A villa for outdoor living

A three-bedroom villa in The Lakes makes transitioning between indoors and the garden easy.

DUBAI - SEPTEMBER 29,2010 - Garden of a villa in The Lakes , Dubai. ( Paulo Vecina/The National )

Property

A three-bedroom villa with a large garden in Al Maeen section of The Lakes, Dubai.

Price

Dh3,199,000.

Key features

A detached villa of 341 square metres in a gated community; small front garden; large, enclosed back garden with two paved terrace areas and automated irrigation; carport for two cars; open-plan living/dining room; downstairs family/play room; fitted kitchen with breakfast area and appliances; utility room; maid's room; master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and dressing room; two additional bedrooms with family bathroom; two balconies; communal pools, gardens, tennis court, squash court and gym.

They say

Sitting on a beautiful 561-square-metre plot this house has lots of space and the added benefit of being located in a no-through road and only a 30-second walk to the community swimming pool. A well maintained villa with a practical floor layout that allows the rooms to flow into each other.

We say

From the entrance hall, with a semi-open playroom/family room off to one side, the spaces flow nicely through the house, making the big back garden feel truly part of it, rather than an isolated afterthought. The open-plan living/dining room runs the full width of the building, with two sets of double glass doors opening to the garden, bringing lots of light indoors and creating an excellent indoor-outdoor connection. The garden itself has been lightly landscaped and planted, and well maintained; whether you're a keen gardener or simply enjoy outdoor living, there are masses of space and potential to improve it further, even adding a swimming pool if wished.

The kitchen is great, with sleek, bright white cabinets adding to the sense of airiness, and plenty of space for a breakfast table. Upstairs, all three bedrooms are huge, with ample space for a sitting area in each, as well as the usual bedroom furniture. The master suite (including large walk-through closets and a big bathroom) and second bedroom each have their own balcony and there is an open landing at the top of the (narrow) stairs, which adds to the sense of space.

Finishes throughout are neutrally coloured, with good quality paintwork. Although the house is five years old, the only visible wear and tear is some minor scuffing on a small area of the tile floor - a credit to the care taken by the owner-occupiers.

Pluses

The large, secluded back garden; the potential to do more with both indoors and outdoors (yet you could move in tomorrow and not change a thing); the very "liveable" arrangement of the ground floor space and unusually large bedrooms upstairs; the setting, in the heart of Al Maeen section, is as peaceful as they come, completely secluded from the road works and construction in the areas around The Lakes; the community's excellent leisure facilities (American country club-style) and on-site supermarket; being one of new Dubai's longer-established developments, it feels lush and established with a vibrant sense of community.

Minuses

It's a bit removed from the pulse of the "real" Dubai, being in a gated, all-expat community with no through traffic - but, for many, that's a big attraction; the house has no lake view - but that means a saving of about Dh600,000 on the price; the road works on all sides of The Lakes cause traffic jams at busy times - but that's a temporary nuisance.

Verdict

This is a lovely family house, which has been greatly cared for by its resident owners. You could walk into it tomorrow and start living - or turn the garden and various indoor spaces into a "project", to make it more your own. Its setting is especially peaceful, yet first-rate leisure facilities and most day-to-day needs are within walking distance. In this sought-after area, it is sensibly priced in relation to the current market.

Cluttons Dubai, 04 334 8585; www.cluttons.com/dubai; [e-mail]