I am currently thinking about placement for all the hookups for washer dryer combo. I know that I have to be able to access the water shut off easily, and that implies out in the open. But I am toying with the idea of installing all the hookups on the wall about 8-12" above the height of flat topped front loading washer and dryer on the wall behind them. My idea is to have the washer and dryer about 8" from the back wall and encasing the area with wood, so it would act like a giant backsplash to the countertop wood I will place above the machines. It would allow for a shelf to keep laundry items on the top, but the front (the wood facing you hiding the hookups) would fold down to allow access. Is this allowable or not?

Edit:

Forgot to mention, the area that the washer and dryer are is just a little bigger than the machines themselves.