THE SPRING KITCHEN: WARMER MATERIALS, SMARTER TAPS AND LIGHTER FOOD
Spring is on the way, bringing lighter meals and more fresh produce into the kitchen. It is also a useful time to look at what is changing in kitchen design and which ideas have staying power.
The current direction is practical rather than decorative. Kitchens are becoming warmer, more personalised and easier to work in. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2026 Kitchen Trends Report, neutral palettes remain dominant, but green and blue are gaining ground. Natural materials are also growing in popularity, with wood grain, white oak and quartzite featuring strongly in designers’ forecasts.
White kitchens have not disappeared, but fewer homeowners want an entirely white room. Colour is being introduced selectively through islands, splashbacks and cabinetry rather than across every surface. Warm neutrals, muted greens, deeper blues and brown tones are replacing cooler grey schemes.
Stone is staying, but the choices are broader
Marble remains popular because of its natural pattern and strong visual presence. It does, however, require care. Quartzite offers a similar sense of movement with greater resistance to everyday wear, while granite remains a practical choice for busy homes. Quartz and other engineered materials are often selected for their consistency and lower maintenance.
The more interesting change is how these materials are being combined. A kitchen may use quartzite on the island, timber on the cabinetry and a simpler surface around the cooking area. Slab splashbacks are also becoming more common, reducing grout lines and allowing the stone or surface pattern to carry across the wall. NKBA research identifies solid-surface splashbacks, natural quartzite and wood-grain cabinetry among the features expected to grow over the next few years.
Matching every finish is no longer the goal. The better kitchens repeat tones rather than materials. A veined countertop might be paired with timber cupboards and a Matte Black tap. Brushed metal can add contrast without making the room feel busy.
Flat cabinet fronts and integrated appliances support this simpler look. They also make sense in open-plan homes, where the kitchen is visible from the dining and living areas. The room still needs character, but fewer people want it to look like a display of separate appliances and fittings.
The kitchen tap has become a visible design decision
In an open-plan kitchen, the tap is seen from several parts of the home. Its height, shape and finish affect the wider room, particularly when it sits on an island.
The hansgrohe Talis M54 has a slim profile and is available in several shapes, allowing it to work beneath wall cupboards or as a taller feature over an island sink. Finish options include Chrome, Stainless Steel Finish, Matte Black and Brushed Black Chrome.
The Talis Select M54 PowderSpray is designed for the way people actually use a sink. PowderSpray releases fine droplets from the horizontal spout, making it suitable for rinsing salad leaves, herbs and delicate fruit with less splash. A Select button directs the water to the pull-out front spout, where the user can choose a clear laminar stream for filling pots or a shower spray for washing food and cleaning the sink.
Each spray has a different flow rate. PowderSpray uses five litres per minute, the shower spray uses four litres, and the laminar stream provides 5.6 litres for tasks that need more water. This allows the user to choose the flow that suits the job rather than running a heavy stream for everything.
Selected Talis M54 models can be paired with the hansgrohe sBox, allowing the pull-out hose to extend by as much as 76 centimetres. The sBox also guides the hose beneath the counter so that it retracts smoothly and remains protected inside the cupboard.
The hansgrohe Zesis M33 offers many of the same practical advantages in a simpler format. It suits renovations and everyday family kitchens, with ComfortZone heights selected according to the sink and the amount of working space needed beneath the spout.
The 2jet version includes a pull-out spray with a laminar stream for filling pots and bowls, and a shower setting for rinsing vegetables or cleaning the sink. When used with an sBox, selected models also offer up to 76 centimetres of reach.
These features are useful because kitchen technology should solve ordinary problems. A tap needs to reach the corner of the sink. It should make it easier to wash a large bowl, rinse fresh food and fill a pot without lifting it awkwardly beneath the spout. Good design becomes clear through repeated use.
Spring Strawberry, Asparagus and Whipped Feta Salad
This salad works well for a spring lunch and takes little time to prepare. The fresh ingredients also make good use of a gentle kitchen spray, particularly when washing berries and leaves that can bruise under a strong stream.
Ingredients
For the whipped feta
- 200g feta
- 100g plain Greek yoghurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Finely grated zest of half a lemon
For the salad
- 200g asparagus
- 150g sugar snap peas
- 250g strawberries
- 1 small cucumber
- 6 radishes
- 2 handfuls baby salad leaves
- A small handful of mint
- 40g pistachios, roughly chopped
For the dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Wash the asparagus, sugar snap peas, strawberries, cucumber, radishes, leaves and mint under cool running water. Use a gentle spray for the strawberries and salad leaves. Drain and pat dry.
Blanch the asparagus and sugar snap peas for two minutes, then transfer them to iced water. Drain well.
Blend the feta, yoghurt, olive oil and lemon zest until smooth. Spread the mixture across a serving platter.
Slice the strawberries and radishes. Peel the cucumber into ribbons. Arrange the vegetables, leaves and strawberries over the whipped feta.
Whisk the dressing ingredients together and spoon over the salad. Finish with mint and pistachios. Serve with warm bread or grilled chicken.
hansgrohe. Life is waterful.
