Laundry, Pantry, Project Back on Line

New dryer placed in center of old washer/dryer space

About a month ago I left off with the laundry room/pantry project which was put on hold for the window replacement in the kitchen. We were working on that project when in swooped a opportunity to purchase a giant window at a discount price. Jump we did, we couldn't pay for that window fast enough. Purchasing that window pulled us off the pantry/laundry closet to get the new  waterside window in place.  We are now back to finishing and organizing the pantry.

After the washing machine died we had to investigate the latest washing machine models, and  make a decision on how to get a new washer, and possibly dryer into the house.  This started the laundry room redo and redesign.  After checking out all the offerings at local appliance stores we found that the new high efficiency full size stacking machines were the way to go. Home Depot gave us a fabulous deal, matching a price from another dealer, and then adding another discount on top of matching the price. We also purchased repair insurance for four additional years, and high efficiency detergent which is a new product required by these sophisticated machines.

collective junk that came off of the top of
the dryer, and off of the existing shelving.

space on left when w/d installed in existing
plumbing and hook ups

One constant problem in our laundry area is our tendency to cover the dryer with the neccessary flotsam and jetsam of daily life.  If it is empty, it will be filled, is the unwritten rule of this household.  That's code for major junk collecting was happening on top of the dryer. It can be seen in the photo above.  The issue needs to be resolved in this renovation. We also need storage for groceries, laundry products, laundry baskets, and a spattering of small appliances. Some other household items need shelf space, and we need some procedural order in the work areas. Our goals are set,those challenges need to be met. A majority of these problems should be resolved with good design...game on.

hook ups in existing installations
did not line up with the new machines
new hook ups had to be done

placing washer/dryer pair in
the center of the existing space
covered the existing shelving
rendering it useless

Intensive research convinced us that we needed to spring for stacked, large capacity, high efficiency machines. Stacking would solve the clutter on the washer problem, so it seems the obvious choice. Fitting the pair into our existing space took some adjustments and planning.  We had to move the exhaust hole for the dryer to suit the new pair.  Moving the stacked pair to the left side of the existing space was the least attractive option for shelving design and plumbing hook ups, but in actuality it was the only option because placing it on the right side of the space blocked off shelving for the right hand wall which could have deeper shelves than the left side. Moving the pair to the left wall blocks the shelves on the left side of the room, and requires hook up changes. Even if those problems are solved, the pipes for the unit will be visible to the right of the stack.  We have a lot to decide here. Nothing is going to work out ideally, all will be a series of compromises. That is the story in this old  Shore Side Farm House. You do the best your can, nothing done will result in the ideal.