Integrating Technology into a Handmade Kitchen Without It Dating in Five Years
Our handmade kitchens are built to last. Every cabinet, piece of timber, the joinery and the finishes are all designed…
The drawer is one of the clearest signs of a properly made kitchen. Every drawer we build is constructed from solid hardwood, dovetail-jointed at the corners, with no visible screws, no nailed joints and no chipboard. It is what “hand-built” actually means in practice.
Solid Hardwood, Dovetail-Jointed, Built to Last
A dovetail joint is the traditional cabinetmaker’s solution for a drawer that has to be opened and closed thousands of times without ever loosening. The interlocking tails and pins, cut from solid oak, walnut or birch, lock the front, back and sides together without any need for screws or nails. The joint is mechanical, not adhesive, which is why a properly made dovetail drawer outlasts its house.
We build every drawer in our Essex workshop from solid hardwood, typically oak as standard. Walnut and birch are available where the design or the budget calls for them. The drawer runs on premium soft-close runners (most often Blum) that pull the drawer the last few centimetres and close it silently, with a load rating well above what any household will ever ask of it.
Drawer details we build as standard
- Solid hardwood construction: oak, walnut or birch sides, base and back
- Dovetail joints: hand-finished, no visible fasteners
- Soft-close Blum runners: silent close, full extension
- Deep pan drawers: designed to your specific pan sizes
- Internal drawers within drawers: a shallow drawer hidden inside a deeper one for cutlery or utensils
- Bespoke internal dividers: knife blocks, spice racks, chopping board slots, tray dividers, all made to measure
- Matching drawer fronts: in-frame Shaker, modern Shaker, handleless, all hand-painted
Read More on Dovetail Drawers
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dovetail joint and why does it matter?
A dovetail joint is the traditional way of locking the sides of a wooden drawer to the front and back, using interlocking trapezoidal “tails” and “pins” cut into the timber. The joint is mechanically self-tightening: the harder the drawer is pulled, the more firmly the joint locks. It is the difference between a drawer that stays solid for decades and one that loosens after a few years of use.
Are all your drawers dovetail-jointed?
Yes. Every drawer we build is dovetail-jointed in solid hardwood, regardless of the kitchen’s price point or style. It is part of what makes our kitchens “hand-built” rather than assembled.
What hardwood are the drawers made of?
Oak is standard. Walnut and birch are available on request, as part of our truly bespoke service. The drawer interior is left natural, with a clear food-safe finish so the wood ages beautifully.
Can the drawers include bespoke internal dividers?
Yes, this is one of the most rewarding parts of designing a bespoke kitchen. We make spice racks, knife blocks, chopping board slots, tray dividers, cutlery inserts and pan racks to the exact dimensions of what you actually own.
What runners do you use?
Blum soft-close, full-extension runners are standard. They are silent, smooth, full-extension (so you can see and reach the back of even the deepest drawer) and rated well above any normal household load.
Suppliers
Please note, Handmade Kitchen’s use of manufacturer trademarks and trademark devices on this website is only to directly describe
the appliances we are able to source for our customers and we do not intend to imply any connection, affiliation or trading relationship
with the companies concerned. All trademarks and trademark devices remain the property of their respective owners.