hi struti I would say it's matter of choice. marble or even granite or rough stone will have its own charm and definitely long lasting but only when staircase passage is comfortable huge. if space is compact wooden stairs would be better as its could be playfull with spiral or even basics with moulds and finishes, giving staircase elevation a contemporary look thanks shradha shah beescheese design

HDF is High Density Fibreboard as opposed to MDF which is medium density fibreboard. If sealed properly it can be used outdoors as panels set within hardwood frames. Better still is marine grade plywood

Farooq, First one is a glass finish Subway tile. It looks good but many people back out due to budget issues as it is relatively costlier. Second image is of a brick cladding wall paper. However, similar looking ceramic tiles, mud tiles are also available locally. IMHO, red brick sand tile gives a more natural effect.What suits better would depend on the overall design of the house. Thanks, Nitin Cornerstone Designs, Bangalore.

There is nothing special about Kerala climatic conditions that require anything special (yes, I have several years experience with kitchen cabinets there). You can use BS 710 or 303 plywood with laminate on them with excellent results. Several interior firms also use HDF/MDF with laminate without much complaints from their clients.