Darker tones, blue-green combinations and moody palettes were trending in the submissions made for the 2017 Dulux Colour Awards. The number of entries hit a new record this year with 286 designs reviewed for the 2017 Dulux Colour Awards and 89 finalists from across Australia and New Zealand shortlisted for the top honours on the basis of their inventive colour application.

The 31st edition of the iconic program will once again recognise Australian and New Zealand’s diversely creative, imaginative and outstanding use of colour across commercial and residential spaces.

The 89 finalists were selected across nine categories: Commercial Interior – Workplace & Retail (15 finalists); Commercial Interior – Public Spaces & Hospitality (16 finalists); Commercial Exterior (17 finalists); Single Residential Interior (14 finalists); Single Residential Exterior (5 finalists); Multi Residential Interior (5 finalists); Multi Residential Exterior (5 finalists); International (8 finalists); Student (4 finalists).

Dulux Colour Planning and Communication Manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr, said the 2017 submissions were exciting, inventive and unexpected, in line with the theme of ‘Bold, Forward, Tilted’.

A trend of darker tones was noticed in commercial spaces with blacks, charcoals and purples prominent throughout exteriors and interiors. Cooler combinations of blues and greens were also popular, while architects and designers continued to explore geometric shapes and industrial aesthetics. In the residential segment, the entries embraced moodier palettes and deeper colour tones, which were cleverly offset with elegant light greys, whites and soft pinks.

This year’s student entries also featured imaginative concepts and clever colour combinations, according to Andrea.

The 2017 Dulux Colour Awards finalists will now be judged by a panel of design leaders, including Ryan Russell – Director at Russell & George; Maurice Terzini – Restaurateur and Fashion Designer; Fiona Lynch – Director at Fiona Lynch Interior Design; Timothy Hill - Director at Partner’s Hill; and Shelley Ferguson – Editor in Chief of Your Home and Garden (NZ).

Winners will be selected across the nine categories with the best of the category winners awarded the Grand Prix prize. Winners of the 2017 Dulux Colour Awards will be announced at a gala event in Melbourne on Wednesday 10 May, 2017.

2017 Dulux Colour Awards Finalists listed by Project Name, Architecture/Design Practice, Category

COMMERCIAL INTERIOR – WORKPLACE AND RETAIL

  • Fourviere Centre, Assumption College, Victoria by Y2 Architecture
  • Melbourne Flower Merchant, Victoria by Studio 103
  • PEXA, Victoria by Futurespace
  • BDO, Victoria by Unispace
  • SJB - Oliver Lane Studio, Victoria by SJB
  • Readings Kids, Victoria by Nest Architects
  • Domain, NSW by Siren Design
  • Hasbro, NSW by Siren Design
  • Bpay, NSW by Siren Design
  • Magellan, NSW by Futurespace
  • Stylecraft Home Showroom, NSW by Hassell228_Commercial-InStylecraft-Sydney-Showroom_Image-Credit-Felix-Forest-002.jpgPhotography by Felix Forest 
  • ENERO, NSW by The Bold Collective
  • CATI CENTRE, NSW by The Bold Collective
  • One Blue Post, NSW by Lynne Bradley Interiors
  • Charter Hall Perth, WA by CODA Studio

COMERCIAL INTERIOR – PUBLIC AND HOSPITALITY

  • Joylati, Victoria by Studio Y
  • Pintoh, Victoria by Studio Y
  • KA Fire Stair, Victoria by Deakin University
  • Monash School of Nursing & Midwifery Public Spaces, Victoria by Sibling Architecture
  • Captain Grey, Victoria by Biasol
  • Middletown CafĂ©, Victoria by Studio Tate156_Com-Int-Public_Middletown-Cafe_Image-Credit-Alex-Hopkins-002.jpgPhotography by Alex Hopkins 
  • James Richardson Furniture DENFAIR 2016, Victoria by Latitude Group
  • Wah Wah Gee, Victoria by Studio Equator
  • John Hunter Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Refurbishment, NSW by EJE Architecture
  • Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives, NSW by studioplusthree
  • The Pool, NSW by Aileen Sage Architects
  • Broadsheet Restaurant, NSW by Foolscap Studio
  • Karratha Super Clinic, WA by CODA Studio
  • Murdoch University Peel Campus Upgrade, WA by CODA Studio
  • The Sheraton Mirage, Queensland by Mim Design

