In December four years ago, Michelle Tang gave a very special Christmas gift to her beloved granny – An apartment. And not just any apartment. This one involved a two-year search.
“At the time there were not many apartments on the market that fit my specifications,” she explains. “Location was a significant factor in my decision”.
It had to be on the Macau-side as granny would never consider moving over to Taipa or Coloane. And it had to have a spacious balcony and good open views. Eventually Michelle settled on a sixth floor apartment in Baguio Court, 27 Estrada de Cacilhas, a road best known for being part of the Grand Prix track that runs on the southern side of the Guia Hill.
“Being a short walk to city conveniences, the reservoir and the ferry terminal and, in the future, quick access to the Hong Kong bridge, were all strong location factors as well,” explains Michelle. “I was particularly drawn to the beautiful views and the due East scenery from Baguio, with the reservoir, bay, and Taipa off in the distance. The water and sky dynamics throughout the day and night are brilliant. And the greenery of Guia Park at the back and side of the unit pleasantly blends with the primary water theme.”
Born in Macau, Michelle was raised here by her grandmother. At 18 she moved to Hong Kong where she graduated from Hong Kong University, worked for a few years for a large accounting firm, and then went to Japan to study her MBA at Waseda University. She’s remains there to this day, working as an accounting consultant. Visits to see family in Hong Kong several times a year include stays in Macau to spend time with granny.
“As granny aged, I became concerned about her well being and decided to provide her with a beautiful, tailored place to live happily in her twilight years. I also wanted enough space for other family members to visit and comfortably stay with her. Using computer-aided design software, Michelle came up with the overall layout changes and then engaged an architect to fine tune some of her ideas.
“Generally speaking, I like to mull through various interior design shops, both for idea generation and the occasional inspired purchase. Wandering around town and hopping into shops for a peek is something I suppose I just like to do.”
The brief was to upgrade the electrics, replace the water pipes with all new copper piping, reallocate space in the kitchen area to optimize efficiency, renovate both bathrooms to include walk-in showers, and to install double glazing on all windows for sound and temperature insulation. The main colour scheme of white and blues, Michelle says, was to embrace the stunning water and sky views and to keep the place feeling bright and fresh. Wall mirroring helped make the feel light and airy.
She took great care in selecting the tiles; the white and blue for the main floor, the decorative Portuguese tiles on the kitchen walls, and the soft blues in the bathrooms. Bedroom flooring is pale look-alike wood tiles and the bathrooms are a neutral stone. The white, brick wall finish was something Michelle had seen in various apartments she’d visited around the region. She’d noticed it when strolling through the Wan Chai home décor shops and thought it would be a nice effect.
“I sourced most of the furniture locally in Macau, although a few unusual items came from some interior shops in Hong Kong. The ‘Homeless’ shop is one of my frequent haunts,” Michelle laughs, and it’s where she found the colourful pantone chairs and the bedroom ‘balloon’ ceiling lights and the living room ceiling fan.
“I must admit to enjoying ‘Goods of Desire’ (GoD) where I found the cushions, sheets, tableware and doormat, and I totally adore the ginger flower home fragrance by Shanghai Tang.”
After living in Japan, there were some detailed features that Michelle considered a must. Computerized washlet toilets and bathroom ceiling air dryers for example, kitchen water filter and sink disposal, and electronic closet moisture control rods. Electronic accordion curtains were installed for the bedrooms. Delighted with the final result of all her efforts, once finished Michelle was thrilled to at last be able to pass the keys of this lovely home to her grandmother.
“Alas, granny never gave it a try”, she says, “but the important thing is that she is now safe and sound, cared for by family in Hong Kong. So it’s no secret that I now have the flat on the market for sale! It’s sad to have it sitting unused, with only the occasional visit by a family member from Hong Kong.”
A lot of quality construction and cost has gone into this home and it’s instantly ready for a new buyer to move into. Michelle believes that “the Macau economy may have been through a recent stumble, but this place is not only wonderfully furnished, but it also looks right out onto the Hong Kong bridge, which, when done, will surely prop up the area's real estate value once again."
