Balnarring Beach House Contemporary, Melbourne

The designer loves the all-white walls and trusses. "The house used to be a bit dark and cabin like, and now you feel like the whole place is breathing, which is a quality that I associate with California coastal homes or summer homes in the Hamptons," she says. "I'm happy that this cozy coastal style has found its way here to Melbourne," says Bergeron.Sofa: custom in cotton twill, Diane Bergeron Interiors; side table: vintage French; Roman blinds: custom, Diane Bergeron Interiors; pendant lights: Ralph Lauren

The positive: Exposed rafters can add real character.Vaulted ceilings give you the chance to make rafters a showstopping feature. Whether painted or left in their natural state, rafters can take a room from drab to flat-out fab.On the flip side: Soaring ceilings can make living spaces feel less warm and intimate. Strategies to visually lower the height of a ceiling will be necessary to avoid this — tall wall hangings or window treatments and low-hanging pendants are two such tricks of the trade.

Outdoor light fixture lantern for our back deck