Custom Sofas for Canacona.

The season in Canacona is short and the monsoon long, so a sofa here spends more months resisting damp than being sat on. Build with that in mind. Hardwood that has been properly seasoned, woven webbing where springs would rust, dense foam, and a close synthetic weave on top will come through the wet months; cotton, jute and untreated wood will not. In a homestay or small hotel, covers that zip off and wash, with a second set in the cupboard, keep a room lettable when a guest spills something. Where a family books one room, a sofa that opens into a bed earns its space. In Chaudi's own flats and family houses the same applies, with less salt.

• Homestay sitting rooms: a compact sofa whose patterned synthetic covers unzip for the wash, with a duplicate set held ready.
• Small hotel receptions: a firm leatherette bench sofa that wipes down, raised on legs clear of a wet floor.
• Family houses in Chaudi: reupholstery of the existing sofa in a tight polyester weave, with fresh foam and webbing.