You might see our discussion regarding the Speed Queen unit at the end of the thread further down the forum entitled Stackable Washers & Dryers. The SQ footprint is just 27" x 28" and it holds a lot of laundry, and frees up space in a very functional way. But what you might really like is an English-style drying rack. You can also order the real deal from the UK but it runs, IIRC, around $250. A better option is the Lofti, see link.

There is also a gal on Etsy who custom makes beadboard drying racks to fit your space and color scheme -- like the popular ones at Ballard.com. And the wall mounted white fold away racks are much loved in Europe. I played a bit with one at Organized Living the other day and found the pulling out a bit rough, but they hold a lot of wet laundry.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lofti on Amazon

BTW, my laundry makes yours look like the Taj Mahal. ;-). If it were me -- and I know my tastes aren't everyone's -- I would stack that WD where you have the sink, and run an L-shaped counter around the rest of the room. The SQ won't come out too much more than the sink, and even a conventional set of FLs would at least be hidden by the turn of the wall. If this is new construction, I'd install a dryer vent box in the wall so the thing can slip in tighter, and a plumbing access panel behind. And I'd put my sink in front of the window with a pair of custom beadboard racks left and right, and maybe even put a super-susan cabinet in that corner if there's space for a 36".

Unless that is a water heater peeking out at the top of your drawing? Then I'd do something a tad different.

Hope that gives food for thought. Good luck.

I have not tried the lofti, but it looks like the right idea,-extra drying racks-on demand, there are many there are similar systems, you should spend some time looking at them. Also if you have a lot of sweaters you may want to incorporate some pull out horizontal drying racks so that you can lay the sweater down and block it. If you are currently using standalone drying racks, you may want to incorporate space to properly store them in this room. If you are going to use front load machines I recommend that you bring them to a comfortable loading height for you and that you keep them side-by-side. To me it would make more sense to put the washer dryer on the sink wall and move the sink to the window wall that way you could have a large counter top under the window, easily access and open the window (you will probably not be able to lean across today's large size machines and open the window) also things hanging in front of an open window may dry faster. You may want to get a sink cover so that the entire space can become a countertop when you need it. You may also want to have four baskets under the sink: whites, colors, darks and special needs. Moving the dryer away from the outside wall may cause a venting issue that will have to be thought through. This is really a nice size laundry room. It should help make the task more enjoyable...where will you do your ironing? If in here you need to determine where you are going to store the board and iron. You may want to increase the depth of the sliding door and store the iron and board on the back of the door.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pullout dryer

Thank you guys, so much. It's funny that you suggest the room is ok in size. I thought it would be a reasonable space, considering we're getting the bonus of moving up to the second floor. however, our architect made me feel almost embarrassed by it - his original plan had us demo-ing the existing bathroom that adjoins the space, so that we could take some of the bathroom space for the laundry. he repeatedly told me that it was much too small to be functional. he loved to tell me i would be much happier with a "more graciously spaced laundry room."

anyway, the W and D are already locked and loaded - the electrolux FLs. think they're the 60s series, if i'm not mistaken. Architect had originally put them on the wall where the sink is in the first plan. but it seemed like we lost all space that way, so i had him move them.

do you think this layout is more functional than than the one posted above?

{{gwi:2135687}}

with regard to the pull out system linked above, does anyone know if they are actually strong enough to hold a sweater? I like the idea of the pull out. and also the lofti...hmmm...

many thanks

Sweater drying racks can be plastic and easily stored or built in like the picture below which would be quite sturdy. Wherever or however you choose to install the washer dryer just make sure that you can open the window and the door comfortably. The point of the pulldown lofti and pull out polder is that they can be pushed up and out of the way when you don't need them, an important consideration given the space constraints in this room.

I too would like a graciously apppointed laundry room, or better yet a maid, but what you have there is a lot more than most of us have, enjoy it!

I would put the washer next to the sink and the hanging space between the washer and dryer front of the window. Better working arrangement IMO. I have hanging space in my mudroom that also serves as a coat rack. I need full-legnth for certain clothes.

Choose which washer you want to use before setting up the plumbing, electrical, and exhaust. Many front-load washers have doors that are permanently hinged on the left, with the handle on right, which would make your arrangement work better if the washer and dryer were swapped. Some washers do have doors hinged on the right, and a few have reversible doors. Most (but not all) dryers have reversible doors.

I'd consider 24" rather than 27" machines if your house is smaller.

The 2nd setup looks better. I would want an actual laundry tub myself - you know, the old-fashioned deep ones, with the washer drain line hooked over the side. I hate those tiny little boxes they want to put the drain lines in these days.

Shelves mounted over the W/D are incredibly useful, as far as I'm concerned. I like having the laundry soap and etc right at hand. And by "shelves" I mean shelves, not cabinets. Doors just get in the way.

Our laundry room is basically a tiny little "air lock" between the garage and the rest of the house. For some insane reason, they put all the shelves (cabinets, actually) on one side and the actual W/D on the other side. There is just barely room between to walk through from the garage to the rest of the house.

They mounted a swinging door so that when the door is open, you have no access to the cabinets or (tiny) workspace which is now being blocked by the door. And if you CLOSE the door and try to use that as a workspace, now you are at high risk for getting whacked by the door when someone wants to come through.

So all the space on that wall is wasted space. The cabinets/pantry are inconvenient, the counter space is only a couple feet wide, and there are no shelves mounted where they would be the most use - which is over the W/D, not behind the door on the other wall.

Furthermore, there is no space to iron in there even if I were willing to risk door-whackage, because that space is blocked by pantry and cabinets. There is also an inaccessible outlet behind the dryer. I have no idea why that is even there.

At the very least they should have put in a pocket door rather than a hinged door there if they were going to insist on doing it that way. Technically the space is around 6.5x8.5 - ish, but for all practical purposes, the only usable space is just where the W/D sit and it might as well have been set up as an actual closet with bifold doors.

I've decided the vast majority of architects are morons. At the very least, they're not exactly Frank Lloyd Wright, LOL!

so, i've confirmed that our washer and dryer (electrolux) are stackable

with that in mind, would you guys help me figure out best options? do you think i should stack in one corner and the sink right next to it and create shelf space around?

thanks!

I would not want to haul laundry out of the dryer, and move it past the sink to fold it. I would like the counter space nearest the dryer for folding, I think.

You might have to buy an Elux stacking kit for your W/D. Others who have done it will know what is required.

Enjoy your new laundry. I think it will be very nice.

You can put the sink next to it...and you can also put a removable hard cover over the sink so that you have more of a folding surface.