Pink is not a colour you expect to find in an office, but it has given a Canberra business definite wow factor.
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Commonplace, in Narrabundah, has caught the eye of design experts and is a finalist in the 35th annual Dulux Colour Awards.
The boutique co-working space was a collaboration between Melina Design Group in Narrabundah and Studio and You in Deakin.
As well as natural timbers, greenery and raw, unfinished materials such as concrete, the designers used paints from the Dulux range, including Maiko (pink) and Cuddlepot (brown).
The boardroom also features a "pinkboard wall" finished in Dulux Dry Erase to add a sense of fun.
Commonplace was opened in November as a place where small business owners, freelancers and others can lease a space, or even just a desk, for as short or long as they need.
The owners wanted the space to be beautiful and inspiring.
Studio and You director Allana Kochel said using colour helped realise that brief.
"I guess we wanted to create a space that had impact as soon as you enter," she said.
"We wanted to make a space that people would be proud and excited to work in every day."
Stojan Stekovic, the owner of Commonplace and the Melina Design Group, said he wanted to create a "point of difference" with the space.
Commonplace reflects his desire that all businesses "no matter how small deserve an office space that is beautiful, affordable and, most importantly, inspiring". People can rent the desk and have access to the internet, printing, lockers, tea and coffee and kitchen.
"It's quite a big expense running an office, and if you're a small business, having the opportunity to have a professional space every day at a third of the cost, that's the market that we're aiming at," he said.
Now in its 35th year, the Dulux awards program received 437 entries, which a panel of design experts narrowed down to 105 finalists.
The Commonplace entry was the only finalist from the ACT and will be competing in the national awards, in the commercial interior workplace and retail section.
The national winners will be announced later this year.
Mr Stekovic was thrilled to be recognised in the awards - and humble.
"We're stoked," he said.
"When I saw we were up against some of the best designers in the country, I knew that we had no chance to win, but I was glad they were were even there.
"There's some really beautiful jobs there, not to to take away anything we've done here, but we're small in money in comparison."
