Kris recently asked, “We may need to install a tub/shower door due to the fabulous water pressure in the shower. is it possible to find a shower door that will complement the style and not look like an 80’s redo?” My thoughts:
First of all, you could find something vintage, preferably a door that included an etching of a naked woman, as above. I can’t remember where I got the photo, oopsy.
Note, though: Old shower doors may not be tempered glass, which means if you crash through them you could really seriously hurt yourself *another concern for owners of vintage home to be aware of.* Consult with your own properly licensed professional to assess what you have so that you can make informed decisions.
Some examples of vintage shower doors:
Above: A shower door with deer etched into it, like Amy’s 1953 Portland time capsule house.
…Fishes swimming in the sea, as in Shelly’s gray bathroom.
…Herons or cranes or egrets or whatever they are, as weed30 spotted in a time capsule house and posted on the Forum.
And ooh la la, this is a fine specimen — spotted over on Retro Ruth’s blog, NoPatternRequired. But warning: Don’t go look if you get upset by the house-flippers of old. This shower door got gutted for, big gulp now, large slabs of beige travertine or travertine knock-off yadda yadda yadda.
Or a vintage accordian-style shower door, like the one that Mary Deluxe spotted in a time capsule house…
Carrie has one of these folding shower doors, too.
Here’s another style of vintage shower door — notable for the chrome or steel or whatever metal that is triple-bar-thingie at the top. This is Randy’s Mermador shower door, and I think it must have been very high-end:
Here’s another lovely prewar (most likely) shower door that a reader spotted at Seattle’s Second Use. You know that post yesterday about the Streamline Moderne time capsule house? This is the kind of shower door you’d find in that sort of interior. This heavy, shiny metal framing is a moderne legacy.
Yet, the look continued on for a while. I captured this photo at an estate sale in Pittsfield — for a 1964 blue bathroom decked out with all kinds of Hall-Mack and Nutone accessories. It was a beauty!
I even go nuts for little things like the handles. And oh, the fluted (I think you call it… or reeded) glass.
Beyond naked vintage, For shower doors, I tend to recommend a simple, metal framed door with simple wavy ripple glass. You can get a peek at what I’m talkin’ about in this video about my blue bathroom renovation.
Metal, as in: Satin finish nickel in the above photo is from Basco. Ix-nay on the antique pewter, bronze, burnished copper, wrought iron, oil rubbed bronze etc. etc. that more rightly belong in contemporary homes.
Similarly, I went with the very simple “obscure” glass for the two showers in the bathrooms that I renovated. One of the good things about mid century bathrooms is that if you go with “period”, these simple finishes also tend to be the least expensive. Let other elements of your bathroom decor do the talking. Unless you can get naked ladies, of course.
Where to get a shower door? I went to my local glass and shower door shop — local guy, he could show me all the samples, he came to measure, and then installed. At the same time, I also had him install one of my mirrors. He was great.
Gavin Hastings says
Years ago I stayed at a home that had a swing out shower door. Every time I opened it after a shower; that little metal channel at the bottom of the door dribbled an arc of water across the bathroom floor. Enough that you had to mop it up.
Is this the way these units normally work?
Mark says
Yep, that is how the one I had worked. Water on the floor every single shower.
Stayed with friends once that had the accordion style, I got trapped in the shower when it wouldn’t open!
pam kueber says
jeesh, when did bathing get so perilous!
pam kueber says
I noted in the original post that tempered glass vs. non tempered glass is another issue for homeowners to get informed about. Consult with professionals – get your tested, etc. – so that you can make an informed decision…
sputnikhousewares says
I totally agree. I never would have thought of it until my husband crashed through our old one. Huge jagged shards of glass everywhere and he could have been seriously hurt or worse. He still has scars..yikes.
Melissa says
We have a naked lady shower door here. 🙂 My grandpa installed it, but my grandma never changed it out, so…
pam kueber says
go, grandpa!
MrsPitcher says
Apparently Grandma had good taste!
Eartha Kitsch says
Gasp! Those deer doors! Wow…….
We decided to go with just a curtain because I get cranky cleaning shower doors and tracks. But, I’d change my mind if I came across those deer doors. : )
Rebecca - Madison WI says
Howdy,
Pam, I think you did a post a while back on someone that used some sort of spray paint to mimic the etched look by using the paint and stencils. I can’t recall what the spray paint was but I know I have see it at Home Depot. It seemed like they might have used it for a vanity but again I am a little foggy.
Great shower doors, just love the fishes one.
Annie B. says
These are fabulous, Pam. Thanks for posting.
I have a rippley glass sliding shower enclosure, sadly without cool ornamentation, which has suffered years of abuse from hard water lime deposits.
The usual treatments for removal have been tried without success. Do you have any ideas for brightening up my shower doors as I definitely do not want to replace them?
Thanks for your thoughts.
pam kueber says
I don’t know this one, Annie B. It will go on my list, but I don’t know when I will get to it. Readers….. ideas?
MikeD says
Good topic. I recently spent hours trying to decide what to do for a shower door in my ongoing pink bath re-do. The one I took out was gold and heavily corroded.
I ended up coming across the Basco Shower door company that Pam listed above, and purchased through http://www.theshowerdoorstore.com who was pretty good place to deal with. Went with their 510 series in “silver/chrome” finish. Thought it was a good basic door that although would not be a “wow” factor. would work with the 50’s style look.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/I30tmiked/showerdoor.jpg
Went with the clear glass. I have to re-tile inside the shower (one whole wall needs replaced and have not been able to find matching pink tiles) so my thought was do do some really cool tile work in the shower and the clear door will let it be shown off. This bath also rarely gets used for showering so the shower is more of a visual aspect than a used one.
pam kueber says
It looks like you have a gorgeous bathroom, MikeD! The shower door looks great!
MikeD says
You should know, I think I have spammed you with dozens of pics of our bath re-do in progress lol
MikeD aka Mike and Lindsey
pam kueber says
okay 🙂 thanks for the warning!
Guy H. says
I love the naked lady shower door!
I never put any thought into shower doors… so many ideas. That is what I love about this site!
I have a bathroom that is showing it’s age. I was planning on a faithful recreation (with new parts) but perhaps I should add an etched door!
Carolene says
I would buy a plain, new glass door, choose a retro stencil design I liked and apply an etching product from the craft stores. Inexpensive and safe as well.
Pat says
Some beautiful bathrooms! Non-tempered glass is pretty scary, especially if children or elderly (ourselves eventually?) will be using the shower.
Rebecca Prichard says
Non-tempered glass is dangerous. If anyone falls into it, it’s BAD. 🙁
Richard says
Non-tempered glass is not just scary it is a big time violation of building code. If someone ever gets hurt and you are sued you will loose everything. If a glass company even sells glass for this project they are morons.