Left-Handed or Right-Handed Design in Your New House?

Whenever we sit down with a client, we ask them if they are right-handed or left-handed.  A quizzical stare is the typical response.  When we explain, it becomes clear to the client why we asked this question during planning.

There are many aspects of home’s design that should take into account the particulars of being right or left-handed.  These are just a few:

• When you walk into a room, how do you want the door to swing? Which hand do you normally grab the door knob with?
• How do you cook in the kitchen and how do you access your kitchen cabinets? The swing of each cabinet door will be affected by whether you are right or left-handed.
• If you have a framed opening into a room and want to place the room’s light switches,  we will want to know which hand you use.
• What direction should the sliding patio door slide?  Again, if you are left-handed it will slide to your left. If you are right-handed, it should slide to the right.

If you are a lefty like me,  then you likely find many tools and utensils are designed for a right-handed person— Lefties have to adapt and adjust.  So, when you are looking to build a new house, you should consider how you use all the rooms, doors, cabinets, and switches. Your builder must consider how many components in a house are affected by whether you are right or left-handed.

 

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