A house beside Parra's fields gets two seasons underfoot. In the dry months it is dusty, and wool, jute and cotton dhurries all do well, provided they are a size that can be carried out and beaten. In the monsoon the low ground floods and the air in ground-floor rooms turns heavy; natural fibres are better rolled up and stored upstairs then, or swapped for a synthetic rug. Villa living rooms are large, and a rug big enough for the front legs of all the seating looks right where a small one floats. Sunlight is strong, so avoid colours that would show a bleached edge by the door.
- Large villa living rooms: one generous rug under all the seating, measured in the room since sizes are not standard.
- Old houses with tiled floors: a dhurrie on an underlay, sized so the old tiles stay on show around it.
- Ground-floor rooms by the fields: a synthetic rug in the monsoon, with jute and wool kept for the dry months.
Parra is a village between Mapusa and Calangute, best known for the straight road through its fields, lined with coconut palms. It is an agricultural village, known for its watermelons, with old houses around the church and new villas and apartments along the edges.
Parra has traditional family homes and, increasingly, gated villas and small apartment complexes built for buyers who want to be near the beaches without living on them. New homes have modern windows and sliding doors.
Parra is inland and open. The fields give a clear run to sun and wind, rooms are bright, and monsoon rain floods the low ground, raising humidity.
Inland homes
A drier inland home can use wool, cotton dhurries and jute without trouble. Rugs gather the dust that comes in from the road, so choose sizes that can be taken out and beaten or vacuumed easily.
Villas and gated homes
Large rooms need large rugs: the front legs of all the seating should rest on one. Stair runners and bedroom rugs are measured on site, because villa rooms are rarely standard sizes.
What keeps a west-facing room in Parra cool?
A blackout or thermal-lined curtain, or a blackout roller blind, drawn in the afternoon. It keeps direct sun off the glass and the room noticeably cooler.
Do you furnish new villas in Parra?
Yes. Curtain tracks, blinds, mosquito nets and upholstery can be measured in one visit and quoted together.
