Mellow Yellow....Story by Beverly Cheng & Styling by Anji Connell.

Produced by Beverly Cheng / Photography Edgar Tepan / Styling Anji Connell 

A longtime Macau resident adopts a no-holds-barred approach to colour when decorating her relaxed seaside home in Coloane, Macau 

It’s often said that “time flies when you’re having fun” – and this is certainly evident in the case of Juliet Risdon, who first moved to Macau from the UK more than two decades ago. As with many expats, when Juliet initially arrived in Macau with her then-boyfriend (now her husband), Keith Lawson, she never anticipated they’d stay so long and would grow to become a family of four, with two adorable pet dogs.
Keith, a former professional golfer, had a business opportunity in Macau and was later head-hunted by Mission Hills, before being asked to return to Macau to open a luxury golf course. Juliet witnessed a boom in the city’s economy – not to mention a surge in arrivals of fellow expats and foreign investors. She identified an opportunity and set up JML Property, a real estate company that presently manages more than 100 properties, more than a decade ago. With her husband onboard, the growing business keeps the couple on their toes.
In her own abode, a converted apartment block that has been transformed into a flexible, four-level family home, Juliet hasn’t been bashful when it comes to using vi-brant hues. 

Most rooms are given unrestrained lashings of colour, such as the kitchen in fire-engine red and petrol blue, which she’s paired with decor proudly displaying the Union Jack, among other keepsakes recalling the family’s British heritage.
The spacious, light-filled living room takes on a distinctly more demure approach with licks of soothing slate-grey paint on the walls and chic Asian-styled furnishings from local furniture shops. Here, the outdoor terrace that looks out over beautiful seaside views is the focus. The sitting area is punctuated by ruby-hued souvenirs purchased throughout Asia, while the light-filled TV area has yellow- and chartreuse- toned soft furnishings discovered while vacationing in the UK. “Everything in the 

home has a meaning because I tend to buy things that make me think of a place, a time or a person,” says Juliet. “I like to buy things when I’m with people so I can remember that moment in time.”There’s no shortage of outdoor space in this home. On the second floor, the cou- ple’s airy master bedroom has a balcony that opens onto unobstructed views of the water. There’s also an ample rooftop on the uppermost floor, which is a frequent spot for parties. Next to the rooftop terrace is a large, covered games room, which doubles as a man-cave for when Juliet’s husband brings his buddies over for whisky and cigars.The home is also a gathering place for the couple’s two children and their school- mates. The blackboards in the kitchen and in the children’s bedrooms are covered with messages and the names of their visiting friends. “They write down their names every time they come by – and when they return they’re excited to see that their names are still there,” explains Juliet.Situated within walking distance of open-air bakeries and restaurants, and set along the waterfront promenade, Juliet’s home couldn’t be further removed from Macau’s booming casino scene. “Coloane is a gem; it’s a little oasis in Macau,” says Juliet. “I’ve looked at lots and lots of properties in Macau, and I can still say that I haven’t seen another property that I’d prefer to live in.” //