SFGate

ASVInteriors Hmm - you are in a caught between a rock and a hard place. If your hookups dictate where you can put your appliances, it will be expensive to re-route the plumbing. I don't know North American standards (as I am in Europe) but here are the options I can propose - other Houzzers will elaborate on what is technically possible:
1. invest in stacked dryer and washer. That is the only way you can gain the other side of your recess. There you could place your washing items, a pull out draw/shelf to sort out laundry items and store your ironing board.
2. Failing that: explore the possibility of having your machines raised higher so that you can use space underneath
3. Invest in a garage hanging unit which you can pull up and down and create a platform oh which to place your items that you can lower or raise when you need them
Racked my brain - and I think option 1. is your most sensible one....

pugpalace Could you possibly do a stackable washer and dryer on one side, leaving floor to ceiling space on the other side for built in shelving and sliding laundry baskets underneath? I wish you the best of luck with your project. :)

mflohelp @ ASV could you elaborate more on option number 3. The reason we got the size of the units we did, was because we inherited a California King size bed for the guest room. Would we still be able to have a stackable set and wash a regular king size stuff? The comforters are dry clean but the sheets and pillow cases. I was thinking of covering up the window and installing a pull out ironing bored and drying wrack. We are renting the house out in a few months but this is driving me nuts!

ASVInteriors Yeah, hard to describe - here you go
http://www.garagestoragepro.com/Garage_Storage_System_with_Heavy_Lift___250_lbsw3.html

apple_pie_order It's a tight fit, but you have two full size laundry machines and a great window with a lot of light, easily reached from the kitchen. Is there a reason why you want to iron in this tiny space? Many people iron in bedrooms or living rooms (while watching tv!). An ironing board would slip in beside the washer or dryer. There are also small ironing surfaces you can buy that cover the top of a dryer http://www.amazon.com/Unknown-L2500-SILVER-Magnetic-Ironing/dp/B0073TCIF6

For the shelves, if you scoot the washer to one side slightly, there may be just enough room for a 2" by 4" board to hold the detergent bottles. You would not be the first person to use smaller bottles just because they fit in a tight space. You can always store giant bottles on the shelves and small bottles on the new shelf. Alternatively, move the current shelves down as much as possible while still clearing the washer lid, and buy a small stepstool.

For a drying rack, buy a fold-down wall-mounted rack and mount it under the window.

Look around, there are lots of laundry room solutions out there. Here's one for hanging clothes that folds up: http://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-35000-Hanger-Holder/dp/B000KFVKVS

You may need to change your laundry habits, too. Put a hamper in each room, not in the laundry room. Pick one up, dump the dirty laundry in the machine, put the hamper back. Don't keep the hamper in the laundry room for more than a minute. There are fold-flat baskets you can use to deliver clean laundry back where it goes.

mflohelp I want to keep all of the cleaning and laundry stuff in one area. I have an 11 month old who just loves to help with everything!!!!! Right now I have to keep my mop and tools for cleaning,in the garage. I don't iron and watch TV, I do the task in the given space for the task. Efficiency and quickness is very important to me. A step stool would just take up more space and is one more thing that would require storage.

lewis + smith Replace the units with a stackable set on the washer side. build a cabinet with counter on the former dryer side and get a an ironing board that folds down off the wall above the new counter space. mount an upper cabinet above the new counter side for storage. Laundry hamper can be a large pull out drawer under counter.

mflohelp Can you wash king size bed material in a stackable set? How would the dryer hose hook up to the outside from the washer side? I'm a first time home owner, so please pardon the stupid questions.

AMN Over-the-door hanging ironing board
http://www.spacesavers.com/Storage/Ironing-Board-Holders-Ironing-Boards/Over-the-Door-Ironing-Board-by-Polder?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=feed&gclid=CMfp04OxyrUCFQPnnAodwUUA4w
- just saw that you have a bifold door. Hmmm won't work.

If you use a different type of shelf (one that doesn't require that angled center bracket), you can lower the shelf so that the washer lid still clears. It's lower and easier for you to reach.

