With the beach a short walk away, sand comes home on feet in Miramar, and the breeze off the river mouth brings salt and moisture with it. Wool and jute hold that damp and turn stale, so polypropylene or nylon rugs are the better buy; they dry fast and can be aired on the long balconies these flats have. The living rooms are generous, and a small rug looks lost in them: choose one large enough for the front legs of every seat to rest on. Evening sun falls across the floor near the glass, so avoid colours that would show a faded strip. Wall-to-wall carpet suits only a bedroom that stays air-conditioned.
- Large living rooms with a view: one big synthetic rug in a mid-tone flecked pattern, which hides sand and uneven fading near the windows.
- Bedrooms with air conditioning: fitted carpet is workable here, or a soft nylon rug on each side of the bed.
- Bungalow entrances near the beach: a coarse mat at the door and a washable runner in the hall to catch sand.
Miramar is the beach suburb of Panjim, where the Mandovi meets the sea. The long avenue from the city ends at Miramar circle, and the area around it is one of the most sought-after residential addresses in Goa, with apartment buildings and bungalows a short walk from the beach.
Flats here are larger than in the city centre, many with a sea or river view and long balconies. Owners want the view kept, so sunscreen blinds and sheers are common, with blackout behind them in bedrooms.
Miramar faces the open water at the river mouth. Salt air and wind reach the buildings along the avenue and the beach road, and the evening sun shines straight in from the west.
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.
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.
