Australia

Large glazed sliding doors open onto a covered alfresco terrace, and the two are treated as one continuous space. A primary bedroom opening directly onto a terrace is standard rather than unusual.

Ceilings are frequently raked with exposed white-painted timber rafters, and skylights or linear roof glazing draw light into the plan.

Materials are pale throughout: pale oak, rendered walls, light stone, and woven cord seats. Colour stays low in saturation, in warm white, pale oak, oatmeal, sage and soft black, without strong contrast.

Furniture runs to long low sofas, built-in benches and floating shelves. A ceiling fan and external shading are climate requirements.

Compared with the North American transitional scheme, this market reads paler, plainer and more dependent on natural light and outdoor connection than on fireplaces, cornice and upholstery.