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"Universal Design" refers to making design choices that enable the use by virtually anyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.  As developed by the Center for Universal Design, there are seven guiding principles.  For a visual display of the seven principles, check out this Pinterest board.

Planning a kitchen for all?

Houzz Contributor Anne-Marie Brunet examines Optimal Space Planning for Universal Design in the Kitchen.  See which layout works best to open your kitchen to all cooks like in this Champaign, Ill. home, right, where both seated and non-seated users find ease of use.

Who says cabinets should be 36 inches high?

Universal design is an answer to the longtime standard building codes. These codes came about after World War II when builders, eager to house newly affluent Americans, used military measurements to standardize housing specs. Only trouble was that military standards measured 18-year-old males -- and, let's face it, most of us aren't 18-year-old males, and our needs aren't being served well by those building standards.

David Hollies sets the record straight in "Universal Design" on the website HomeAdvisor.

Universal Design Living Laboratory

Careful planning creates a virtual learning center for Universal Design in the home of Rosemarie Rossetti. Tour her home for details on products and features that enable two users with very different needs.