Travel to Portugal, Tunisia and beyond in this Arabian Ranches 2 garden
A child’s happiness is a key consideration in the home-buying decision process and, for Malou Robertson, a garden that would suit the social demands of two active pre-teens and provide a safe space, was a top priority.
As the first resident of her Arabian Ranches 2 villa, the blank outdoor plot was an area just waiting to be transformed, and Malou was eager to get started. “Together with my husband, we knew exactly what we wanted to do with the space and had a designer friend translate every detail into drawings,” she recollects.
Inspired by family travels through the Mediterranean and the villa’s Portuguese-influenced architecture, she was adamant from the outset that the garden aesthetic should seamlessly embrace the bricks-and-mortar aspect.
“We wanted to create something that had personal meaning, and that would also embody unity and balance with flowing lines and pathways designed around eye-catching focal points but with smooth transitions between each area,” she explains.
Tackling the project as a couple, Malou’s dream garden criteria covered purpose and budget, with sustainability and practicality given equally important billing. This saw the family scour Dubai and venture further afield in search of materials and garden features, with handmade tiles for the water feature sourced from Tunisia; floor tiles from Stones and Slates in Dubai Investments Park; and plant pots from Dubai Garden Centre and Royal Garden Centre. Plants and greenery came from Al Warsan and Wahat Al Sahraa nurseries with a Lynx Sedona barbecue ordered through Gulf Leisure.
“We knew exactly what we wanted to do with the space “
A contractor and builder executed the groundwork and took the project from drawing board to physical reality, with the excitement of the project “slowly coming into life, a very special time.”
The result is a family garden where every square inch is utilised and enjoyed. Says Malou: “The barbecue area, in particular, is a space enjoyed by the whole family while I love looking after all the plants and creating décor themes for parties or different seasons.
“I also love just sitting on the grass in the early morning or late afternoon but being busy in the garden is my way of relaxing.”
Her husband’s favourite spot after a hard day’s work is the day bed or a seat in the olive grove, “which feels like it was transported directly from the pages of The Secret Garden or a cherished memory from our Mediterranean travels.”