We’re delighted to share that Kitchen Flair’s Director, Kristina Libertini, was recently featured in KBB Review’s prestigious “Insights 2026” series, contributing her perspective on the evolving kitchen and bathroom industry and what lies ahead for the sector.
For those unfamiliar with KBB Review, it’s the leading trade publication for the UK kitchen and bathroom industry – the magazine that professionals in our sector turn to for news, insights, and industry trends. Being featured alongside industry leaders and major manufacturers is recognition we’re genuinely proud of.
What is KBB Review?
The KBB Review is an authoritative voice of the kitchen and bathroom industry in the UK. Published monthly, it’s read by retailers, manufacturers, designers, architects, and trade professionals across the sector. The magazine covers everything from product launches and design trends to business insights and market analysis.
Being featured in KBB Review isn’t just about publicity – it’s validation from the industry itself. The publication’s readership includes the people who shape the KBB sector, from independent retailers like Kitchen Flair to major manufacturers and suppliers. When KBB Review features your perspective, it means your voice matters in the wider conversation about where the industry is heading.
For Kitchen Flair, a family-run business established in the early 1990s, this recognition reflects over three decades of commitment to quality craftsmanship, innovation, and genuine client relationships.
Face-to-Face Will Win the Race
Kristina’s article for kbbreview’s “Insights 2026” series addresses a crucial question facing the kitchen industry: as the world becomes increasingly digital, where does true opportunity lie?
Her answer is clear and perhaps surprising in our tech-focused age: face-to-face interaction will win the race.
Why Personal Connection Matters More Than Ever
In an era where customers can research products online, browse Pinterest for inspiration, and compare prices at the click of a button, you might think the physical showroom is becoming less relevant. Kristina’s experience suggests the opposite is true.
Today’s homeowners are more design-savvy and better informed than ever before. They arrive at showrooms with mood boards, Pinterest folders, and clear ideas about what they want. But this doesn’t mean they need us less – it means they need something different from us.
They need designers who truly listen, who understand not just what they’ve pinned on Pinterest but why those images appeal to them. They need collaborators who can take their vision and make it work in their actual space, with their real budget, for their genuine lifestyle needs.
This kind of understanding only comes from face-to-face conversation, from the back-and-forth exchange of ideas, from seeing someone’s face light up when they find the perfect solution.
Investment in People and Training
A central theme in Kristina’s article is Kitchen Flair’s ongoing investment in team training and development. In a sector facing recruitment challenges and fewer structured training programmes from large brands, this commitment to nurturing talent is increasingly important.
Learning Through Experience
While virtual training certainly has its place, Kristina emphasises that there’s no substitute for hands-on experience with products and materials. That’s why Kitchen Flair actively encourages the team to visit supplier facilities, attend workshops, and experience new products firsthand.
When our designers have physically opened drawers with premium soft-close mechanisms, felt the quality of different worktop materials, or seen BORA extraction systems in action, they can communicate these experiences to clients with genuine enthusiasm and understanding. This knowledge isn’t just theoretical – it’s felt and understood.
This philosophy extends to supplier partnerships as well. As suppliers increasingly open their doors to retailers, the face-to-face connections and shared learning that result help shape the quality of design and service Kitchen Flair can offer clients.
The Kitchen Flair Philosophy
Kristina’s article perfectly captures what makes Kitchen Flair different. It’s not about following every trend or having the biggest marketing budget. It’s about understanding that behind every kitchen project is a person or family whose daily life will be shaped by the space we create.
It’s about recognising that technology and digital tools are valuable, but they don’t replace the human connection that happens when a designer truly listens and understands what a client needs.
It’s about investing in our team because quality kitchens come from knowledgeable, passionate people who care about their craft.
And it’s about evolving thoughtfully whilst staying true to the Italian heritage and craftsmanship values that have defined Kitchen Flair since the beginning.
Read the Full Article
You can read Kristina’s complete article on the kbbreview website: https://www.kbbreview.com/80138/opinion/insights-2026-face-to-face-will-win-the-race/
The “Insights 2026” series features perspectives from industry leaders across the kitchen and bathroom sector, offering fascinating reading for anyone interested in where the industry is heading.
Visit our showrooms in Preston or Leyland to experience firsthand the face-to-face approach Kristina writes about. Come and talk to our team about your kitchen dreams, and discover why personal connection still matters in creating spaces that truly work for you.