The subtle approach

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A subtle palette of Resene colours creates a restful backdrop at Cosmokids child centre, allowing any colourful elements added in to really stand out.

Think of a childcare centre and you'll likely envisage rooms with bold, brash colours and pat-terns. But the new Cosmokids centre in the heart of Auckland's Queen St takes a different tack.

Designed by Moller Architects and childcare design specialist Naturally Wood, the environment at Cosmokids is more subtle and calming, with muted colours on the major surfaces.

These include walls painted in Resene Half Robin Egg Blue – a collaboration of grey and blue hues. This contrasts with other elements, such as Resene Alabaster used on joinery and upper cabinetry in the pre-schoolers' activity room, shown above.

Meanwhile Resene Blanched Pink creates a soft, restful environment in the infants' sleep room.

Cosmokids owner Lyn Creagh says that the background colours have a soothing effect and also allow the spaces to really come to life when colourful elements are added in.