Oh brilliant hazelligan-just brilliant!! My trick is when they insist on wearing the same dreadful, manky, faded, stained, damaged T-shirt/ top/ jumper/cardigan is for it to disappear into laundry purgatory. Procedure as follows ; Stage 1 Item arrives for laundering. Laundry Maid /Fairy aka ME leaves the offending article into the pending tray aka the floor. Pending tray is emptied with contents being place into suitable container aka black plastic bag. The item is then posted to America aka place black bag in the rubbish bin. Stage 2 If the item is ever missed, it'll be at least 3 wks before Laundry Maid is contacted re same - usually when she is off-duty + doing nothing aka relaxing. Laundry Maid will inform owner that she has no idea which item is under discussion + remainder of 10 min conversation will establish description of article - Are you sure it's black + not navy. It's got an airplane printed on it? Really? Finishing up with a promise to look for same in a timely fashion. 3 weeks later, the first conversation takes place all over again. This time the Laundry Maid instructs owner to search his own room thoroughly + whilst he's at that he can clean room, throw out rubbish, return crockery + cutlery to the kitchen area where the Kitchen Maid is on duty + change bed linen. This tactic is double-edged as although you get 1 clean room, a vast amount of washing-up + laundry is generated. However, owner has now forgotten about missing article. 3 weeks later, discussion is resumed but Laundry Maid now instructs owner to look for missing item in siblings' rooms, pets sleeping quarters, existing dirty laundry basket, ironing basket, all kit-bags + holdalls and back + boot of car. This often generates more crockery, more soiled laundry, stinking sports kit but at least the original offending article will not turn up. In the very unlikely event that the issue is ever raised again - repeat stage 2 all over again. But time consuming- but works a treat!!

Thanks all :) Nicolakwai, I had a quick google and the Hoover washer dryer does look great, but because I already have a really good washing machine (plumbed in, in a cupboard in my bathroom) I'm really reluctant to get a washer dryer too. I may end up with a vented one at this rate and a nice hole in my kitchen wall! Kitchen planning is certainly not turning out to be as fun as I'd hoped lol!

I would put the washer and dryer in the middle of the opening so that they are easy to access and then use the sides for stuff not used as often such as ladders, DIY equipment and tall stuff like the ironing board and vacuum cleaner

As you say you will need a deeper cabinet to allow for pipework. My post towards the top of the page shows mine and they are deeper than normal. Mine also has a solid piece of worktop between each appliance as tumble dryers can sometimes move due partly to movement from the washing machine underneath so this is something I’d recommend too. Find a local kitchen cabinet company or fitter who can make a deeper Carcase. It‘s easily made. If you click on my images to enlarge them it will give you a clearer idea.