Silvia and Gianluca Zamarripa certainly like things neat. Their three-bedroom split-level apartment in Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi, is bright, breezy and immaculate. "I'm not particularly fond of clutter," says Silvia, an American-born executive assistant, who arrived in Abu Dhabi in January with her Italian husband. "My mother was very particular about having things in order, and my husband was in the military and is extremely organised, so it has been a common theme. I appreciate it. It's important to have an orderly home because you can flop on the sofa and not worry about the mess." The open-plan sitting and dining room, with its sleek, modern furniture, has a calm, spacious feel which suits the couple's needs perfectly. "I like the open plan feel; I cook a lot of dinners and it's very visitor-friendly."
They moved into the apartment in February, and set about decorating it immediately. Silvia admits that Gianluca, who works for an Italian aerospace company, was largely responsible for its starkly contemporary look. "He single-handedly picked, ordered and arranged all of the furniture, and had a very clear idea of what he wanted. He really wanted to push the whole modern thing, but it's difficult here, because there aren't that many shops selling modern things. I think he did a really good job."
Two cream leather sofas from Natuzzi dominate the living area. "We wanted to invest in good couches so that we could take them back with us, when we eventually go back to Rome." The couple met in the eternal city last year, where Silvia was teaching English as a foreign language, and Gianluca was her pupil. They married earlier this year, before moving to Abu Dhabi. "It's ironic because my journey to Rome, which was something I wanted to do in order to live and breathe a different culture, has brought me here, to an entirely new environment and culture."
An enormous flat screen television presides over one wall. "I'd have to say the TV came first and then everything else fit around it," she laughs. "My husband is an electronics guru and he likes to have state of the art appliances." They watch mostly Italian television, which suits Silvia perfectly, since she is learning the language. "And it's nice for Gianluca to have a mental break from speaking English."
Despite the "blank canvas" look created by so many clean lines and block colours, small traces of Italy have made their way into the space. Two cheerful figurines are perched on a book shelf. One is an Italian theatre character, native to Naples, where Gianluca attended military school. The other is Totò, the much-loved Italian actor - also from Naples - who starred in over 100 films during the last century. Black and white images from Roman Holiday, La Fortuna di Essere and Ben Hur line the walls, and small plaster images of Roman doorways and drinking fountains covered in advertisements and graffiti give a strong sense of the bustling city they have come from.
But despite these keepsakes from home, the Zamarripas have also embraced some of the local culture, and a procession of four brightly painted camels line another shelf. "We wanted to have a little piece of this culture in our home. It's important for us to have a mix of things that are about us, and these are representative of where we are and what we're doing at the moment."
A studded red leather daybed is bathed in sunlight from the window, which leads to a large balcony. A set of book shelves on the wall above the daybed groan with books and DVDs in both English and Italian. "We watch a film every night with dinner. For me, films are therapeutic. So I'm lucky if I get to the end. I'll be watching and then the next thing you know, I'm out."
A translucent glass table is the focal point in the dining area, which connects through to the kitchen via a large window. "I love this kitchen because it's perfect when we have people for dinner. Italian dinners are quite different from what I'm used to in the US. They're served in three courses, with the pasta first. It has to be served piping hot, so the opening means it can come straight from the kitchen to the table. We recently bought a house in Rome with a solid wall next to the kitchen and I told my husband I would like the same set-up there."
Silvia is also bravely getting to grips with Italian cooking. "I'm not very good; it's a work in progress. I didn't realise how many different ways you can make pasta! I went on holiday with an Italian family when I was in Italy and we had a different kind of pasta every day." On the table sits an oversized glass filled with dried flowers. "They were the flowers our witnesses brought to our wedding, which I dried myself. They should last forever."
The Zamarripa's home is a shining example of how modern design can be combined with comfortable living. "If it's not done the right way, modern can seem cold, with all those sharp edges. Initially, I wasn't very fond of the modern idea, because I consider myself a little more classic."
Despite the almost terrifying neatness, their clever use of texture and colour, combined with personal accents, has created a warm, welcoming home. "Home is where I want to feel a blanket around my shoulders; where I feel protected from the stresses of work and life. I was very happy with the result, and very impressed by my husband; he did it in such a short space of time."
kboucher@thenational.ae
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
More from Neighbourhood Watch
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
