one of these, but brr!, looks chilly to me.

The shower curtains never quite meet at the back of my claw foot tub, and it always lets in a cool draft. I imagine this being positively icy.

@JoJenks: I'd never heard of the British meaning of spastic, but it makes sense (literal spasms), but over here across the pond, it non-pejoratively describes a person who is clumsy because they are moving too quickly.

These are actually pretty much the norm in Ireland - versions of them have been around for maybe 15 or 20 years - and in fact it would be pretty rare to come across a shower curtain here.

That said, we've a shower curtain in our master bathroom, mostly because we needed a quick, cheap fix. While I have yet to see a bath screen I like to replace it, I think that shower curtains are truly awful looking things.

I know I'm in the minority here at apartmenttherapy, but I rather like the more old-fashioned look of shower curtains. The drape makes them look more like a designed piece of the room and less like a display case. I personally never have trouble with mold because I always spread the curtains open after I shower to let them dry, and spray with a method shower spray (and I live in a depression-era house with no ventilation).

Besides, shower curtains are one of those places where you can have a little more fun with your decor, like this at cb2: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=476&f=5444, or the ones in this post: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/towels-bathware/best-shower-curtains-015189

Huh, my sister has one of these in her apartment and it works really well, but I do think it is much longer, like 2/3 of the tub length.

I hate shower curtains. They're just so dirty and I really don't want to touch one that's been in a hotel room. Who knows what's been rubbed against it!

I finally had to join up because I want to see more pictures of JamesinSF's bathroom! James, are you still reading this thread?

We are planning a rehab of our tiny bathroom (with one side a [static, not hinged] glass wall running 2/3 of the shower's length) and I'd love to learn more about the fixtures shown, the shower, and what's going on behind the bathroom door in your beautiful bathroom.

Thanks!

this is the only thing I hate about hotel rooms in Europe

Because I dislike shower curtains I would probably like this. We have wonderful shower doors at home on our rather large shower. I spray them with cleaner after every use and they stay nice and clean. I always wonder about those shower curtains...do they get changed out after each use? How are they cleaned? And, who cleans them?

I have one at home and I love it. MUCH easier to keep clean than a curtain. And I agree with the poster who is iffy about shower curtains in hotels. Ick!

Shower curtains are gross, so I will accept this in a hotel. But a friend of mine has one in her guest shower (which she kindly lets me use when I stay at her beautiful house), but it is annoying at home. Keep it in hotels, spring for a little more glass at home.

These are very common in the UK, I have used them in the houses of family and friends when I've traveled there. I am not a fan. My main objection is temperature--in a cold bathroom, I end up shivering with cold throughout my shower. Yes, they encourage shorter showers, but I've also found myself making the water warmer than I would ordinarily, to make up the difference! I would be fine with one of these in a warm climate, but in a cold climate with little central heating, no thanks.

very common in Europe - shower curtains are gross, hard to clean. this case you just wipe off and thats it. easy to have a bath/shower whichever you decide to have.
will have one myself after the renovation too.

don't understand HOW someone would get water on to the floor... do you take the handheld piece and point it around?

Never thought there would be an issue with something like this. Far more I hate clingy dirty shower curtains in hotels!

Privacy? It's the bathroom! It has a door! If someone is peeing or flossing while you're showering, privacy shouldn't be such an issue...

Weirdest post in a long time.
But always fun to notice, that some things are totally different, depending who you ask. I never even thought of this being an issue of any kind!

I don't understand how people can get cold in a shower - do you all get cold when you're sat in the bath too?? - do you not have heating in your bathrooms?

"I'd never heard of the British meaning of spastic"

see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scope_(charity)

This is a word you would NOT want to use in polite company in the UK.

PS you don't have to buy them off the rack. Call any glass shop and they can have one made to order. I ordered one without the rounded edge.

So far I am totally happy with it. It lets in a lot of light, and as another poster mentioned, my nice fixtures and tiles are front and center instead of a gross shower curtain.

I'm so glad to have found these comments. Our house burned down 2 mos. ago and we're renting a house while we rebuild. Both showers have these useless screens. I'll admit they look good but if you're into cleaning your body, you'll be cleaning the floor right after. They let all the cosy warm steam out and let any breeze in. I def won't have these in our re-built house no matter how cool they appear. They're too cool. Cold.