Built for the saaral season
Courtallam is famous for its saaral: the fine, constant drizzle that arrives with the monsoon and fills the air with spray from June to September. It’s the reason people visit, and it’s also the reason interiors here age faster than anywhere else in the district. Moisture gets into plywood edges, hinges rust and wardrobes start to smell musty by the end of the season.
Holiday homes and guest houses
Many properties in and around Courtallam are second homes or guest houses that sit empty for part of the year, or host a different family every weekend. Furniture there needs to be tough, easy to clean and forgiving of guests who aren’t careful with water. It also has to look good in photos, because that’s how most guest houses are booked.
What we usually recommend here
Aluminium kitchen cabinets throughout, because they are the one kitchen material the saaral can’t damage. Wardrobes in BWP plywood with laminate finishes that wipe clean, and soft-close fittings that stand up to heavy use. For guest rooms, we often suggest simple sliding wardrobes with a mirror shutter: they save space, look clean and are hard to damage.
Closing up a holiday home for the season
If your Courtallam property stays locked between visits, damp air can sit inside cupboards for weeks. We suggest leaving wardrobe and kitchen doors slightly open when you close the house, placing moisture absorbers in wardrobes, and keeping one small vent open in each room. Aluminium kitchen cabinets won’t mind the damp either way, but these steps keep bedding, clothes and wooden furniture fresh for the next guests.
