EMIL Range Overview: Combining Doors and Drawers in Modern Furniture

September 18, 2025

Combining doors and drawers in a single cabinet carcass requires the precise coordination of hinge applications and drawer runners within the standardised 32 mm system.

Anyone planning and assembling modular furniture systems, such as the EMIL range, faces a clear technical requirement. A cabinet carcass must accommodate different types of fittings without creating internal collisions. Whether dealing with a slim 300 mm deep unit or a wide 1000 mm version, the hardware determines overall stability and clean sightlines across the front panels. This guide provides the technical specifications and selection criteria for properly fitting out combination furniture units.

Key Technical Selection Criteria

When building or assembling furniture with mixed front configurations, several mechanical principles interact. The cabinet carcass functions much like a vehicle chassis, which must accurately support the suspension and bodywork. The following parameters must be observed when selecting fittings:

The Grid Dimension and Hole Spacing

Almost all modern furniture carcasses made from chipboard or MDF are based on the 32 mm system. This means the pre-drilled holes in the side panels are spaced exactly 32 mm apart. The distance from the front edge of the carcass to the centre of the first hole is standardised at 37 mm. The diameter of these holes is 5 mm. Both hinge mounting plates and cabinet drawer runners are designed precisely around this drilling pattern.

Installation Depth and Nominal Length

The internal depth of the furniture dictates the maximum runner length. In a carcass with a depth of 350 mm, a slide with a maximum nominal length of 300 mm can be fitted, as space must be reserved for the back panel and the front thickness (typically 16 mm to 19 mm). Common nominal lengths for runners range from 250 mm to 800 mm.

Load Capacity and Weight

A deep, wide drawer exerts significant leverage on the runners and the carcass wall. Load capacity is specified in kilograms. Standard runners carry around 25 kg to 30 kg, whereas heavy-duty runners are rated for 45 kg or more. The weight of the front panel and the drawer box itself must be subtracted from this total maximum load rating.

Overview of Hardware Types: Doors and Drawers

To achieve clear separation between internal shelving compartments and drawer sections, fittings must be chosen with precision.

Hinges for Doors

Concealed cup hinges are used for mounting cabinet doors. The circular routing in the door (the cup hole) usually has a diameter of 35 mm. Choosing the correct hinge depends on the door position relative to the carcass:

Full overlay: The door completely covers the front edge of the carcass side panel. This is standard for the outer sides of a cabinet.
Half overlay: Two doors share a single central carcass partition (twin doors). The door covers only half the edge to leave room for the adjacent door.
Inset: The door sits entirely within the carcass frame and closes flush with the front edges of the side panels.

The standard opening angle for everyday applications is usually 95° or 110°.

Runner Systems for Drawers

A drawer runner system determines how far and how smoothly the drawer box extends from the carcass.

A full-extension runner pulls out 100%, providing complete access to the entire drawer box.
A single-extension runner stops at roughly 75% of its total travel, leaving the rear section of the drawer inside the carcass.
A ball-bearing runner screws directly to the side of the drawer box and requires an exact side clearance of 12.7 mm per side. It operates on small steel ball bearings and provides high lateral stability.
An undermount runner is fitted discreetly beneath the drawer base. It requires specific base grooving or box construction, but offers exceptionally smooth running action.

Additional features such as soft-close (integrated damping on closing) and push-to-open (handleless mechanical opening via pressure) operate on opposing mechanical principles and must not be mixed up during planning.

Which Hardware Configuration for Which Application?

Selecting the right hardware depends on room use and the overall dimensions of the unit.

Case 1: Bedrooms and Clothing For large storage units such as a white chest of 8 drawers or a black chest of 6 drawers, the focus is on quiet operation and maximum accessible space. Here, full-extension runners with soft-close are highly recommended. The damping mechanism prevents panels from slamming shut. Because clothing is relatively light, a load rating of 30 kg is perfectly sufficient.

