WT6001HVA washer and DLEX6001V dryer by LG, $1,600–$1,700 per unit Depending on how involved you want to be in your dirty laundry, you can communicate with LG’s washer and dryer with its app. Wireless communication aside, the patented TurboWash cycle gets clothes exceptionally clean and allergen-free in a speedy 38-minute cycle.

WA9000 dryer and top-load washer by Samsung, from $1,500 each Instead of loading the WA9000 with superfluous tech features, Samsung improved its performance with an increased capacity so it can do more laundry in a single load, a quicker run time that doesn’t sacrifice cleaning efficacy, quieter operation, and a drum that’s easier to reach.

The Best Washer and DryerNot only do they offer their picks for the best washer and dryer (the Kenmore 41472 washer and the Kenmore 81472 dryer), but also break down what to look for when buying a washer and dryer.

Porcelain floor tile from Daltile is a durable, easy-to-clean substitute for wood. The family does laundry in an efficient Summit SPWD1800 washer-dryer combination unit. Miller saved money in the kitchen by using a reclaimed sink and faucet and drawer pulls from Ikea.

Exploratory demolition revealed enough space in the kitchen for an Asko washer-dryer and a full-size refrigerator.

Nest is making waves at CES by announcing parnterships with 15 companies including LG, Big Ass Fans, Mercedes-Benz, and August Smart Locks, on a series of collaborations it is calling Works With Nest. It has worked with Whirlpool on a smart washer-dryer set that interfaces with your Nest thermostat to find out when you're home and when you're away. (The dryer, for instance, can switch to a longer, lower-temparature cycle that consumes less energy.)

The dining room and upstairs view from the courtyard.

The front door dissolves into the facade.

In the house’s front room Monkman relaxes on a stool from local retailer Andrew Richard Designs. A new window system draws in sunlight and views of the front courtyard designed by local landscape architect Terry McGlade, the building’s former owner.

Behind an unassuming 19th-century facade in Singapore's Joo Chiat neighborhood, Ching Ian and Yang Yeo's renovation of a typical shophouse venerates tradition while looking squarely to the future. Photo by Richard Powers

Architect Lorcan O’Herlihy created a remarkable residence for himself and his wife, Cornelia, just off Pacific Avenue in Venice, California. Photos by: Misha Gravenor

Many home buyers are looking for some original or character-defining features.

LG SIGNATURE Washer/Dryer Combo (model LUWM101HWA, MSRP: $3,199.99) pairs a sleek design with optimal functionality. The​ ​LG SIGNATURE Sidekick Pedestal Washer (model LUWD1CW, MSRP: $799.99) is specially designed for your small, custom-care laundry loads. It can be used on its own or at the same time as the front load washer above.

Electrolux's Laptop Kitchen features a touchscreen display, but the word is still out on how well that will work if you’re wearing oven-mitts.

The front door is tucked under a cantilevered terrace.

The family spends summers and school vacations at the bach. New Zealand's relatively mild winters mean they use the house year-round.

Since the front door is located in the exterior wall, residents first enter a vast garden before reaching the gable roof house.

A landscape of native grasses designed by GSLA Studio complements the raw textures of the concrete-and-ipe front facade.

Thanks to Matthew Hufft, their envelope-pushing architect and longtime friend, Hannah and Paul Catlett have a new home in southwestern Missouri that’s a fresh, unconventional take on the traditional farmhouse.

The long rectangular Field House abuts what Burnette describes as a “memory orchard,” a grove of fruit trees just beyond the deck that was planted in honor of Geller’s late father.

If they could have just fit the word “quantum” into that title, we would have had the perfect sci-fi trifecta. What is this contraption, you ask? Though not exactly on the market yet, the idea is that food will be suspended in a safe, biopolymer gel to keep it refrigerated at its optimal temperature all while using only a fraction of the energy required by today’s refrigerators. If this Bio Robot Refrigerator ever hits the market, the Star Trek food replicator can’t be too far behind.

The new laundry layout features built in compact washer/dryer and painted shaker cabinetry.

The streamlined shape of the home kept slab, framing, and roofing costs down, Pavonetti explains. A barn red shade on the front door adds a touch of farmhouse whimsy to the modern structure.

The semi-outdoor space extends the living room outward. Inside, a layer of glass sliding doors further facilitate breezes. The occupants can enjoy the sound and smell of rain behind shelter.

The home’s geometric silhouette echoes the classic typology of the region’s gable roof barns. “We took our inspiration from this vernacular architecture and re-interpreted it with a contemporary twist,” Dworkind says.

On Vashon Island, about 20 miles southwest of Seattle, architect Seth Grizzle designed a 440-square-foot multiuse structure for his clients Bill and Ruth True.

Stephen Waddell and Isabel Kunigk worked with architect D’Arcy Jones to breathe new life into their “dank old” structure. The couple chose to sacrifice square footage inside in order to make the most of outdoor space.

The color of the Fishers’ front door was inspired by an old Land Rover Defender’s hue, which Charlie had Benjamin Moore custom-match.

The front door of this house in Scotland is built from charred cedar boards—a traditional way of fireproofing wood developed in Japan. In this case, the effect on the front door is likely more aesthetic than preventative, though you can never be too careful.

Samsung Smart Care Washer If you're the kind of person who forgets to start a load of laundry and only realize after leaving the house, Samsung's Smart Care Washer might be a good fit. It features an app that lets you remotely turn on the appliance and track its progress. And when you're home, you interact with the washer through an LCD touchscreen, accessing plenty of washing options and settings. Photo by: Samsung

The house uses solar panels and water tanks to function off the grid. Its waste water is recycled and used for irrigation.

A glass-fronted walkway leads from the main house to the office/play area.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design, with project manager and lead designer Emily Kudsen Leland at the helm, remade a Portland abode with a crisp paint palette: Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron for the cladding and Venetian Gold for the front door. The home was originally designed by Saul Zaik in Southwest Portland, complete with a wood-clad exterior, in 1956. As part of the renovation, landscape design was completed by Lilyvilla Gardens.

Phillips designed Judith a stark white, glass-fronted art studio.