Help fixing previous homeowners weird shower set up.
The previous home owner did some horrible DIY work on the only bathroom of my 100-year old house. He built a tile surround of the cast iron tub and installed a shower tower. The hole is the original drain mechanism. He mounted the pipes vertically, which makes all the out-of-the-box solutions I see to convert cast iron tubs to showers impractical. Also the pipes are less than inch from the wall and 3.5 inches apart (from their center).
I am recaulking the bath area and looking to replace the existing shower tower which is no longer operating properly. I am not a huge fan of the shower tower as it is hard to keep clean behind/under and doesn't let me fill the tub.
Unfortunately, my budget it tight, so I'm looking for an out-of-the-box solution or something I can DIY for the time being instead of taking up the tile.
I have a sinking feeling that the best solution will be a DIY exposed pipe situation with separate hot and cold water valves. I don't mind a vintage look as long as it's easy to clean and secure. Any advice and terminology help would be helpful.