COMMERCIAL EXTERIOR

  • Wodonga West Children's Centre, Victoria by NOW Architecture
  • Ivanhoe Grammar Senior Years & Science, Victoria by McBride Charles Ryan273-Commercial-Ext_Ivanhoe-Grammar_Image-Credit-John-Gollings.jpgPhotography by John Gollings 
  • Dawson Street, Victoria by MGS Architects
  • Readings Kids, Victoria by Nest Architects
  • RMIT Bundoora West Student Accommodation, Victoria by Richard Middleton Architects
  • Wall Art, NSW by Indyk Architects
  • The Metro, NSW by Katrina Hill Design Group
  • Hotel Challis, NSW by Katrina Hill Design Group
  • Parry St Placemaking, NSW by papercourtyard with Donna Burrell
  • North Bondi Amenities, NSW by Sam Crawford Architects
  • Bungarribee Super Park, NSW by JMD Design
  • Byford Secondary College, WA by Donaldson and Warn
  • NCC Early Swimmers, Queensland by Conwell Architects
  • Ambrose Treacy College Middle School, Queensland by Fulton Trotter Architects
  • Lauderdale Primary School Kinder and Classroom Additions, Tasmania by Preston Lane Architects
  • Bikini by Travis Walton Architecture
  • Antarctic Heritage Trust - Hillary's Hut by Antarctic Heritage Trust
  • The Old Vicarage by Element 17

SINGLE RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR

  • Malvern House, Victoria by Austin Design Associates56_Single-Res-Int_Malvern-House_Image-Credit-Derek-Swalwell.jpgPhotography by Derek Swalwell
  • Middle Park, Victoria by Sisalla Interior Design
  • Footscray Apartment, Victoria by BoardGrove Architects
  • Wheelers Hill, Victoria by Eco Edge Architecture + Interior Design
  • Cavale, Victoria by Camille Javal
  • Fitzroy Residence, Victoria by Doherty Design Studio
  • Belmont House, Victoria by Kennedy Nolan
  • Hawthorn House, Victoria by ADDARC
  • Northcote House, Victoria by Taylor Knights
  • Former Sweet Factory, Victoria by Folk Architects
  • Camberwell One, Victoria by Eco Edge Architecture + Interior Design
  • Henley House, NSW by David Mitchell Architects
  • Bondi Residence, NSW by Lara Ette, Design & Decoration
  • Avery Project by German Kitchens Limited

SINGLE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR

  • Duplay, Victoria by Archsign
  • Flinders House, Victoria by Austin Design Associates
  • Camberwell One, Victoria by Eco Edge Architecture + Interior Design
  • Burleigh Street House, Queensland by ME2_guvk0r.jpgPhotography by Christopher Frederick Jones 
  • City Villa by Goode Interiors

MULTI RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR

  • RMIT Bundoora West Student Accommodation, Victoria by Richard Middleton Architects90__DMS0203.jpgPhotography by Dianna Snape
  • Nine Smith St, Victoria by Neometro
  • Coppin Street Apartments, Victoria by MUSK Architecture Studio
  • 107 Cambridge, Victoria by Elenberg Fraser
  • Oak Grove, Victoria by Justin Mallia Architecture

MULTI RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR

  • The Bakery, NSW by See It in Colour
  • Aston, NSW by PBD Architects
  • Art Deco Alive! by Christchurch Apartments
  • The Pulse by Xsite Architects

STUDENT (YEARS 1 – 6)

  • Arched - a civil union, Victoria by Jun Chang (RMIT University)
  • Maker Space, Victoria by Tahnee Pfeiffer (RMIT University)
  • Kawaii, NSW by Rachel Ang (University of New South Wales)
  • Carrara Baths by Taylor Chan (University of Auckland)

INTERNATIONAL

  • Bikini by Travis Walton ArchitectureBikini_03_of_10-650x433.jpgImage: Travis Walton 
  • Antarctic Heritage Trust - Hillary's Hut by Antarctic Heritage Trust
  • The Old Vicarage by Element 17
  • Avery Project by German Kitchens Limited
  • City Villa by Goode Interiors
  • Art Deco Alive! by Christchurch Apartments
  • The Pulse by Xsite Architects
  • Australis Nathan by Peddle Thorp