Great Finds

Nancy Morrison
Benchmark Custom Luxury Homes, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

Benchmark Custom Luxury Homes has changed the way it approaches laundry rooms, integrating them into butler’s pantries that are adjacent to the kitchen instead of hiding them in basements. Placing the laundry room so close to the living area of the home means the appliances have to look good, but getting the most bang out of the client’s buck is just as important. Benchmark co-owner Nancy Morrison says she prefers to install Whirlpool’s front-loading Duet washer and dryer almost exclusively, “because it has the most capacity and is the most inexpensive [for its capacity].”

The front-loading Duet washer and dryer both feature large-capacity drums for handling big loads—up to 16 pairs of jeans, according to the manufacturer. The washer has 13 pre-set wash cycles and options and five temperature selections. The dryer has eight automatic cycles and a Wrinkle Shield function that tumbles clothes without heat for up to 120 minutes to prevent wrinkling.

Each unit stands 38 inches tall without optional storage pedestals so they fit easily under countertop work surfaces, which is how Morrison likes to arrange them in the butler’s pantry. Duet washers are Energy Star qualified.

Whirlpool. 800.253.3977. www.insideadvantage.com.