We’re absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news, Kitchen Flair has been named a winner of the prestigious “Top Real Stori” award at the inaugural STORI Retailer Excellence Awards 2026, hosted by Uform!
Held on Wednesday 13th May 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Templepatrick, Northern Ireland, the event brought together over 55 leading independent retailers from across the UK and Ireland to celebrate excellence, innovation, and partnership across the kitchen industry. Being recognised amongst such talented company is a huge honour, and we couldn’t be prouder of what this award represents.
A Night to Remember
The STORI Brand Conference & Retailer Excellence Awards, held under the theme “The Power of Partnership,” celebrated the very best of independent kitchen retailers across the UK and Ireland. With nine categories covering everything from kitchen design and customer experience to digital engagement and brand representation, the awards recognised retailers who truly embody the spirit of STORI.
Kitchen Flair was shortlisted as a finalist in two categories, a recognition in itself that we’re incredibly proud of. To then walk away as a winner of the “Top Real Stori” award? An absolutely unforgettable moment for our team.
Lee Libertini-Atkins and Kristina Libertini attended the two-day event, representing Kitchen Flair amongst fellow industry leaders, manufacturers, and sponsoring suppliers. The experience offered far more than just an awards ceremony, it was a genuine opportunity to connect, learn, and reflect.
The Project That Made It Happen
The “Top Real Stori” award celebrates outstanding real-life kitchen projects, homes transformed by talented retailers working in partnership with STORI. Our winning project was a full-house transformation completed in Autumn 2025, encompassing a kitchen, utility room, home office, and his & hers dressing rooms.
About the project
This stunning project showcased what bespoke design and craftsmanship can truly achieve when working in partnership with a client who shares a vision for quality. Designed by Kristina, the project combined classic design principles with thoroughly modern functionality.
Kitchen Features:
- Beaded In-Frame Kitchen in Graphite and Shell finishes
- Oversized statement island providing seating, prep space, and a focal point
- Walnut frame coffee and drinks dressers with lit open top boxes for accessorising
- Quooker Boiling Water Tap with Cube Sparkling & Filter Water
- Hettich drawers and components throughout, including the Light Tower Larder Drawer Tower
- Wingline dresser doors for a beautiful blend of style and function
- Siemens appliances integrated seamlessly into the design
- Dark brushed brass T-bar and bar handles with backplates for a sophisticated finishing touch
Beyond the Kitchen
The project extended Kitchen Flair’s bespoke approach throughout the home. A bold, dark walnut woodgrain home office created an inspiring work-from-home space, with a large desk area, open shelving, and base unit storage. Upstairs, the his & hers dressing rooms each took on their own distinct style, with bespoke storage solutions tailored to the client’s clothing, shoes, and accessories.
It’s exactly the kind of project that demonstrates why our whole-home approach resonates with discerning homeowners, when the same craftsmanship and design language flow throughout your home, the result is something truly special.
What This Award Means to Us
Awards like the “Top Real Stori” are about more than just recognition, they represent validation from across the industry that what we do, and how we do it, genuinely stands apart.
For a family business that’s been creating bespoke kitchens in Preston for over 30 years, being recognised amongst the best in the UK and Ireland feels particularly meaningful. It’s a testament to the craftsmanship of our workshop team, the creativity of our designers, the dedication of our installers, and the trust our clients place in us.
This recognition is true credit to our whole team at Kitchen Flair. Every project we deliver involves dozens of skilled people working together, from initial design consultation through manufacturing, project management, and final installation. An award like this belongs to every one of them.
The Power of Partnership
The “Power of Partnership” theme of this year’s event resonated deeply with us. At Kitchen Flair, we’ve always believed that the best results come from genuine partnerships, with our clients, with our suppliers, with industry brands like STORI, and with the talented trades we work alongside on every project.
Spending two days surrounded by like-minded retailers, manufacturers, and industry partners was both inspiring and refreshing. There’s something powerful about being amongst people who share your passion for craftsmanship and quality, who understand the challenges of running independent kitchen businesses, and who are genuinely invested in raising standards across the sector.
We came away from the event with valuable takeaways, fresh perspectives, and renewed energy for what we’re building at Kitchen Flair.
Be Bold and Be Brave
One particular highlight was catching up with Eamon Donnelly during the event. He shared that one of the key principles behind his success is to “be bold and be brave”, a mindset that we’ve been increasingly embracing in our own approach more recently.
Whether it’s launching our new finance options to make our kitchens more accessible, introducing our stunning Leicht Collection featuring BORA extraction technology, expanding our showroom displays, or taking on increasingly ambitious projects, being bold and brave has shaped some of our most exciting recent developments.
It’s encouraging to know that this mindset is shared by industry leaders, and it’s one we’ll continue to embrace as we move forward.
More Than Just Kitchens
This award-winning project also showcases something we’ve been working hard to demonstrate: Kitchen Flair creates beautiful bespoke furniture for every room in your home, not just kitchens.
The full-house project that earned us the Top Real Stori award included:
- A stunning bespoke kitchen as the heart of the home
- A practical yet beautiful utility room with passageway doors
- A bold dark walnut home office designed for productivity
- His & hers dressing rooms with completely tailored storage solutions
Each space received the same level of design attention and craftsmanship as the kitchen itself. Our clients increasingly appreciate this whole-home approach, when you’ve experienced the difference bespoke makes in your kitchen, extending that quality throughout your home creates a truly cohesive, considered result.
Thank You
A huge thank you to everyone who made this recognition possible:
To Uform and the STORI team: Thank you for hosting such a fantastic event and creating a platform that genuinely celebrates the work of independent retailers. The conference was insightful, the awards ceremony was wonderful, and the entire two days were thoroughly enjoyable.
To our incredible team at Kitchen Flair: This award is truly yours. From design through manufacturing through installation, every member of our team contributed to the project that earned this recognition. Your dedication, skill, and passion are what make Kitchen Flair what it is.
To our clients: Especially the homeowners behind our winning project, thank you for trusting us with your home and embracing the bespoke vision we developed together. Your commitment to quality and willingness to push boundaries made this project the showcase that won the award.
To the wider industry: It was a privilege to spend time with fellow retailers, manufacturers, and partners who share our passion for excellence. The honest conversations, meaningful connections, and shared laughter made the experience genuinely memorable.
Looking Ahead
This recognition gives us renewed momentum as we continue building Kitchen Flair’s reputation for exceptional bespoke kitchens and whole-home design. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, energised by the connections we’ve made, and excited about what’s next.
If you’re considering a bespoke kitchen, complete home project, or simply want to explore what’s possible for your home, we’d love to talk. Visit our showrooms in Preston or Leyland to experience our award-winning craftsmanship for yourself, or get in touch to start your project.
Once again, thank you to everyone who made this possible. Here’s to being bold, being brave, and creating exceptional kitchens together.
