You can set your taskbar so, that one entire row at the top can be reserved for the Quick Launch Icons, and the bottom row for the Taskbar Buttons.
To do so, un-check Lock Taskbar, after right-clicking on Taskbar. Drag the Taskbar up, by the border, so that it doubles in size. The position your mouse's' cursor on the upper half of the dotted vertical Quick Launch Border. The cursor will now change to the 'resize arrow'. Now, click and hold down the mouse button to drag it to the area below the Quick Launch.

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