Basements are the norm here in NH, because you get more plumbing freezes in houses without them - in about half the houses we looked at the laundry was in the basement and it wasn't a deal-breaker. In the three houses I've lived in as an adult I've been lucky enough to have the laundry rooms on the main floor (bedrooms upstairs). We like that because DH likes to start laundry at around 5am on weekend mornings or I'll run some late at night and it doesn't wake anyone up, and we like to fold while watching TV so it all ends up in the LR anyway. I've never had a laundry room big enough to fold in anyway, and I wouldn't want one now. Laundry facilities have been in a closet in a half bath, in a utility room next to the kitchen, and now it's a stackable in a closet off the mudroom in which we've also installed a couple of cabinets for things like cleaners and dog food. We keep a hamper in the bedroom closet for used clothes (really sweaty, smelly stuff goes right in the washer or in a basket in the other room). I'm glad it's not in the cellar because the Scary Cellar in our 108yo house is very, very icky with its dirt floor and stone walls. (I differentiate between basements and cellars - cellars have dirt floors and bare-foundation walls, basements are nicer than that even if they're not technically "finished".) Frankly, I'm just darn glad it's in our own house at all - we hated going to the laundromat since it wasted hours on end. You couldn't leave your clothes to, say, go shopping because people would steal them.

The shelf above the W&D is adjustable, in case I get a different front loader, or pedestals. I hate losing things behind or to the sides of the machines. So I had to have that shelf. Did not want countertop, because it would be too permanent and specific to my current machines. So the shelf will serve as "counter" space for folding, and prevent lost items. :) On the other side of the machines, there will be open cubbies for laundry baskets, and an "armoir" kinda cabinet above. And on the other side of the fridge, near the door is the broom closet.

Sounds good to me. Though I would suggest using EPS (expanded polystyrene) or XPS (extruded polystyrene) insulation fastened to the foundation walls first. Also, any electrical wiring, receptacles, switches and light fixtures should be the same as for exterior use with direct exposure. Which doesn't seem to be the case with the installation posted above.

My thoughts... 1. Since the sink cabinet is open on the right, setting it back 6" from laundry would not bother me. 2. Can't answer that! 3. Undermount costs more, but it is cleaner as you do not have the lip of the sink to clean around when wiping off countertops. 4. Backsplash materials can be adhered to the wood, Different products require different glues - make sure whoever does that job knows what they need. Ask lots of questions when you meet them in person. It looks like the pantry is pull outs? Shelving that deep causes things to get lost, so if it's not pull-outs, you might think about going that way!