Floors in Panjim differ street by street. The old houses of Fontainhas have patterned tiles that deserve to be seen, so a rug with an underlay is the right choice there and fitted carpet is not. Ground floors close to the St Inez creek are damp underfoot through the rains; a rug in those rooms should be one that can be lifted, aired and dried, without a rubber backing. Upstairs flats are simpler. A low-pile synthetic rug under the seating softens footsteps for the family below and shakes out the dust that drifts in from the main roads. Wall-to-wall carpet suits an air-conditioned office better than a home here.
- Tiled halls in heritage houses: a flat-woven dhurrie on a non-slip underlay, leaving a wide border of the old floor in view.
- Flats in Tonca and Taleigao: a polypropylene rug sized so the front legs of the sofa rest on it, easy to vacuum weekly.
- Offices around the church square: carpet tiles in air-conditioned rooms, so a stained or worn tile can be swapped on its own.
Panjim, or Panaji, is the capital of Goa, built along the south bank of the Mandovi. The old quarters of Fontainhas and São Tomé keep their narrow streets of painted Portuguese-era houses, the centre has government offices and shops around the church square, and newer apartment blocks spread towards St Inez, Tonca and Taleigao.
Panjim homes range from restored houses in Fontainhas, with wooden balconies and windows opening straight onto the street, to flats in buildings from the 1970s onwards. Street-level windows need privacy without losing light, which makes sheers and zebra blinds popular. Offices and clinics are a large part of the work here.
The river and the nearby sea keep the city humid. Low-lying streets near the creek at St Inez flood in heavy rain, and ground-floor walls there hold damp. Traffic dust settles on fabrics in rooms facing the main roads.
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 Panjim
Panjim is about forty-five minutes from our Margao showroom, over the Zuari bridge. We measure free of charge and plan Panjim, Miramar, Altinho and Dona Paula visits for the same day.
