I am interested in the same issue -- made worse by the fact that we'd like to be able to switch to front loaders sometime and they take up more room. I've thought about posting a layout for comments here too -- the folks on the laundry forum seem to be into debating the finite details and specs of every machine, detergent and soap possible, but I doubt I'd get any comments on a layout.

I have no where near the room you have. My laundry room is about 10 feet long by 7-1/2 feet and I have doorways, a small window and other issues to work around. I don't have time to analyze yours right now -- but I did look and think I hate you for having so much room! ;-) LOL I'll come back and look when I have more time, but you do have a lot to work with.

How high are your ceilings? Do you need a fridge or feeezer space? Do you hang a lot of laundry to dry? Do you want a place to iron or fold in that room or do you prefer to take that elsewhere? Any other functions that need to go into the room?

i couldn't pass this up: maybe a small flat screen TV?

just an idea since when i finally get around to folding laundry it is something i much prefer to do watching something/anything on the tube to make it seem like it's gonna quicker ;

I'm doing my laundry room right now (see my other post about my scary dark cabinets!!). Some things I added which I think I will love - I have 3 wooden "lockers" (3 kiddos). They are similar to ones you see in the Pottery Barn catalog. They go to the ceiling with cabinets on the top, then adjustable shelves and then a tall open space where I will put hooks for backpacks, coats, etc. Underneath are open drawers for shoes. Plus I have a large mop closet that looks like it will fit not only broom and mop, but stepladder, vacuum and other stuff. I did lose some hanging room with the other stuff, but I have a small rod above the W/D and another collapsible arm on the side of the lockers. Plus a sink, and just some standard cabinets. Good luck...laundry rooms are important. I agree with you about the laundry forum thought!! LOL!

Check out the Luna Laundry System on the Laundry forum. It's funny that you think front loaders take up more room! My laundry closet is very compact, and it's the easiest laundry I've ever done.

Looks like you're getting some decent suggestions over there, though. Can you post a layout with the grid in the background so we can better see how much room there is? Are you willing to change the location of the washer and dryer? Do you want a sink? You have a lot of room and you should be able to build in a LOT of attractive looking storage, some hanging and folding space, etc. We do a lot better with doing laundry if it's sorted into hampers or bins to control it, so it doesn't become a heap. As soon as it's a heap, no one wants to have to be the one to try to catch up, because it looks too daunting.

Good equipment always helps. While we were building we had a washer and dryer that barely did the job, with the dryer often taking 3 times to get things dry. Now that we have our new Fisher and Paykel set, it is actually kind of fun to do laundry, because we can accomplish in an evening what we used to in a full day or more...And we fold as we watch TV, too...Makes me feel more useful and less of a couch potato! It really goes pretty fast that way.

Yes, go see Caire's laundry. I always remember how she did hers - efficiency and beauty!

I've seen the pictures of the Luna laundry system, and I really like it -- BUT, the front loaders are generally larger. They are the same width, but they tend to be taller and deeper unless you go with the smaller euro models. DH is adamant that we can't go smaller, adn I'm not really inclined to either. We have two boys in scouting, so we have sleeping bags and such. We have king and queen comforters. Even if we were willing to do more and smaller loads of clothing and normal laundry, neither of us want to give up being able to wash those bulky items.

Most of the front loaders are around 31" deep, and then you have a dryer vent behind that. With the door open, it's more like 51-52" plus the vent clearance. I have maybe 62". It will probably work, but what I'd give for another foot or two on this side of the house.

Firstly my laundry room is in the basement. Currently my W & D are 6yr old top load Maytag, so changing them in the near future is not going to happen, although I'd like to have front loading : (
Answers to some questions:
Yes we do have a large freezer, approx 5ft long.
We do have an extra fridge that will either go in the laundry room or garage.
I RARELY iron, but do have a few things ... so a hidden ironing board would be great. I do sew too but not often.
I would like to sort the clean clothes into baskets for the boys to start doing there own (future husbands in the making LOL). They each have 2 hamper bags per room for whites and darks, same for DH and I.
Ceiling is approx 8' and unfinished, which is OK since we need to access our water pipes from there.
Mop & pail will be stored here too.
I think a craft area sounds great!!! I'd use that for sure!
I'd also like a place to hang winter jackets, sweaters etc.
I also have an old kitchen pantry I can use for storage, floor to ceiling 2 1/2' x 24" with 4 shelves and a top seperate cabinet.
I haven't had time to draw up a grid yet but I will get to it tomorrow.
Things I would like is a sorting area (baskets would be nice), place for a ironing board and area to start some plants. The lighting is good and the next room is our kids family area, so I already have a TV (not a flat screen though LOL) there but I usually come upstairs to fold and watch a show with the boys.
I'm hoping to put up a little pull out clothes line to hang a few items from time to time.
The dryer could be moved but I don't think I can move the washer, unless someone has other knowledge about this. I would be OK with a wash/soak/rinse tub too.
The room has already been painted...... a light yellow called Rise & Shine so that is out of the way : )
I'm not sure but I don't think I need alot of upper cabinets and prefer the lower bottom ones anyway.
I LOVE your luna laundry system.......but can't do it since mine are top load and I'm 5'3" LOL : ) But boy does yours ever look effecient!!! And pretty to boot!
Have I missed anything that I need?

I think you've laid it out pretty well. You have a concrete list of what your needs are and if you proceed from there you should have the room you want. Top loaders or front loaders don't really matter as long as you have the space for your room to function how you need it to. You can fold your clothes on top of the freezer; I think the hanging and bins will probably take up the most space. I often think about what ISN'T working for me with a room, and go from there. That approach has solved many problems for me in the past!

Fortunately, many of you have the luxury of space which I did not, and the LLS was my solution to that problem. I compromised washer/dryer size in order to forego stairs, so the trade-off worked for me. The small euro units aren't any smaller than my old top loader was so I didn't lose anything in the process. I can wash a king size duvet cover with sheets in mine, but I don't know if a King size comforter would fit. What my lack of space in room size and closets did for me, was simply to figure out a way to make it work. Whether your front loader is big, small or deep, the height of base of the front loader for ease of use would still be the same. The pedestals that come with the larger units don't really look big enough for much, least of all dirty laundry. Whatever you choose, sorting bins the size of the washer load is a practical solution however they're configured. I realize my solution doesn't work for everyone, but there are some things you can take from it. Good luck sorting it all out.

**cross post to LR forum**
Although I can't put cabinets above my W & D here are some ideas I like. If I fill up the laundry room with cabinets will it take away from open space (for resale some day) that others look for?
{{!gwi}}