Case 2: Hallways and Compact Spaces For narrow hallway units, such as a compact chest of 4 drawers with shallow depth, shorter runners (250 mm or 300 mm) are typically installed. A single-extension runner is often adequate, as the drawer is shallow enough that items at the back remain easy to reach.

Case 3: Offices and Document Storage When heavy files are stored in lower sections while office supplies sit in upper compartments—as is typical in a chest of 10 drawers—hardware requirements must be mixed. Lower drawer slides require a load rating of at least 45 kg. For upper cabinet doors, a cup hinge with a wide 155° opening angle is recommended so the doors do not obstruct the removal of ring binders.

Case 4: Minimalist Living Room Designs If front panels are to remain completely flat and seamless, traditional handles are omitted in favour of push-to-open mechanisms. The runners pop open a few centimetres with a light push on the front. For doors in this setup, unsprung hinges paired with magnetic push latches are used. If a more tactile, classic finish is preferred, combine soft-closing hinges with sturdy hardware from our modern furniture handles selection.

Installation Guide: Fitting Doors and Drawers in the Same Carcass

Assembling combination furniture requires a systematic approach. When drawers and doors are fitted within the same unit, following the correct assembly sequence is vital.

Required Tools

Cordless drill/driver with torque control
Screwdriver bits: PZ 2 (Pozidriv) for wood screws, optional PH 2
Tape measure and pencil
Try square
Spirit level

Step-by-Step Installation

Attach mounting plates and runners: Before assembling the carcass, lay the side panels flat on the floor. Screw the cruciform hinge mounting plates and the cabinet runners into the pre-drilled system holes using 5 mm Euro screws.
Assemble the carcass: Connect the side panels to the top and bottom panels. Modular systems like the EMIL range typically use wooden dowels and cam lock fittings. Screw the cam pin into the side panel, insert the cam housing into the base panel, and secure it with a half turn.
Assemble the drawers: Construct the drawer boxes. Mount the drawer profile runners (the counterpart to the cabinet member) flush with the bottom edge of the drawer sides.
Hang the doors: Insert the cup hinges into the 35 mm pre-drilled holes in the door. Secure them using wood screws (typically 3.5 x 15 mm). Clip or screw the hinge arms onto the cruciform mounting plates.
Adjustment: Modern concealed hinges offer three-dimensional adjustment. The front screw on the hinge arm adjusts the lateral reveal between the door and carcass side. The rear screw adjusts depth, and the mounting plate adjusts vertical height. Align all fronts to maintain an even gap of 2 mm to 3 mm.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I easily replace a single-extension runner with a full-extension runner? Yes, provided the side installation clearance is identical. Standard ball-bearing runners generally require a 12.7 mm gap between the drawer box and the carcass wall, regardless of extension type. The nominal length of the new runner must match the existing one exactly.

Which hinge do I need if the door is supposed to cover the carcass edge completely? For a door that rests fully over the front edge of the side panel, a full overlay cup hinge is required. The cranking (offset of the hinge arm) on this type is 0 mm.

What is the exact difference between soft-close and push-to-open? Soft-close relies on a hydraulic or air damper that catches the drawer or door in the final centimetres and gently pulls it shut. Push-to-open uses a spring mechanism that ejects the closed front outward when pressed. These two functions are mechanically distinct and are generally not combined within standard mechanical fittings.

Which screws should I use to mount drawer runners? If the carcass features pre-drilled 5 mm system holes, use Euro screws. If you are fixing runners directly into undrilled chipboard, use countersunk wood screws (e.g. 3.5 x 15 mm) with a PZ drive.

How do I calculate front panel heights for a door and drawer combination? Subtract the total sum of the required gaps (usually 2 mm to 3 mm between each panel) from the internal carcass height to find the available space. On a Sonoma oak chest with 3 drawers positioned alongside an adjacent door, the combined height of the three drawer fronts plus their three horizontal gaps must match the door height exactly to ensure aligned sightlines.

Relevant Hardware Categories for Your Project

Once you understand these assembly principles, you can select the right fittings, runners, and accessories for your furniture projects. Make sure to choose runner lengths and load capacities that suit your specific storage needs: