Help needed for laundry/mud room. PIP & long

[Deleted]

This is our laundry room. We removed a small cabinet on the left, as we want to put in a laundry sink, and also put in countertops over the w/d.

Here is a picture of it this morning (the sink is not hooked up yet).
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1. We purchased a stand alone laundry sink (sink/cabinet/faucet). It is 6 inches shallower (ie. closer to the back wall) than our old cabinet. Since our floor tile was cut to the old cabinet, we can:
a) re-tile that area of the floor and put the cabinet against the back wall. We do have some spare floor tiles, but I have concerns with matching the existing grout in this scenario. I would also have to buy and install new baseboard for the side wall.
b) put the sink 6" out from the back wall, and make a tile shelf between the sink and the wall. 

2. We want to put a built-in countertop over the w/d.
a)It would be easiest to build the countertop with pre-fab laminate (with a small built-in backslash) so as not do any tiling on this area. Like this: Attachment Deleted

b)I think it would look nicer to custom make the laminate countertop with no backsplash, and then tile the entire back wall but not sure if it's worthwhile given the time & cost for a laundry room/ mudroom.

3. We are debating if the countertop over the w/d should be attached to the sink cabinet.
a) If we attach it - it would be about 6 inches taller. My concern is then the overhand from the countertop will impede sink use, have issues with water, etc, since the sink goes right to the edge of the cabinet.
b) we could build the countertop and have it not attached to the sink- we would have about 6" of space to put my folding latter, our broom, etc.  (just like it is in the current picture above).  

WWYD??
ETA:
The easiest option is to so 1b, 2a, and 3b. Then I'd also only have to tile the sink area, vs the entire wall.  The laundry room is also our entry from the garage to the house. 

This would be my ideal set-up but it's just not going to happen... We are now stuck with the stand-alone sink in the picture.
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[InBetweenDays]

I'd do 1b (give you room for cleaners and sponges), 2a (I don't see a need for tile backsplash), and 3b. But to do 3b you'll have to build some sort of pony wall to support the countertop, so you'll lose some of that 6" of space.

[kitty]

How are you planning to attach the w/d countertop? Are you going to have a vertical piece going to the ground to the left of the washer? If you put some sort of cleat/ledger board on the right hand side wall to hold the counter, it looks like you would have to move the w/d further from the right wall and you may not have enough space for the ladder anyway.

Usually pre-fab laminate with the backsplash only comes in a kitchen counter depth, which would not be enough to go over the w/d so 2a might not be an option.

I think I would have a counter over the w/d at that height not attached to the sink. Then, I would try to do the sink 6" from the wall but then make a small counter behind (and to the right of it if you have enough space) with the laminate to try to get a look closer to your inspiration pic.

[emjacobs]

I will make my standard Nest statement here: please read your manuals carefully, not all dryers can be contained (a cabinet and counter) and for some doing this voids any warranty. My dryer manual specifically says that my dryer can not go under a surface that will be closer than 6".

[kitty]

Oh another thing - here it is code that if you have your w/d enclosed with a countertop and cannot easily reach the plugs you have to have kill switches above. We put ours in the upper cabinets, one on each side.

[Deleted]

Jun 13, 2013 14:20:02 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

I will make my standard Nest statement here: please read your manuals carefully, not all dryers can be contained (a cabinet and counter) and for some doing this voids any warranty. My dryer manual specifically says that my dryer can not go under a surface that will be closer than 6".

Thanks for the tip. I will have a look but I have the same w/d (just older midel) as my inspiration pic so hopefully will be ok. (Pic is fom a showome in my area). 

We do plan to ensure our hoses are long enough to pull out and get behind the machines

I do plan to put in standard kitchen depth counters which looks to be what the inspiration pic. There will be about 4" at the front which I am ok with.