IT IS the art of interior designing that converts ordinary country boats called Kettuvallams, which were used for transporting goods into houseboats that are floating luxury houses.

Initially, the houseboats consisted of single rooms built with cane and other locally available materials over the hulk of the country boats.

But the rooms of the modern houseboats could match even the suites of star hotels, said Benny Zechariah, an Ernakulam based interior designer, who specialises in the interior designing of star hotels and houseboats.

Managing space is the most important thing while designing the interiors of rooms in houseboats Mr. Zechariah said.

Maximum attention
Because of that maximum attention is given to the arrangement of furniture, he said.

Good quality wood, often teak, is used in abundance in the interior designing of houseboats, Mr. Zechariah said. Mahagony and walnut wood are also used, he said. The walls of the rooms and the floor are done using wood. Wood is also used in the ceiling.

The bedrooms of houseboats resemble the bedrooms of star hotels, complete with a large sized coat, chair, a single sofa, dressing table and wardrobe, said Mr. Zechariah.

The bedrooms have attached bathrooms, noted Mr. Zechariah. Presently, the bedrooms of luxury houseboats are air-conditioned he added.

Traditional furniture
He said the furniture being used in houseboats were traditional Kerala furniture.

The windows of bedrooms are given polyurethane finish, Mr. Zechariah added.

Spray painting is used for windowpanes, he added. The kitchens of houseboats have all modern amenities with the walls painted with waterproof paint and floor fixed with tiles and granite.

A sewage treatment plant has become an unavoidable part of a houseboat at present, said Mr. Zechariah. In several houseboats solar power is used for heating water.

Initially, the furniture used in houseboats was made of cane. But luxury houseboats now prefer wooden furniture instead of those made of cane, said Mr. Zechariah.

"Even that concept is undergoing a change with the ultra-modern houseboats now under construction are planning to use big sized furniture and designer furniture," he added.

Rain-showers
A houseboat under construction owned by Hotel Lake Palace would have bathtubs inside the bathroom and rain-showers, said Mr. Zechariah.

Mr. Zechariah who designs the interiors of several leading star hotels in Ernakulam and Thrissur said the houseboats of the future could really challenge even five star hotels in the matter of luxury.