Floors in Margao are of two kinds. The old houses keep their patterned tiles and polished stone, which deserve to stay on show, so a rug with an underlay sits on them and fitted carpet is left out. A dhurrie or Persian-style rug suits the carved furniture of those rooms. Apartment floors are hard tile, and a rug under the seating softens footsteps for the family below. Because the town is inland and fairly dry, wool, cotton and jute can all be used without the mustiness they pick up on the coast. Dust from the main roads is the price; pick sizes that two people can carry out and beat.
- Front rooms of Indo-Portuguese houses: a Persian-style rug or dhurrie on a non-slip underlay, sized to leave the old tile border visible.
- Apartment living rooms: a wool or cotton rug under the sofa and table, with a strip of bare floor showing on every side.
- Home offices and study corners: carpet tiles, since one that is stained by ink or tea can be lifted and changed alone.
Margao is the commercial centre of South Goa and the main town of Salcete. Its old quarter around the Holy Spirit Church and Borda keeps long rows of Indo-Portuguese houses, while the newer town spreads east towards the railway station and south towards Navelim in apartment blocks and shops. Most of South Goa comes here to buy for the home.
Two kinds of home dominate. The old houses have tall shuttered windows, thick laterite walls and ceilings well above three metres, so curtains need long drops and rods fixed above the frame. The apartments have standard windows, a balcony with a sliding door, and often a split air conditioner sitting just above the window, which decides where a track can go.
Margao sits about six kilometres inland, so salt is less of a problem than on the coast. Heat, traffic dust on the main roads and four months of heavy rain matter more. West-facing rooms get hot in the afternoon and benefit most from lined curtains or blackout blinds.
Apartments and town flats
In a flat, a rug under the seating softens noise for the neighbours below. Leave a border of floor showing around it. Carpet tiles suit a home office because one stained tile can be changed.
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.
Visiting Margao
Our showroom is in Vidya Nagar, within Margao, so a measuring visit anywhere in town is a few minutes away. You can also bring your window sizes to the showroom and see fabrics, blinds and wallpaper books there.
Where is your showroom in Margao?
In Vidya Nagar, Madgaon. You can see curtain fabrics, blind samples, wallpaper books, carpets and sofas there, or ask us to bring samples to your home in Margao.
Can you fit curtains in an old Margao house with very high ceilings?
Yes. We measure the full drop, fix the rod or track above the window frame so the shutters still open, and make the curtains to that length. Tall, wide windows can also be fitted with a motorised track.
