I have FLs at my home and weekend lake place. Both are without pedestals and also without a counter over. I didn't think pedestals were necessary since I'd been bending over to unload my dryer for about 25 years and never felt the need to have my dryer on a pedestal. I think pedestals are marketing genius that came along with the popularity of FL washers - and was very well received by our increasingly sedentary society. I also don't have a counter - the top of the machines provides for a nice, flat working surface at perfect height for me. My laundry spaces are also just not right for a counter type installation. I like that look though someone else suggested in another thread that it might make it a little harder to service the machines.

I have my front load dryer on a platform I built in a hurry. (Cousin was coming to help haul the dryer and it gave me an evening to design, get materials and build something.) I put down 8" concrete blocks and knew that wasn't going to be high enough. I was concerned about stacking two high without some construction adhesive between them and possibly some strapping around them. Plus I was concerned that 16" might be too high. I settled on one layer of blocks and built a wood pallet from 2x4s. That raised it about 14" and is about perfect for me. Looks? It's in the basement, who cares? For me, form follows function. I have space under it that I could even use a tote or something as a drawer for storage if I wanted. But I don't need it. It also has a hamper door so it works great for a folding table as I pull stuff out of the dryer. If I were to get a FL washer, I'd have to put something under it and the puny pedestals they sell aren't tall enough for me so I might be restricted to a top load if I ever have to replace my washer. Hopefully that's a long way off. BTW, if your hungup on looks, you could put something around it. Either build a surround of some sort, maybe a box of some sort to put over it, paint it, wallpaper it or decorate it how you want. Or put a cloth (or other material) skirt around it. As for the tech who works on it? Can't they use that sheet to just turn the unit rather than pull it out? Seems to me it'd be advantageous to have it up a little higher for less bending over. You could certainly have something custom built. But, if you can't build it and can't find a volunteer to do you a favor, hiring a cabinet maker or carpenter to build it, and make sure it's heavy enough to support the weight, well, that could well cost you the same money as buying pedestals.

I have a couple thoughts: I've seen a kitchen in a magazine that had the WD enclosed in beautiful cabinetry. The doors worked like on an entertainment armoire -- they opened fully and then slid inside out of the way. When closed, you had no idea they were there. If I were going to add drawers over my washer/dryer and under the counter, I would try very hard to fit a 4" drawer, so that I could have one of those ironing boards that pops out of the drawer -- that is the minimum size for one of them. Finally, I have my WD stacked instead, so that I can fit a second full-sized dishwasher in my laundry area. I don't have any problem with the washer not having a pedestal, though it is quite low. My business partner, on the other hand, took one look and said that she wouldn't be able to stand so much crouching and bending. For me, I just think of it as passive exercise, and I'm looking to fit that in where ever I can. Now that my house is for sale, I've heard a couple of negative comments, but I'm in a pretty elderly community. Good luck with your project!

lol...i totally want carerra. i would get soapstone if i could. in my last house we remodeled and i got cobra soapstone which was great. i would recommend it to anyone and everyone. our last house was in PA. now we are in florida. i am going to get a cobra sink made and shipped down here but soapstone down here would cost us too much for counters....over $100 more a sq ft than carerra. but carerra is my #2 choice and i love how it looks. but...i cook for reals and i know "patina" is my destiny. but still...i don't know if i am prepared for "the big one!" like an 8" turmeric stain or whatever. on the plus size..the cost here is about $44 a sq ft. it's beautiful. it's natural. it doesn't contain any toxic resins or formaldehyde or radon. i can live with some wabi sabi and if we sell 20 years from now and it looks like crap, i guess we will have to replace it w/new marble to get it ready for the market. who knows! i just want to see some pics ;)