A rug in Palolem is mostly a sand trap, and should be chosen as one. Polypropylene rugs, machine-woven in dark patterns, hide what guests walk in from the beach, shake out in a moment and can be hosed and dried in the sun. They also store well: washed, dried and rolled, they sit out the long wet season without harm, which wool and jute would not. Nothing should be too big for one pair of arms. Rooms that open to the beach or stand closed for months are no place for fitted carpet; only a permanently air-conditioned hotel room could justify it. A coarse mat at each door spares both the rug and the floor.
- Beach huts: a single bedside rug in dark polypropylene, beaten free of sand each morning and stored rolled once the huts come down.
- Guest-house rooms: patterned machine-made rugs that mask sand and stains, and are simple to replace once one is beyond washing.
- Cafe and reception entrances: heavy doormats to catch sand at the threshold, with washable synthetic runners beyond them.
Palolem is a crescent-shaped bay near Chaudi in Canacona, with a wooded headland at each end. It is the busiest beach in the far south, lined in season with beach huts, cafes and guest houses, and with homestays and small hotels in the lanes behind.
Much of the accommodation is seasonal: huts are put up after the monsoon and taken down before it. Permanent buildings are guest houses, small hotels and family homes that let rooms. Furnishing is simple, bright and has to be easy to store or wash.
The bay is sheltered from the heaviest surf but not from salt or humidity. Sand gets into everything, and the monsoon is long and very wet.
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.
Holiday lets and guest houses
Choose dark, patterned, machine-made rugs for a let property. They hide sand and stains, cost little to replace, and can be washed between seasons.
Can you supply curtains and cushions for guest houses in Palolem?
Yes. We make washable curtains, blinds and cushion covers in quantity, and can quote for a set of rooms together.
What can be stored through the monsoon and reused?
Blinds that roll up, curtains that are washed and packed dry, and outdoor fabric cushions. All are made to be taken down and put back.