Same with the shelf above the dryer. You'll just lose ability to hang anything.

apple_pie_order You are moving in a few months. No point in spending lots of money on new construction or a new washer/dryer combo. Many people use simple plastic hangers on a rod or towel bar instead of drying racks.

I'm surprised that a stool doesn't appear to be part of a workable solution. There are fold up stools that would slip next to the wall quite nicely. Also, Little Tykes makes a fantastic sturdy stool useful for toddlers and grownups alike. If you need to keep detergent and other cleaning supplies out of reach of a toddler, a shelf out of reach of a toddler is a good solution.

mflohelp We don't use either shelf to hang anything. All of our clothes that can't go in the dryer, would get ruined on hangers. For example, sweaters etc. if we used a stacked unit, how would we place the dryer hose to the hookup on the other side? I'm a first time home owner so please pardon the questions. I'm just trying to learn! I'd love to change the door and cover that window to maximize every inch of that small space. If I could somehow, cover the window, attach a small ironing board with hinges and the drying wrack over that. Is that possible or a stupid idea?

mflohelp @ apple pie- you do have a very valid point on the moving aspect. My husband will be deployed for a year and there's no point. But! I would like to make plans for the rooms of the house so I can itemize and budget accordingly.

apple_pie_order Ah, now I understand. You are looking for advice on how to do what you want to do, not to suggest alternatives. In that case, a contractor can certainly install a new duct for a stacked dryer, remove or cover the window, and install the ironing board and drying rack. California King size sheets will fit in the larger size stacked washers and dryers, but maybe not both top and bottom sheets at the same time.

Bickhaus Homes Well, it is what it is. At least it's not "in" the kitchen. I wouldn't invest anything more than maybe installing cabinets above the washer and dyer in place of the wire shelving for added storage, and purchasing a foldable step stool (I'm 5'2" also.....I hear ya'!) And know that in your next home as you move up, a large laundry room is on your wish list. For now you'll have to air dry, fold and iron elsewhere in the home. Buy a pretty note book and start your wish list, sounds silly but it will truly help you later.

mflohelp Looking for advice on how to do what I had in mind and also tell me if the ideas are stupid. I didn't know there were different sizes of stackable units. We want to get rid of the Calif. King but in our bedroom we have a queen and my husband said he didn't want to sell ours because eventually we will want to upgrade and also we are a military family so we won't be in this house forever. I kind of feel like I'm answering my own question with the help of all of you kind ladies. Am I right that in the long run getting rid of our brand new units is a dumb idea but I can re do the shelving to make it more accessible?

apple_pie_order Replacing the washer and dryer with a new stacked unit will cost over $1000 plus hundreds of dollars for installation with a new duct line for the dryer, and either moving an electric line or a gas line. Covering the window can be done cheaply and will look cheap. Removing the window, and putting in new framing with wallboard and finishing the outside nicely will cost hundreds. You will not get the money back when you move or rent out the house.

Replacing the shelves as others have suggested will cost under $50.

eztia Yes, keep your brand new washing machine and dryer. Look into different shelving. The wall brackets on the wire shelves that are there now make an inefficient use of space.
I saw a ladder hung parallel to the ceiling as a drying rack. Good for laying clothes on top to dry, folding them over the rungs, or using hangers on the rungs. Let me see if I can find a photo.

There is a pad that can be placed on top of a dryer for ironing clothes. Check bedbathandbeyond.com first.

eztia Here is the photo of the ladder I was talking about. It is from Houzz PHOTOS, Laundry Rooms, enter "ladder" in the search box.

I found the ironing pad info on Houzz PRODUCTS. It is available at Crate and Barrel.

eztia Oops, forgot to attach the photo. Sorry it does not enlarge on this post.

mflohelp Wow!! That's an unbelievable amount of money!!!! That's ridiculous! Forget that idea!! I'm really glad I can change the shelving for a relatively low amount. Would it be a better idea to wait until we get back, after deployment or spend the money before. I feel like I it would lesson frustration but also I wouldn't be the one enjoying it!

apple_pie_order In your shoes, I would change the shelving now. Also, plugging in a power strip for your iron may help with this layout, assuming there's a free outlet behind the washer or dryer. Power strips can be mounted on the wall, no need to trip over them on the floor.