Leave wool and jute out of a Carmona house. That advice comes straight from the conditions: salt in the air, wet ground between the village and the beach all through the rains, and rooms that may be locked for months while the family is away. A natural-fibre rug left on the floor of a shut house draws damp and smells when the door is opened. Polypropylene and nylon rugs dry fast and resist mildew, and are light enough for a caretaker to roll up or carry out to the veranda to air. The old tiled floors should stay free of fitted carpet in any case. Avoid rubber-backed rugs, which trap moisture against the tiles.
- Houses shut while the family is abroad: synthetic rugs rolled and stood on end before leaving, then relaid when the house reopens.
- Old tiled halls: a flat-woven synthetic rug in a traditional pattern, on a breathable underlay that will not mark the tiles.
- Holiday villas near the shore: dark patterned machine-made rugs, which hide sand and can be washed at the end of the season.
Carmona is a small village between Varca and Cavelossim, set a little back from the beach. It is quieter than its neighbours, with old family houses along shaded lanes, a village church, and a few holiday complexes and villas near the shore.
Many Carmona homes belong to families who work abroad or at sea and return for part of the year. The houses are traditional, with verandas and wooden windows, and are often being modernised room by room.
Carmona is close enough to the sea for salt to matter, and the low ground between village and beach is wet in the monsoon. Houses that stand closed for months need airing and fabrics that resist mildew.
Sea-facing homes
Wool and jute hold moisture near the sea and can smell. Synthetic rugs in polypropylene or nylon dry quickly and resist mildew, and can be taken outside to air. Wall-to-wall carpet suits only air-conditioned rooms.
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.
