MizLizzie is on target, SQ has the best stack on the market if you care about build quality and reliability. The pricing isn't out of line considering how much the ridiculous matching dryers cost on other brands. Don't forget to factor in that they need a stacking kit as well and SQ doesn't. SQ will last longer and if I remember correctly it's rated for an even longer lifetime (in cycles) than Miele. Also consider the competition needs the dryer to be unstacked in order to service the washer. That won't fly with the techs who are doing the work and will lead to an expensive service call. SQ is designed to be serviced without unstacking anything. The one cons to SQ is that they don't have a heater and they lack cycles/options/flexibility compared to other brands. SQ is coming out with a whole new laundry line (front and top load) next year that will comply with the upcoming regulations. However they've made it clear they will not be sacrificing overall performance to do so. The government will be testing these in a new "Normal/Eco" cycle that SQ is coming out with, but there is nothing forcing you to use that cycle at home. This post was edited by hvtech42 on Mon, Dec 15, 14 at 0:02

I had a Bosch condenser dryer with the same model washer as egganddart. It was not especially slow. It did a very good job. It was in a closet in the kitchen and the door needed to be left open. It did make that area warm but to say it heated up the house (which was an apartment with open kitchen) is not true. It replaced an illegal vented dryer that was not vented (long story) but we did not see any increase in the electric bill after putting it in. The only nuisance was a grill that had to be cleaned periodically. If someone doesn't have space or option for a vented dryer then condenser is the only real choice. Miele most certainly does make a condenser dryer. And I'm told they are discontinuing their vented dryers -- enduring and I got some of the last ones it seems. I don't see why you couldn't get a Miele washer and a different dryer -- buffalotina has that set up I believe. The only thing is can it be stacked with a different machine? If it needs to be stacked or fit into a closet then you're basically talking about pairs unless there is some super clever solution I've never read about (which there very well could be). Why I posted about the washer is because it does exactly what the OP says she wants. Excellent on hand wash. Excellent high temp cycles (sanitize is 165F and if you want to see an example I'm attaching the Miele cheat sheet which shows espresso stained chinos before and after. ) The high speed spin is excellent. And everything is adjustable. The Miele dryer is good to very good I would say. I didn't like the Asko dryer at all. My recollection is that I liked the Bosch condenser dryer best but it was nowhere near as adjustable as the Miele dryer which can partially dry woolens without issue. Miele's dryer has some very delicate settings I've not seen before. I par-dries woolens without shrinking. But it doesn't overdry towels or sheets. (I also have their rotary iron and it has a setting for that). The clinker is the cost, no question. I started out wanting the Bosch as I had liked that pair a lot. But the Bosch washer lacked the high heat which is essential for stain removal and whitening. Here is a link that might be useful: Miele Fans Washer Cheat Sheet

I also have a washer dryer in the kitchen. While I love my compact electrolux the matching dryer takes 240... I looked at the laundry centers long and hard...the thin twin kept being the favorite but for looks, if it will be visible in your kitchen, I'd opt for the new gray Frigidaire ( OK, I'm shallow). You need to consider your load size, when I really looked at the size of the loads that I was running a small washer was just fine. ( I also prefer to throw on a load of day and never have it stack up.) I was able to use two different laundry center units while we were on vacation. One of them was much easier to lean over and pull the laundry out of the washer than the other. I recommend you check reviews, find the model that you are thinking of purchasing in a store and lean over and imagine yourself pulling the laundry out of the washer (noticing in particular where the door of the dryer is in relation to your head, will you constantly hit your head on it?) because that is what you going to do. Most laundry centers do not have reversible doors so you need to pay attention to what your space requirements are for the door opening. Alternatively, you may still be able to buy a used gas dryer of the smaller size. You can buy 120 V dryers. What some people have done is to purchase a 120V washer dryer combo-one machine and a second machine that is a 120 V dryer. The issue with the smaller machines is that in order for the dryer to be effective the wash load has to be split in two so they wash a full load in the washer dryer combo and then dry half of the load in the dryer and dry the other half in the washer dryer combo. You should also be aware that there are high speed spinners on the market so if your washing machine doesn't spin enough water out and drying takes forever, you may want to buy one of these, I think they spin for all of two minutes, remove substantial amounts of water, and cost less than $100.

Olychick, that depends on the design of the machine. What specific brand and model do you have? As I said, a "stacked" set that essentially has the washer and dryer built as a unit typically has provisions for service access without removing the dryer. A frontloader washer and dryer pair that are separate machines but are "stackABLE" and can be installed with the dryer set atop the washer is an entirely different thing. Some Whirlpool and Maytag frontloaders for example, don't have a lower toekick panel for access to the pump. The entire front is one piece, which requires the top panel be removed first, then the control panel comes off, then the front panel is removed. The top panel must come off to reach the water inlet valve, the dispenser drawer, or the control panel and board. The top can't be removed if the dryer is sitting on it.