Despite their European and Central Asian origins, the Martoranos are fascinated by the Far East, a fact corroborated by the design of their six-bedroom villa in Arabian Ranches. "We always dreamt of having a house which could fulfil our Asian dreams," says Laura Martorano, the founder and CEO of Leo Sterling, a Dubai-based real estate company.
With its oriental accents and Asian artwork, the villa was designed with help of Leo Sterling's in-house interior team. "We tried to create a positive environment according to Feng Shui elements," explains Laura. "The imported wallpaper from Japan gels well with the Asian fusion theme of the villa. This is complemented by antique Japanese swords and wall scrolls from China and Tibet, plus custom-made wood features and accents which give warmth and atmosphere."
Step outside and the exterior is equally appealing. "The pool and a built-in barbecue make the villa ideal for entertaining guests as well. Dedicated indoor and outdoor areas for kids provide safe and clean environments for them to play and study."
Finding a home
Laura and Bruno Martorano viewed many properties in Dubai before buying their current home four years ago. It was by sheer coincidence that they visited Arabian Ranches, says Laura. "We were invited by friends to join the polo club here in the Ranches. What surprised me was how quiet the community was - we couldn't hear any noise of cars or people or construction. At that time, I had just got married and was pregnant, so I wanted a spa-like environment, more safety, less noise and no traffic, hence I thought Arabian Ranches would be the ideal place for us. It is so peaceful and green and you feel the true essence of Arabia here. Most importantly, you have quite a bit of space available in your home unlike some other communities."
Laura says they chose the property after carefully considering many factors. "When you are buying a property for personal use, you are actually buying it so you can spend most of your time there. If you have kids then you ask where the schools are, how far the parks are and how good the facilities are. It is a great place for my kids [Alessandra, 5, and Raffaella, 6] because this area doesn't have much traffic, allowing kids to move around freely as they like cycling, walking and so on." Having lived and invested in many communities in Dubai such as Shaikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah and The Meadows, Laura thinks Arabian Ranches is one of the quietest areas around.
Laura says investing in Arabian Ranches was a good move because, "prices are still much higher than what we paid four years back, despite the crisis."
Easy access
In recent years, one of the highlights of the Ranches has been its accessibility. "When we were staying in Shaikh Zayed Road, it was a nightmare to get in and out of the area. Traffic is not an issue in the Ranches. The convenience of this community is that we can reach home from work easily." Medical facilities are also easy to reach, she adds. "It is faster to reach American Hospital or Welcare Hospital from Arabian Ranches than if you are in Shaikh Zayed Road during rush hour. There is a family clinic here and Emaar Properties health care division also built a huge medical facility recently."
The community is only a few minutes' drive away from several leisure, entertainment and shopping attractions.
"Bab Al Shams is close by, so are the polo club and golf course. If your kids want fancy things, Global Village is nearby. It takes around 15 to 20 minutes to get to any of these places. Arabian Ranches is also close to Sharjah and Dubai airports. If you want something quick and convenient then there is a retail centre close by. We have also got Dubai Sports City and Motor City next to us. In terms of convenience and accessibility, we are lucky to be living in this community," says Laura.
She is pleased with most of the facilities on offer at Arabian Ranches, which include parks and a large communal pool. "The parks are connected to the golf course. Kids can go there, walk their dogs and play. There is a nursery and playground as well as a pool."
The flipside
The community does, however, have a few drawbacks, concedes Laura. "The developer should set up a community centre here. There is also a requirement for a big school as the three schools here are fully booked."
Residents also face water shortages on occasions, she adds. "The developer should take up this issue with Dewa and sort it out."
She also says that there is also a lack of restaurants and supermarkets within the community.
The Martoranos don't normally stay in an area for too long, but despite the minor hiccups, they have lived in Arabian Ranches for almost four years. This itself speaks volumes about the community.
