Engineer and lawyer couple gave up renting to buy and renovate their own apartment in Macau.
When Regina and Antonio Sousa eventually decided to buy an apartment in Macau, it was after many years of contentedly renting. But in the beginning of 2004, the property market suddenly took off with the opening up of the gaming industry a couple of years earlier, and this started astonishing economic growth in the city, which in turn drove up home prices. Owners started to see big gains and wanted to sell. “We saw a lot of our friends being given notice on their rentals, and very soon our own landlord wanted us to leave so he could sell”, explains Regina. “We had two young children and we realized it was time to put down roots; the kids needed a proper home”. 
They settled on a new building in a down-town area close to the Lisboa hotel. “It was a perfect location for us, within easy walking distance of the Portuguese School for our daughter and at that time the School of the Nations which our son attended was just across the road, where the Starworld is now. When we bought, from our balcony you could see across the harbor to Taipa; there was no Starworld, no Wynn, no MGM, no NAPE, it was a very different landscape to what it is today!” laughs Regina.
“I fell in love with the apartment the moment I walked into the large living area and big, big kitchen. There was just a simple gas burner for cooking, but that didn’t put us off, we saw the potential of the space immediately”.
Most of their savings went into buying the apartment so the Sousas were on a tight budget when it came to turning it into the home they wanted. The main job was to move the corridor leading from the living room to the bedrooms. At this stage there were only three bedrooms. The master bedroom was enormous, totally out of proportion to the rest of the space. And they needed four bedrooms, so as to be able to welcome visiting family and friends. By moving the corridor to take in part of the master bedroom, it meant that on the other side of the corridor, space was made to incorporate the small housekeeper’s room and bathroom off the kitchen, which then became a good sized guest bedroom and ensuite.
With the repositioning of the corridor, some additional hidden storage space was possible, and a cozy ante-room feature was designed at the end where it joins the 2 bedrooms for the children. A gorgeous tall, red lacquer cabinet sitting on a unique square base takes pride of place here and holds the household’s linen.
“We bought with us some of our rattan furniture from the rental apartment which was useful for our daughter’s bedroom, but we realized that owning our own place at last we wanted to do a proper job and get in some nice things,” says Antonio. “Our lovely leather sofa came from AREA and has done us well these past twelve years. All the main furniture we designed ourselves and had it made in China. Very simple, modern, clean designs were our aim. No handles for example, on any of the cabinets or desk. The 3 shelves, the coffee table, TV consul and low chest behind the sofa are all solid, repurposed old elm redesigned to modern shape and function, with beautiful wood grain that gives light and life to the pieces. Our dining table was so huge when it was delivered that it wouldn’t fit in the lift, it had to be hand carried up by a team of men from the fourth floor parking area to us on the ninth floor”.
The eye for detail in design of the shelves is in particular worth noting; they alternate one with darker wood on the outside, and lighter wood inside, then the next has light wood on the outside and darker wood inside.
Other design features can be seen in some of the framed pictures hanging on the wall; top and bottom pieces of wood with grooves in them for the picture to fit into. And in the master bedroom a standing mirror – one piece of mirror sitting in a block of wood that makes up the base. 
Separating the front entrance hallway from the living room is a section of wall to form a room divider, painted in a ‘muddy’ deep red that
looks stunning against the other stark white walls. An old wood hanging bought many years ago from an antique shop in China further enhances the look. Other artwork and objet d’art, the papier mache jars, the lacquered and metal bodices in the bedroom that display Regina’s necklace collection and various little ornaments come from Vietnam, Cambodia, “from trips we did from all over Asia. There’s a story behind every piece, a trip, an adventure”, smiles Regina.
Soft furnishings are a mix of reds, oranges and browns and the living room curtains are a luscious pink-gold-honey-dew melon silk, with luxurious sheen giving a sense of warmth and coziness. In contrast, a beautiful Indian carpet in multi-muted colours, lies under the coffee table.
Not all the furniture in this home are modern, there are a number of much treasured old Chinese pieces. A bride’s dowry cabinet sits at one end of the dining room, a useful storage place for table ware and glasses. Then there’s a narrow, light wood cabinet with stylized bamboo, open fret-work on the top section. “And we kept our old wicker dining chairs,” says Regina, “I couldn’t find anything else that were as comfortable or would go better with the dining table. Likewise the parquet wood flooring that was original to the apartment. We had limited finances when we moved in so it stayed. Over time we see that its been so solid, durable and in good condition that we didn’t have the heart to replace it, besides, we really like the colour and sheen”.
Some old things did have to go however. “The master bathroom originally had
very old fashioned dark jade-green tiles with pink toiletries which were hideous!”, Antonio groans. “We removed the lot, tiling with coffee-cream coloured Spanish tiles, some textured, some smooth and put in all new white basin, toilet and bath. The vanity counter was upgraded using solid teak wood treated against water. We’ve been happy with the results”.
The balcony has been transformed into a little oasis. Calcada tiles on the floor acknowledges that we are in Macau, where these tiles are laid in squares and on pavements in the old central areas. White wicker furniture and palm plants finish off the look.
The heart and soul of many a home could be said to be the kitchen and perhaps this is true of the Sousa residence. They have converted the large space that they fell in love with when first viewing the property into a thoroughly functional and modern kitchen that has a warm inviting feel. Floor to ceiling solid wood cabinets provide plentiful storage. White tiles and stainless steel splash back, with cream counter top gi
ve it a clean, sleek look. The light brown concrete floor is a modern, utilitarian yet very attractive alternative to the usual floor tiles. And dining in casual surroundings being part of most Portuguese families’ lifestyles, the breakfast-nook, with table and benches is where Regina, Antonio and their two children eat the majority of their meals. 2 stunning red lacquer-on-wood paintings from travels to Hoi An, south of Da Nang in Vietnam hang on the walls above.
The Sousas have decided to move back to Europe now that the children are studying there. It was with a heavy heart that they have now sold their apartment, “but we leave with extremely happy memories of living here and a deep love for Macau, so who knows, one day we may return.”
Photographs by Antonio Mil-Homens for the Macau Closer magazine
