I prefer my stacked machines. I am 5'8" and the dryer on top is just right, but I can see where someone shorter may struggle.

I like a folding counter and hanging rod next to the stacked unit.

My cabinet with a butcherblock top has a pull out hamper and drawers for storage.

I’ve had both. I prefer them with the pedestals. Mine have drawers in the pedestals which store large detergent bottles, fabric softener, dryer sheets, etc. we also have a shelving unit that serves as extra storage.

How tall are you? I’m 5’2” and I can’t reach the dryer controls on my friend’s dryer. I have mine on pedestals, side by side. Does your husband do all, or any of, the laundry? If he doesn’t then I would gently push your side of the disagreement. If he does then a compromise would be to purchase the new LG laundry tower…the controls are in the middle between the washer & dryer.

I thought that I'd hate stacked, but we did stack ours for layout considerations but I am actually quite happy with them. Because of the extra space I was able to put cabinets in next to them with a laundry sink, space for my wine fridge and a small pullout for detergents and will be putting in a shelf and closet rod soon.

I'm 5'8" though, and if I were much shorter I'd struggle to reach the buttons on my very tall machines.

In most of the house design considerations, my attitude regarding my husband's differing opinion on parts of the house that are generally in my domain after discussion if we could not come to a consensus was "until you are the one doing the cooking, you do not get to make the decisions about where the silverware goes" and similar. We both have to look at the kitchen but I have to work in it, so if something that looks nice impedes my ability to use it, it's getting nixed. I do personally think that having a counter in a laundry room to be hugely useful, so I'd either do stacked with a counter to the side, or side by side without pedestals, but a counter over the top.

MY husband and I also. I have had regular W/D SxS and stacked I like the SXS in my current laundry becuse it ia really in calset so flodin and a counter spanning both is very handy . The stacked ones were in a very small space and I like them too and floded clotes on the sofa in the media room right next to the laundry space . I see no advantage to the pedestals I m tall but probably would not spen the money on those I do like a cabinet above my W/D for sorage and just switched to True Earth laundry sheets so a lot less space needed now

I’ve had stacked machines for decades now. I love them that way. I’m 5’6” and I can see where shorter people have issues with that. I used a friend’s pedestal configuration before, and while I didn’t mind the height of the doors (because that was nice) she used her pedestals as storage for laundry supplies and I hated bending that low to fetch detergent and dryer sheets, so I thought the “storage” aspect of pedestals was kind of useless. Or, at least, that’s not how I’d use them if I ever had them. But, I always opt for a stacked configuration because that’s what I prefer.

We have front load with pedestals. I am only 5ft tall so I would have issues reaching controls on stacked units.

I just got the LG washtower stack. I love, but also only had room for that. The controls are placed in between the washer and dryer so are easy for any height person to reach. Dont know if you would like how low the bottom is though.

As much as I like having pedestals, issue is reaching cabinets above. I use top of machines for placing folded clothes.

Thank you to everyone for the feedback. I decided to get the pedestals. Someone was selling them at a very small fraction of the cost and figured it would be worth a try. The opening on the 24” machines is so low and small that I think the pedestals will be very helpful. The machines with the pedestals will be 47” high which is probably still accessible enough for folding laundry on top, will see.

Some of you mention the LG tower and wondering if you have the ventless dryer and how you like it? That was a set we considered but could not find enough feedback on the performance of the ventless dryer in that system.

I have an LG Washtower as well, but with a vented dryer. I've had stacked machines for 15 years, but when I moved to this new house I decided to try the Washtower with the controls in the middle.....No real reason other than it was a bit cheaper, and I trusted LG to make good W/D.

We have owned multiple sets of 24” compact washers from both Miele and Bosch. Both manufacturers design their appliances to be the proper height to use the top of the machine as a folding counter. They are even made of a different material than the rest of the appliance cabinet for just this purpose.

I will never understand the desire to add a counter above appliances that come with a built-in counter/folding area? Is it simply vanity?

In my opinion, pedastals would make the machines too high to confortably fold on unless your 6’ tall or above.

If you purchase a washer with auto dispensing capabilities then where the detergent and other cleaning supplies live is sort of a non-issue. They will only be needed once every 45-60 loads.

It would be much better to design a laundry room with windows and a nice flowing layout than worry about pedestals. I do understand about back issues and that would be the only reason i would lean towards them. If your back hurts or you just cant physically bend over much, then the decision is obvious.

For stacked units, that option is really there to get the machines in a small space. It would not be the preferred i stalll method. It is a huge pain to access anything behind them without multiple strong people to move them/destack them.

Even with stacked units companies, like Miele, it is possiblt to get a pull out shelf that lives between the stacked units. This provides a folding shelf where it otherwise would’nt be possible.

I don't fold in my laundry room ever. In my previous house there were counter tops in the laundry room and I never used them for folding. So pedestals making my washer and dryer too high for folding is a non issue for me.

I would never have a washer with self dispensing detergent. I want to control the detergent and I use powdered detergent not liquid. I also use other additives like STPP, Borax and Shout which would still need to be added and still need a place to be stored. I also use dryer sheets which I store in the pedestal of the dyer along with a small trash can for the old dryer sheets and lint.

"I will never understand the desire to add a counter above appliances that come with a built-in counter/folding area? Is it simply vanity? "

I understand the desire. Our son and his wife rented a home that had the countertop over the side--by-side FL washer and dryer. It was a nice height for folding laundry and setting down the laundry basket in limited floor space. The countertop prevents random items from falling down in between, to the side, or behind the machines. I have no countertop, keep stuff on top of the machines, and have occasionally suffered such events. It is not fun trying to rescue them.

IMO the key is to make the countertop easily removable in the case of a service call.

FL washer & dryers on pedestals is too high for folding laundry, and I'm tall.

The counter is something that my husband thinks is necessary but I dont as I prefer to take the clean load and fold it somewhere more comfortable/relaxing than the laundry room. In every place we lived we never had laundry room counters and i never missed them. This is our forever home so trying to set things up as ideally for us as possible and was a little surprised by my husband’s insistence on a counter. I think easier access to the machines will outweigh having the counter and will find out soon enough. I have a 47” inch dresser here and tried folding clothes on it and finding it very doable.

A LR with a nice counter is a thoughtful finishing touch that you should strongly consider since this will be your forever home. Even if you don't use it for folding, it adds some pizazz to the room and will make it stylish. It is something that could be done in the future of course, but why not have the builder do it now? I really believe you will appreciate it later on. I lived with a small LR that I had to stack my FL w/d in because it was not big enough for them and a sink which was a must for me, and it was an arrangement I did not care for. Doable, but I made certain when we built our current house that the LR was a primary consideration.

Does your husband ever fold the laundry? If not, then make the set up that works for you to fold laundry in another part of the house. Easier access to the machines for repair would be my priority.

I we recently had a laundry room up in and the architect and contractor were hell bent on a folding area. I put my foot down. I fold laundry on the sofa and coffee table while watching Netflix with my husband. I have never, ever used a folding area even when I have had one.

Repair access to stacked machines is a real pain. Although I like my LG tower, if I had room for side by side, I would do that instead.