shower head on one side / controls on other?

Strange.

Great. Yet one more thing for Aboutready to sue over.

With a thermostatic valve, you don't really ever change the temperature. You set the knob for that and leave it. The valves you turn each day adjust pressure (on/off/and in-between). I think it sounds interesting if it allows you to turn on the water without it hitting you in the head at the same time. No real downside if the plumber and designer/architect and contractor agree it'll work functionally and aesthetically.

I have a showerhead in the center of the ceiling of the shower and the controls on the wall adjacent to the entry door to the shower. Turn it on, wait to get hot, step in. If you have the ability to do it (and it doesn't look stupid), then go for it.

The only time I've had a problem was at a hotel where I had to keep messing with the temperature to get it just right -- the lag between changing the valve and the water coming out of the showerhead was longer than usual. Shouldn't be an issue for a residence though, since presumably you'll want the same temperature every day.

I actually love it and wanted to do it (I go to a gym where the shower rooms are set up as such; brilliant concept as flarf said - turn it on, wait to get hot, step in. ). The plumber dis-suaded me, saying it will cost more.

Just did it in my apartment. I dont see any reasons not to. Although i noticed some reluctancy from my plumber. I had to force his hands a little bit. Not quite sure why. Didnt cost more to do it. I would definitely recommend it.

Thanks, everyone. Sounds like it would be cool thing to do. (Kylewest, it was the architect who suggested it, so I can only hope his team would be up for it.)

If the shower head is being installed on the ceiling, & water temperature is a concern - the best course of action would be to eliminate connection to a water supply line altogether.

Instead, opt for the "dry" shower method, 1st introduced in Europe in the 1940s & met with limited success.

It utilized crystalline pellets of some sort, which were poured through an opening above the shower head. Cleanliness was achieved almost instantaneously.

For reasons still not quite clear, it never caught on stateside...

Can be frustrating if you don't have the right showerhead style.

In my apartment on 9th Street I had the first shower head on the short wall and a second handheld shower head along with the controls on the adjoining long wall.