Kitchen design specialist Et Lorem has been named a finalist at the KBB Focus Awards 2026, the company announced on 13 October. Its Teddington Creekside project has been shortlisted for Kitchen Design of the Year over £40,000, with the winners due to be revealed on 3 December 2026 at The Brewery in London.
The finalists were selected by an independent panel of industry experts. The category recognises a kitchen that shows strong and creative design, effective use of budget, a clear response to the client’s brief, and a final project value over £40,000. According to the release, the judges were looking for more than a high-value specification: entries needed to show how the budget was used to deliver a well-planned kitchen that works for the client, makes good use of the available space and demonstrates considered product and material choices.
01A kitchen shaped by the creek
The project was designed by Claire O’Donohue, Senior Designer at Et Lorem. The bespoke kitchen was created as an extension to both the home’s architecture and the family’s connection to the creek beyond.
Claire O’Donohue said: “Every decision was made to shape an atmosphere that invites people to gather, connect and create memories that will be enjoyed for generations to come”.
At the centre of the room sits a sculptural island with a soft, pill shaped breakfast bar and fluted oak support. The fluted detailing, which appears throughout the kitchen, was inspired by the ripples and movement of the water outside, linking the interior to the landscape. The island’s work surfaces are crafted in Vancouver natural stone, with a bespoke double layered edge and a bird’s beak detail. As well as a place to prepare food, the island was designed as somewhere for the family to sit together with views across the creek.
02Materials and collaboration
Hand painted skinny Shaker cabinetry sits alongside book matched oak veneer, with each panel sequenced so that the grain flows uninterrupted through the room. Solid brass handles with subtle fluting and a sculptural Venetian plaster hood add texture and movement. Positioned beneath the pitched ceiling, the hood acts as an architectural focal point, intended to help the kitchen feel part of the fabric of the house.
Et Lorem worked on the project with the client, interior designer Jo Massie of The Absolute Home, specialist cabinet makers in Essex, stone fabricators and its own installation team.
For homeowners planning a new kitchen as part of a wider project, our guide on checking the water supply in an older home before plastering sets out one of the practical checks worth making early.
03About Et Lorem
Established in 2020, Et Lorem is a bespoke and custom kitchen design and installation business owned by CEO and Founder Jamie Harding. It describes itself as an independent kitchen specialist for UK homeowners, interior designers, boutique developers and architects, and has a studio on Station Road in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
The winners of the KBB Focus Awards 2026 are set to be announced at the ceremony on 3 December 2026.
Details and image via Et Lorem.
