Marthaelena I tried to post to you yesterday, but didnt realize after I posted to Anne that I couldnt post again, so here were some answers to your previous post The sketches were done in paint and I really had no clue how to draw it out so it definitely is not done to scale. I was just trying to capture the idea of what I was thinking of. I did measure the bathroom and know I needed to keep it at least 5' so wasn't sure if that would work without taking more space out of the office because I'll need some sort of hallway there. Would love to see what you sketched if you can post it. I posted our plan. If you were referring to the space where Anne mentioned the closet should go, it is a hallway. I'm not sure I would like the closet out in the hallway. Id like to keep that in the mudroom to have access to it without having to track stuff in the hallway. Now, I cant describe how thankful I am that you were able to capture what I want. Thank You!! Love your new design (and so does my husband). It captures everything I wanted and I think probably the only thing that will really work there giving the size. I do wish and agree that my laundry room could be longer (or wider), but wider wont work if I keep the mudroom bench (which I want). Not sure how much more I can take out of the office without it looking odd and would it be odd to have your laundry room across the whole front of your house? I would prefer not to, but I didnt want a formal dining or living room because I knew wed never use it, so that is how we filled in that spot. I just didnt want to come in the front door and be right in our great room. I wanted a foyer. Not sure what other design would look good unless I extended the laundry room and made a closet on the other side by the foyer (take out the current closet at the foyer) and make the front half of the room an office. Since you moved the garage door down some is there room to put a small shelf there for things to drop off/pick up etc when going out the door or for charging cell phones, etc.? Or maybe I could put it at the end of my bench. I will leave the wall up by the basement. I think it looks nicer too. Anne (or marthaelena see notes below) Thanks for looking over the plan and for the reminder about the plumbing dryer duct. Ill make note to remember that (which is why I should increase the space a little). My girlfriends builder didnt think of that and her LR is only 5 and it is pulled out away from her wall so you can barely get in from the garage. I did not like a 20 inch door on the toilet area of the master bathroom, but wasnt sure what else to do there. We wanted a larger shower, which is now too big IMO, but not sure how else to rearrange the bathroom to get the most use out of our space. I wanted a larger closet. We originally had a closet where the pantry is, but took that away so I could have a walk in pantry. Maybe since the kitchen is so big we could move the pantry back into the kitchen. I didnt like the fact that I had to walk around the sink area and past the master bedroom to get to it, but again, not sure what else to do there. Any suggestions/drawings on those two areas? The draftsmen told us he left the shower and toilet area the way it was because of the angle together. Anne would still love to see your drawing of the 1st option you suggested. Not sure if that would give me more or less room. Can you post or email to me at cmill1if@gmail.com Any other suggestions/change to the plan? Our outside has double gables over the garage and double gables over the front bedroom with stone and hardiplank mix.

