This is about single-handle mixers.

Some, like Grohe, KWC, and Hansgrohe, show on their web sites that some of their models have handles that turn forward only.

E.g. Ladylux (Grohe) and the Systema (KWC) models.

When one can rotate the handle 50% / 50% forwards and backwards, this means the handle can be placed in front of the faucet, and then your rotating it to the right or to the left changes water temperature.

Whenever it says "right hand installation only" or something like that, it means the handle turns only forward, not towards the wall. So, if you did install it with the handle placed in front of the faucet, you would change water temperature by rotating it downwards only, on one side only.

Hth.

thank you, let me see if I understand: If I take the Delta Ashton and install the handle to the front I can have it so that it turns only to the right, therefore avoiding the water stream?

Look at the PDF or call, about the handle turn on the Delta Ashton it that is the One you want.

The handle turn is a permanent feature of the faucet, not an option.

At rest, in photos, they always show the handle pointing up.
This doesn't tell you if it turns half back / half front (45 degrees each way), or if it turns only down in front a full 90 degrees.
You have to look for this information in the technical data.

Then, once you have this information, you will know what it will look like if the handle is positioned in front of the faucet. Personally, I don't care if the handle turns only 45 degrees this way and 45 degrees the other way or if it will turn 90 degrees in one direction only. But, they seem to think it matters a lot, so they might write something to say that it is for right-hand installation only when actually it COULD be installed in front and the only consequence is that the temperature turn goes in one direction only.

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but, (good to know in all cases), your hand and arm simply don't end up underneath the water stream because you do not approach your faucet head-on like someone wielding a fencing sword, with the forward arm centered on the axis of approach. Each of your two arms are many inches away from the center line. Reach for the faucet and your arm is not underneath the stream of water. Also, the handle in front is not near the stream; it's a few inches away. In addition to these physical aspects, keep in mind also that a body can get used to anything except a pebble in your shoe. So..... you simply don't end up placing your arm in harm's way, no matter how complicated your angle of approach will be, from the side, or (if an island faucet) from a more obtuse angle.

Clearer?

David, Thank, you are being so helpful!
I called Delta, they said that the handle on the Ashton model can only be turned 45 degrees to the back, and cannot be installed in the front or else the water will not flow correctly... This contradicts what my contractor and mabeldingeldine have done, so I will let my contractor figure it out... Also, I do not think I will have problems swapping faucets after the template, since it is a standard faucet requiring a 2 1/4 " hole in the granite, what do you think? Thanks again!

"... a standard faucet requiring a _____" hole in the granite, what do you think? "
I think you better know the hole size before letting anyone drill.

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"... cannot be installed in the front or else the water will not flow correctly..."
I think a call back will help figure out which aspect (if any at all) will be affected.
E.g. does the hose guide pipe rotate 360 degrees?

Hi KD,

We are both right handed in my house, so we generally reach with the right hand the faucet. Sometimes if the water is running, you need to take care to avoid it, but it hasn't been a problem for us. If you look at the Delta photo of the Ashton you see it was designed to have the handle on the right over the sink deck. We turned it just a smidge so the handle protruded over the sink. We have had no problems at all with water flow.

We did switch the hot and cold water lines as the way Delta has them arranged seemed counterintuitive to us even before we moved the faucet. DH just used a dab of silver paint in the hot/cold indicators to hide the red/blue dots, and we haven't had any problems or complaints from anyone visiting about being confused about hot versus cold. Prolly we won't even bother to paint them to reflect the change although we had planned to.

I hope this answers your questions. To reiterate, we have had no issues whatsoever with the faucet despite it being installed in that offset manner. I have since had the opportunity to use a pullout faucet and this reinforced that I made the right decision with my pulldown. Even though the pullout I liked was gorgeous. Sniff.

David and Mabel, thank you very much for all your help. We saw the contractor today and he said we have enough room in our backsplash to accomodate the handle in case we do not want to adjust the angle. This is good news, I love the Delta Ashton pulldown. Any tips on where to get a matching faucet for the filtered water? The finish of the Ashton is Brilliance Stainless finish. thank you very much.