It sounds like you want to have a custom shower system with both a hand shower and a showerhead. This is very do-able. Typically I would recommend you stick with the same brand, mainly because then you know the finish will match perfectly. Especially with finishes in the oil rubbed bronze category, you will find great differences between various manufacturers and it might look strange if the finish is not exactly the same. In the case of chrome finish, you may find there is almost no difference between companies. In that case there is no reason you couldn't have a hand shower made by one company, and a showerhead made by the other. You still need to do some other planning as to how your shower system will be configured. Perhaps this article we wrote about the topic will be of help. Delta Shower Systems Example of a custom shower system with hand shower and showerhead

Creative Tile, I also have heard good things.....my plan has totally changed, you can search my name and find my design thread. I'm now doing a 48" neo angle. I want to go USG because they make the custom pan with the drain where I want it, and trimming these pans will obviously create some strange aesthetics at change of plane w/ wall. Problem is, no one wants to sell me one! Here in NJ, only distributor within 90 minutes are HD stores. I call them, and they don't know the custom pan exists. Local tile guy has Wedi, but very pricey, and it doesn't seem ideal for a neoangle curb, also no custom pan. I'm assuming you may have a connection with someone who will sell me one? Online USG email support for neo angle sent me back to uninformed home depot, and a general instruction which doesn't address how to wrap the 135 deg. angle. I'm going to call them one last time, if not I'll take my chances with kerdi membrane with a mud deck. 1 question on the USG product...if i go with the new ultralight foam, does it require full membrane, or just the seams? If it requires full membrane, should I just use fiberrock as it will probably be much cheaper? Any ideas how to do the 135 neoangle curb, I'm probably just going to borrow kerdi methods over at johnbridge, and use the sealant for any questionable corners . Thanks so much for your help!

I keep revisiting this thread, hoping for a Sign. :) Is it ever acceptable to use a shower pan and create a tile threshold over it, thereby making it higher? As for cleaning the nonskid elements of a shower or tub. I have some wonderful nonskid strips in my otherwise very slippery acrylic tub where I take my showers. Yes, they pick up and hold grime a little too well and you can't just go gangbusters cleaning acrylic. The other day I used some Softscrub and a curved nail brush that fits around a couple of fingers. With very little elbow grease ALL the grime was removed and the shape of the nail brush is very ergonomic.

gee, if you are planning to sell in the next few years and if it is the only tub or bath I would probably keep a tub/shower combo even though you would most likely sell to someone without kids, many people do love baths. If resale is not in the future do what works for you. No tub and glassed shower or wet room will feel much larger. My in laws in the UK just replaced their only tub with a walk in shower and will let the possible future buyers change it if need be. I just added a master bath and chose closet space and nice large shower instead of doing tub and smaller separate shower and have no regrets but we have a hall shower/bath combo.