Some thoughts-- Could you hang a small cabinet or place shelves above the toilet for storage? It looks like you are storing paper towels and toilet paper under the countertop. Perhaps the recycling could be moved to the garage. How about a curtain hung in front of the toilet? If you have children, they probably won't pull it closed, but they are also unlikely to close a door. My washer and dryer are front loaders under a countertop which can be used for folding. Some people seem to love that, others not. Just a thought. . . I would then extend the countertop for folding to include the sink so that you have one long surface. Since you moved the storage, laundry baskets could be stored under the countertop. By putting a shelf the depth of the countertop under the countertop halfway up from the floor, you will have room for more laundry baskets. A rod could extend from the side of the cabinets (or shelving unit, see below) above the countertop to the back wall, depending on how long the pants and skirts you would like to hang are. Mine fit above my countertop, but I'm not very tall, either. If you are tall, maybe you could hang the rod higher. New door? A pocket door. A step ladder could then be hung on the wall where the door currently swings. In fact, that would open the entire wall up for whatever you would like. The space is fairly narrow with the washer and dryer on the opposite wall, but the wall could be used to hang things. For a landing pad, you could use part of the countertop or mount hooks for keys, purse, etc. on the wall. It just depends on what you would like to use the landing pad for. OR, you don't say what you use the cabinets over the washer and dryer for. I'm guessing laundry detergent, etc., but there is quite a lot of storage space there. Raise the upper cabinet to the ceiling and you will have room for a shelf underneath which could suffice for a landing pad. Depending on what you are storing, replace the cabinet with shelving. I don't really see an option for a drying rack on the floor. I hang just about everything that doesn't need to dry flat. If it does need to dry flat, I use the countertop. By using skirt hangers with clips as well as regular plastic hangers, I can hang just about anything other than sweaters which must dry flat to avoid stretching. The hangers used for drying are stored on the hanging rod. Good luck!

I have never heard of a building code that would allow for removing the half walls on a porch - someone could fall off. I agree that you need someone to create plans that comply with building codes.

If you like to design spaces, I need your help! I have a plan laid out, but I'm curious to see what others would do in the same space. Here are the main reasons for the addition: current kitchen is far too small (9x10'11") - the 4 of us enjoy cooking and baking and we need more space for people and storage move the laundry up to the main floor from the basement create an entry/mud room for our family to come and go would like to have upright freezer on main floor too half bath on main floor The attached photos have the layout and our needs and wants on them. We're open to new ideas and suggestions. Thank you!! Exterior of house with addition area. Will have gray siding with white trim. Front porch windows and screen door will be removed so the porch is open. We're debating removing the half walls of the porch as well so the columns would be floor to ceiling. Thoughts?

I agree with the folks above about turning the area into a closet where the units sit side by side. I lived with mine stacked for 16 years and was never happy with it. I disliked having to empty the dryer and carry the laundry to the adjacent kitchen or family room to fold. I realize that is not a startling problem to have in life, but if you can make it work for you in a way that will make you happy-go for it.