I am renovating my laundry room and have hit a few snags. The original plan (pic attached below) was to put a solid-surface countertop on top of my W/D extending across the wall so I had a place to fold clothes and use as work space. I was going to place cabinets and a drying bar above the counter space. The opposite smaller wall with the window (bottom of pic) would have a cabinet to the left of the window and a sink and cabinets under the window.

HOWEVER, I just learned this design now has to be redone. The washing machine water valves must be mounted higher than the W/D by code and that makes putting in a counter impossible unless I cut a hole in it for the hoses to come through, or install the counter much higher than the W/D and eliminate hanging space. The dryer exhaust vent on the right side also can't be moved (this was the only place for it to vent out) but I could change the venting so it is more flush against the wall (this is why I was thinking of a tall cabinet on that side with some dead space around the vent).

I think the area by the window still works as envisioned in the original design, but the longer area with the W/D must be changed. One option would be to stack the W/D on the left and have a much shorter countertop and hanging rod area, but it isn't ideal. Would welcome any and all thoughts!