Why Every Drawer Should Close Itself

A drawer that slams is a small daily annoyance, and a drawer that closes on its own is a small daily pleasure that lasts for twenty years.

We fit soft-close runners in almost every kitchen and wardrobe we build. They cost a little more than plain slides, but they carry heavier loads, they open fully so nothing hides at the back, and they stop the front a few millimetres before it touches the carcass. That last part matters more than it sounds: no slam means no loosened screws, no chipped lacquer and no small fingers caught in the gap.

Good runners are adjustable in three directions, so we can line up every front after the furniture has settled into an old, uneven floor. We come back after a few months to adjust them once more.

The best hardware is the one you never think about, because it simply does its job every single day.