UNIVERSAL DESIGN GETTING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE KITCHEN.

Byline: Gary Krino Orange County Register

People come in all shapes, sizes and abilities. Now, thanks to an emerging trend called universal design, so do their kitchens. Kitchen designers are adapting kitchens, tailor-making them for the changing American family, which includes graying baby boomers, more single-parent households and growing extended families that might include members with physical disabilities.

Following are ways universal design can make your kitchen all-inclusive and less labor-intensive without skimping on style.

Multitiered islands and countertops make work comfortable and within reach, no matter the user's size or ability.

Added knee space underneath work stations - counters, island, sink, stove - better accommodates users who must sit on a chair or in a wheelchair.

Staggered cabinet heights ensure storage is within reach for a variety of users.

Pull-out shelves near ovens and microwaves make the removal of hot foods safer.

Dishwashers raised about a foot off the floor minimize stress on bad backs.

Rolling carts help move things around the kitchen - whether you're holding an infant, carrying groceries or seated in a wheelchair.

The geometry of vinyl: Armstrong's new VIOS collection of sheet vinyl floor coverings is more than something to slap on the floor. The collection, which comes in a wide range of coordinating colors, allows you or your designer to put together a design suited to your needs.

Patterns are based primarily on geometric shapes, including checkerboards, borders, triangles and stripes. Installation is not a do-it-yourself deal. Have a professional handle that step.

Suggested retail: $39 per square yard. For more information and a dealers list, call [phone].

Do-it-yourself decor: Put together a painted canvas floor cloth or sisal rug. Theme a child's bedroom in zippy red, blue and green primary colors. Turn the plain top of an end table or coffee table into a game table. Give kitchen chairs fresh color by painting them in complementary colors.

Those are some of the projects included in ``Decorating With Color,'' a booklet of do-it-yourself decorating ideas and instructions from Krylon Living Color, a leader in latex enamel spray paint.