Thanks, everyone! This is SO helpful! So, for using the baskets" ours is more of a "laundry traffic management" system. We each have our own (they are actually Bungalow Scout Junque Trunques - pretty huge!) - so Mom, Dad, Daughter #1 and Daughter #2 each have their own spot for laundry. We don't actively keep dirties there or sort with them, everyone keeps their dirty laundry in a hamper in their room and then it comes down to get done. Then when dry, it goes in their own basket, they take their basket to put the laundry away and the basket comes back to the laundry room home base. That's why the kind that sits in a pull-out drawer, or even the rolling wouldn't be as ideal (we have a three-story house so the laundry is traveling all over. rococogurl, can you send me a link or take pic of those baskets though? I'd love to see what those look like - and it certainly saves me on base cabinets since I don't have those?!) That SAID, I am now thinking that since Ikea has those handy cabinets with pull outs that are pretty reasonable, maybe I'll build in two of those for towels and sheets? A big hamper for those would be fabulous and they never fit in our "personal" baskets. Knowing that, what do you think in terms of where the baskets live? That's sort of why I'm focused on the folding, packing in basket, and returning, process. In terms of using a sink, we've had laundry upstairs for 12 years and the ONLY time I've soaked something is when my husband washed whites with a red sock and i was trying to white vinegar out the pink. So, wouldn't say we are big "hand washing people." It's more to have the option - and to have a place to wash your hands which I do want b/c of sticky soap, lint, etc. So, in light of that, thoughts on the sink? The think about our corner is that unless I put a giant lazy susan, it is a dead corner because of the window, so it's sort of why I considered that option? The idea of it by the big utility cabinet is interesting too through (again, rococogurl - thx) - it leaves me the MOST countertop space in one swoop. And, the big utility cabinet is actually for the mop, swiffer, vacuum, etc so there could be some value to it being there? rococogurl, any chance you could take some photos of your laundry room (I won't judge - it's about function!) The washer and dryer are going to be on a platform and then on a pedastal - I just couldn't do that in the IKEA rendering. I'm 5' 11" and my hubby is 6' 2 and our daughters are already tall, so the higher the better! I'm ok not having counter there as a sacrifice for not breaking my back. The only thing that occurred to me after is that I could have run a counter along the wall to the LEFT of the washer - that would have been handy, even if it was just width of a basket b/c I could have set something there and it's sort of dead space now. Hmmmm... I think the plumbing is already in though for the washer, does it need to be right behind it? mydreamhome, if I go corner, what brand is that? it does look like a nice size? Last question to toss out there, I've been struggling wth what countertop material. My contractor has a slab of soapstone that is pretty and could be used for a really good good price. I know soapstone is soft but I guess what I"m thinking of is making it a very CLASSIC laundry room - white subway, simplicity? My house is a 1917 Colonial, so while having a laundry room on the 2nd floor like this is out of period, soapstone is not?! Even if it gets marked up and "loved" over the years? Thoughts? THANK YOU to all of you - I have no one here to help me. No designer and my contractor just executes. My husband has a mantra: "I care deeply but have no preference." So, I really appreciate your thoughts! Alexa

I like Rococogurls suggestions. There could be an island in the center for crafts, sewing, etc. too. Though, that may not suit your needs. The kitchen though, have you considered having the kitchen forum look at your plan. There are some real experts over there. The reason, is that I see some things that look like they might need rearranging for more efficiency. I am not a kitchen layout expert, but over on the kitchen forum there are experts, and very kind and helpful experts. For instance the location of the stove, between the sink and the frig, is possibly awkward. Back to the laundry room. You'll need room to store supplies, and more. You will need hanging space to dry items. You'll need a counter for folding. You'll need easy access for the dryer vent to clean periodically. You'll need access to quick shut off of water in case of leaks, or when leaving for vacation. Any cabinetry at the machine area, needs to allow for machine maintenance and pulling out the units for repairs. It looks like your current plan locates the set against an interior wall. How will the dryer be vented? It would be better to locate the dryer against an exterior wall for the shorted ducting you can get. Dryer vent spec installation varies between brands. The manual will spec length of run that is desired. If it is too long of a run, then an inline exhaust dryer fan is recommended, I believe. When there is a 90degree bend, that = 5' of your allowed run. So you can't put in very many elbows before you use up all your length. My machine is 8' away from my exterior wall over the basement, where the duct runs between the joist. Because of all the bends to get it 4' down into the floor, then out the exterior wall 8' away, I used up 33' feet in the equation. The vent on the outside of the wall = 10' of ducting I believe. I could be off on some of these numbers, but it needs to be considered when locating a dryer. Depending on your exterior, you could put them under the window in the upper right 45 degree angled wall. But you don't want the dryer vented onto a gathering area, like a patio, cause lint will blow out. It's best to have the front loaders against a load bearing wall too. When machines are placed on joist flooring system, they need to be near the end of the joist. Otherwise there is tendency to bounce the floor. Unless you are on a slab of concrete, that is ideal, and the machines can go anywhere. The machines need to be able to be absolutely level once installed.

Jody my husband hoards also in the sheds..if something like a toaster breaks he cuts the cord off ...says he can use it on something else..but never has. My laundry detergent closet used to be his...it was full of polyester clothes of his from the 70's..remember the leisure suits? He had one that was red, white& blue stripes..I kid you not..and shoes with huge buckles including...wait for it....blue suade shoes..haha. I bagged it all up in heavy duty black bags when he was at work. .than I had him load the van up and take it to the thrift store... he had no idea it was his old clothes. after he mentally adjusted to his great loss he put shelves in the closet for my detergent. .haha