A headboard in a Canacona guest room is leaned on by a different person every few days, with wet hair and sun cream, in air that stays humid for months. So the brief is short: a simple shape, a cover that wipes, and nothing that soaks up water. Leatherette suits, as does a dense performance cloth; cotton and deep button tufting do not. A plain panelled board is also the easiest to re-cover. Have both faces of the backing ply sealed, and fix it slightly off the wall so air gets behind, which matters most in rooms shut through the rains. In a family home in Chaudi the choice is wider, though a fabric that vacuums clean is still wise.
- Homestay and guest house rooms: a leatherette headboard in flat panels, wall-fixed on spacers, all rooms to one pattern.
- Small hotels near the beaches: sealed backing boards and synthetic covers, kept a little clear of any sea-facing wall.
- Family bedrooms in Chaudi: a bed-width upholstered board in a polyester weave that can be vacuumed and wiped.
Canacona is the southernmost taluka of Goa, and its town, Chaudi, is the market and administrative centre for the beaches of Palolem, Patnem and Agonda. It lies on the highway to Karwar, beyond the Karmal ghat, with forested hills behind it.
Chaudi itself is a small town of shops, flats and family houses. Around it, the demand is from guest houses, homestays, small hotels and the homes of people who run them. Budgets are practical and the season is short, so durability matters.
Canacona gets some of the heaviest rain in Goa, and humidity stays high for months. The town is a little inland; the beaches are fully exposed to salt.
Visiting Canacona
Canacona is about an hour from the showroom, south on the highway. We measure free of charge, and group Canacona, Palolem, Patnem and Agonda into one trip, so it helps to book a few days ahead.
Do you come as far as Canacona?
Yes. It is about an hour from Margao. We visit Canacona, Palolem, Patnem and Agonda together, so please book a few days ahead.
What lasts through the Canacona monsoon?
Synthetic fabrics, PVC and aluminium. Anything that absorbs water, such as cotton, jute, untreated wood or steel, suffers in the long wet season.