March 30th, 2020Manteau Noir finalist

MANTEAU Noir in Daylesford has been shortlisted as a finalist for a national design awards – The Dulux Colour Award in the Commercial Interior: Workplace and Retail category.

Manteau Noir was opened by Victoria Varrasso, inset, on March 2, 2014.

The awards program, now in its 34th year, recognises Australian and New Zealand practitioners who are using colour as the hero and a strategic feature in innovative design.

The 2020 Dulux Colour Awards received more than 450 entries with 107 finalists across Australia and New Zealand.

Designer Carole Whiting said the key was to “not to try too hard…don’t let the design dominate the space”. “Producing an elegant retail design that allows the product to hero without receding into a bland background is the fine balance sought. Navy blue is striking and ubiquitous but still allows the product to shine.

“Vintage storage pieces, hand blown glass lighting and crisp signage sit comfortably with aged and patina-ed mirror and steel surfaces which provide interest and detail when examined but these touches do not dominate and allow the diminutive retail space to breathe.”