Rooms in the Altinho bungalows are large enough to swallow a standard rug, which then sits in the middle like a postage stamp. Size is the first thing to get right: under a seating group, the rug should reach beneath the front legs of every chair. Old tiled or stone floors deserve to be shown round the edges, not hidden under fitted carpet, and a thin underlay stops a rug sliding on polish. Material depends on which side of the hill the room is. Breezy rooms dry quickly and suit wool or a cotton dhurrie; rooms darkened by trees stay damp, and there a synthetic rug that can be carried out to air is the safer buy.
- Bungalow drawing rooms: one large wool or Persian-style rug under the whole seating group, laid on underlay over the old floor.
- Shaded, tree-side bedrooms: polypropylene rugs light enough to lift and air, since wool can start to smell in a damp room.
- Studies in official residences: wall-to-wall carpet in air-conditioned rooms only, in a sober plain colour that is simple to match later.
Altinho is the wooded hill that rises behind the centre of Panjim. It holds the Bishop's Palace, official residences, government quarters and old bungalows, with views over the city and the Mandovi. It is quiet, green and close to everything.
Altinho has large old bungalows with verandas, high ceilings and many tall windows, alongside government quarters and a few newer apartment buildings. The bungalows need long curtains and a lot of fabric; many are official residences furnished to a set standard.
The hill catches the breeze and is cooler than the city below, but exposed windows take wind and driving rain in the monsoon. Trees keep rooms shaded and can make them damp.
Hilltop and plateau homes
Airy rooms on high ground dry quickly, which is good for natural-fibre rugs. Large open windows mean more sun on the floor, so choose colours that will not show fading along one edge.
Old Goan houses
Old tiled and stone floors are part of the house, so use rugs, not fitted carpet. A dhurrie or a Persian-style rug suits the furniture, with an underlay so it does not slip on polished tiles.
