An additional first floor bedroom can be designed to accommodate guests or double as a home office. Compartmentalized baths can be used by more than one person. In comparison to most of the fixed features of the past, this design relies on adjustability to accommodate the widest range of users. Height-adjustable counter tops are used in the kitchen and bathrooms. Rotating and adjustable height shelves maximize storage.
Toilets have height adjustable seats.
All of the illustrated features are technically possible now, although some are not widely available. One obvious element of the Next Generation Universal Home is its upper floor. This may run counter to many people's notion of what is a universally designed home. However, two-story homes will continue to be built because of the savings in construction costs. The Next Generation Universal Home provides several invisible options for efficient and cost saving modifications to gain access to the second story.