A closer look at
what goes into every space.

Boiling-water-proof plywood (IS 303 BWP grade; IS 710 for marine) is the backbone of a modular kitchen. Ask for the IS mark and a termite-treated core — Chhattisgarh and MP monsoons are hard on cheap boards.

Avoid: Paying BWP prices for dry-room wardrobes — MR grade is enough there

A thin slice of real timber on plywood — every sheet is different. It needs a PU or melamine polish (often another ₹120–250 per sq ft) and an occasional re-polish over the years.

Avoid: Sink-side shutters and strong direct sun, which fades and yellows it

Insist on kiln-seasoned timber. Unseasoned wood cracks in the dry Raipur summer and swells in the monsoon. Imported Burma teak costs considerably more than the range shown.

Avoid: Large flat panels — they move with humidity; use veneered ply instead

Natural cane brings texture and lets storage breathe. Synthetic (PVC) cane is cheaper and handles humidity better, at the cost of some warmth.

Avoid: Kitchens, bathrooms and heavy-use seat panels without a backing

High-pressure laminate is hard-wearing and comes in hundreds of solid, wood and stone looks. Prefer 1 mm over 0.8 mm for shutters, and matte or suede textures to hide fingerprints.

Avoid: Cheap edge banding — water gets in at the edges, not the face

A deep, mirror-like gloss that makes small kitchens feel brighter. It shows fingerprints and fine scratches, so it suits careful households and upper cabinets best.

Avoid: Children's rooms and shutters right beside the hob

Sprayed polyurethane in almost any colour, matte to high gloss, with seamless edges. Chips can be touched up, but only by a skilled polisher.

Avoid: Tight budgets and timelines — it needs several coats and curing time

Back-painted glass wipes clean and suits backsplashes; toughened (tempered) glass breaks into small blunt pieces, so it is the safe choice for partitions, doors and tops.

Avoid: Ordinary float glass anywhere at body height — specify toughened

Non-porous, so turmeric, oil and tea wipe off. Use a trivet for hot kadhais — very high heat can mark the resin binder.

Avoid: Outdoor counters and direct afternoon sun — the resin can yellow

Heat-proof, very hard and widely available — Jet Black, Tan Brown and Black Galaxy are common choices. Darker granites hide stains best; seal lighter ones.

Avoid: Unsealed light granites near oil and turmeric

Softer and more porous than granite, so it needs sealing and periodic polishing. Buy the whole quantity from one lot so the colour and veining match.

Avoid: Kitchen counters — lemon, tomato and turmeric etch and stain it

A dense blue-green limestone that has been a staple floor across MP and Chhattisgarh for decades. Polished Kota is cool underfoot in summer and very forgiving.

Avoid: Rooms where you want a bright, uniform look — it is naturally mottled

Glazed (GVT) and polished glazed (PGVT) tiles are the default Indian floor for good reason: hard, non-porous and affordable. Use 2–3 mm joints with epoxy grout for a clean finish.

Avoid: Mixing boxes from different batches — check the shade number

A real hardwood top layer on a stable ply core — the warmth of timber with far less movement than solid planks. Keep it away from standing water and mop with a damp, not wet, cloth.

Avoid: Ground floors with damp, bathrooms, kitchens

Stone-plastic composite planks with a waterproof core. Quick to install with no breaking of old floors — a practical upgrade for older flats.

Avoid: Floors in strong direct sun by large west-facing glass

From subtle sand finishes to lime-wash and stucco effects. Fix seepage first: no paint finish survives a damp wall through the monsoon.

Avoid: Every wall — one textured wall usually says more than four

Vinyl-coated papers cope better with humid Indian summers and wipe clean. Always ask the installer to check wall moisture before hanging.

Avoid: Walls with any dampness, and kitchens or bathrooms

Vertical flutes add rhythm and shadow without colour. WPC handles moisture well; MDF takes paint or veneer for a richer finish but must stay dry.

Avoid: Dusty, high-touch areas if no one will clean the grooves

Check the rub count (Martindale) — roughly 20,000+ for everyday seating. Performance and stain-resistant fabrics are worth the premium in family living rooms.

Avoid: Delicate weaves on sofas used daily by children or pets

Flat-woven cotton dhurries are light and washable for the Indian summer; wool rugs add warmth in winter and soften echo in large rooms.

Avoid: Damp floors — let the floor dry fully after mopping

Soft-close hinges, tandem drawer systems and corner fittings decide how a kitchen feels for the next fifteen years. Prefer stainless steel (SS 304) near the sink.

Avoid: Saving here to spend on shutters; hinges fail long before finishes do