Mary Woods

Sebastian, not sure if that question was directed at me. If so, I honestly have no idea. The reason I liked the room with the Stucco walls is that it ended up being the warmest room in the house during the winter. Our home was heated with portable kerosene heaters. Even properly vented, that was just a migraine waiting to happen. The warmth was a combination of things, not just the walls. You learn to economize space when 4 months out of the year your house is basically downsize to 1 room for a whole family. That downsizing let's you see how little you have to spend to enjoy the true things that make your space a home. Currently on my 30th move. I think I've taken downsizing to an extreme, this move my whole house was less than 2000 pounds move weight.

This post reminded me of living in a traditional Japanese home while living abroad. I thought I would love the new tatami mat floors in two rooms of my home. I thought the stucco on an interior wall of my bedroom was weird. After 2 years and all possible weather situations it was the opposite,  the walls I loved the straw mat floors I absolutely hated.

You might want to see if overseas military people are posting stuff on facebook on how to deal with your straw smell problem or research deodorizing traditional Japanese flooring solutions.

Best of luck, or... you'll either get used to the smell or it will just drive you slowly crazy over the next few years.