Enduring: we are preparing to do the same thing as you. I bought a Hansgrohe setup from Build.com.
I bought a fixed shower head as well as the bar with sliding handheld. When I read your post I wondered if you only have one or the other but not both? I guess I'll watch your thread and see if I can find some ideas, too!

(Speaking of the plumbing: the thingee with all the valves and whatever the H that all is in there, when I showed it to DH after a long day of demolition, he stared at it for a minute, cracked open a beer and said "I don't know what that is and I can't learn right now." It is kinda complicated looking :)

I can't post much now due to limited time, so for now I'll refer you to this thread.

It a general overview.

The issue you have is that with Hansgrohe everything is pretty much single-function. Just a temp control. Just a volume control. It's the multiple trim packages that kill you $$$.

I'll try to write more later.

That is some post, I will have to read it in just a minute;)

To OP: hope you don't mind that I jump in your thread with questions. Maybe my questions will help you, too.

Really good info in the replies! I didn't see this addressed so I'll ask again, do you only have the handheld on the slide bar OR a fixed shower head and not both?

Thanks

Thanks Mongoct! I will be taking a look at your post. I like all the images you supplied. I really like the looks of the Montreux. My "little bathroom" is the room that I am looking for info on wall shower build. I don't know if the Montreux style is a little fussy for cleaning and I may go really streamline for ease of cleaning. This "little bathroom" will be our work horse in regards to the shower. The "big bathroom" with the tub only and handshower, is the BR that will have the wall mount tub filler that I posted earlier. This "big bathroom" is used mostly for everything but bathing. BUT, I love the size and want to make this "big bathroom" my spa/retreat area. It is the more public of our BR and I like the idea of making it look lovely.

Deedles, What I want for my "little bathroom" is a wall bar with shower head that can be lifted and used to spray down the shower walls. I don't want an additional shower coming out of the wall. I have not decided yet if I will replace the tub and need a tub filler too, or just the shower business without the tub.

My "big bathroom" will have a tub only and I have the wall mounted Hansgrohe Axor Montreux style tub filler with handheld shower head that rest on a cradle above the tub spout as in my posted picture above. The tub/shower diverter is incorporated into the fixture as is the mixer because it is a bridge style. I haven't read Mongoct's total info yet but I think I need to get a gizmo for behind the wall for the temp balance.

bump

I pieced together wall shower systems for several of my bathrooms. i did this so i could have a handheld showerhead rather than a fixed showerhead for my tub and also so I can buy low flow showerheads to pass inspection that might be easy to change out later if they end up not being good. I did regular hansgrohe for my master, but ended up changing out the shower slide bar to jaclo because the hansgrohe slidebar had a lot of plastic parts (i think axor will be nicer though). one good thing about the regular hansgrohe line is that there is a universal thermostatic valve called the ibox that works with a number of different styles of trims and configurations (i think up to 4 ports, though i only am using up 2 of them). it makes it very easy to put things together.

on other brands, i was quite happy with the quality from grohe, which also has some clean, modern looks, and is quite easy to put together because there is a large selection of trims to work with its control valves also. you might also want to look at jado or cifial. for the showerheads, i like the offerings from the speakman eco line and hansgrohe which offers some showerheads that inject air to give the feeling of stronger pressure while still conserving water.