Yes, there are many of us with this issue. My old laundry center was in the kitchen in a closet with a bifold door. The new FL set would not fit behind the doors so I took them off altogether. The machines don't stick out of the closet, just past the doors. They look better than the doors, too, so it worked out fine. Some people move the doors if they can, use a curtain, or, like me, leave the machines in the open.

One of the areas that will need attention if you want it to work properly is your venting from the dryer. Basements seem to have high walls and kinks and long runs to exhaust the dryer. Most of todays dryers need almost direct out side discharge to work properly. Solid venting is the right way to go, not the white plastic flexible stuff. Every 90 degrees elbow, cuts your air flow down 15%. brenton

I've never seen a DW under the sink. Where do the pipes go? I really like the idea of putting it to the left though, it would be less noticeable there. I wouldn't get a panel (not with my lower-end cabs) anyway. My DH said, "Why do you want to hide the fact that we own a dishwasher, is it embarrassing?" One of those things, where, If you don't get it, you don't get it! I am unsure about the vintage sink. I've been looking for one for ages but they all need reglazing. The salvage store sells them reglazed, but I've heard it doesn't hold up. Also, I measured, like Francy suggested, and realized that if all three walls are "fitted" the sink area will be less than 55" and I like counterspace next to the sink. I am not opposed to the undermount sinks (That have no lip?, am I using the right term?) I think they may make clean-up easier? I have seen some pics on here: wilsonb, klb 2000, and vjrnts - they have great vintage-style kitchens with undermounts and soapstone counters. I'll have many questions to ask about maintenance - I probably should start another thread for that. I want to thank all of you for giving me so much attention - I'm not used to it :) Most people I know have new houses. Even those I know in my part of town (the historic part) have brand-new kitchens. Dh is only interested in cost and maintainability. It's great to find people who speak your language!

Well, blow me down, I just checked and there IS a bubble thing only on the washer door!!!! Who knew?!!! (ok, so you did!!! :) I think I may be the only one in the world who doesn't use a basket to unload the dryer. I pile it up in my arms and then shot put it onto the counter (which is why I'm thinking having the counter closer works better than the sink, for me. Actually, if I can get around the open dryer door, it's closer to get to the counter from the dryer if it's on the right side too. If not, I'll use a nifty cart that I learned about on here. I don't use a basket because I have a bad back and don't want to bend down to pick it up.. the w/d will be as high as possible. Now I just need to make sure if the dryer is moved to the right that it isn't too far for venting. The vent is going to be coming out of the top left of the closet (it can get through the left side of the laundry room because there is a barn door covering that whole wall. So close but yet so far!!!