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FEATURE LISTING: Most stylish in Medindie

Former international model Casana Perryman is selling her updated 1880 bluestone villa having made the most of 28 years at the coveted Robe Terrace address.

Having worked alongside designers such as Diane von Furstenberg and Tim O’Connor, and represented brands such as Zimmermann and Burberry, former model Casana Perryman is the image of ‘haute couture’.

Casana’s modelling career began with a passion for dancing, spending many years doing ballet at the school her mother ran in North Adelaide.

“When I was 16, I went to England to continue [dancing] at a boarding school where you did your schoolwork in the morning and danced all afternoon,” Casana says.

The boarding school was located in Sussex, and when Casana was 18 years old, a modelling agency travelled from London in search of tall dancers who could move into the fashion industry.

“I grew too tall for ballet because I am nearly 5 foot 11, so they asked if I would like to do a show for Schwarzkopf in Germany and I thought that sounded fun,” says Casana.

After the Schwarzkopf show, Casana went on to work in the industry for 10 years, modelling with high-end brands in the United Kingdom and working alongside renowned designers.

“A designer I worked with over the years and have always loved was Diane von Furstenberg,” Casana says. “She does very classic, beautiful dresses.”

Casana even worked alongside the Queen’s fashion designer who made all the couture gowns for the royal family. “We would do parades for Princess Margaret and it was always an incredible privilege to do those shows,” she says.

When Casana returned to Adelaide in her mid-20s, she went on to model for Harry Watt and George Gross, being involved in the iconic David Jones fashion parades and workshops.

Casana was also employed as a sales assistant in the George Gross and Harry Who retail outlet at The Metro on Unley Road and in the David Jones concept store.

It was around this time that Casana settled into a beautiful Bluestone villa at 6 Robe Terrace, Medindie.

Casana has owned the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home for 28 years and lovingly transformed it into a contemporary family home.

“When we first bought the property, it was like all the old villas used to be,” Casana says. “It was very pink and had lots of chintzy curtains.”

Over the years, Casana has completely redone the home’s bathrooms and kitchen, renovated the bedrooms and constructed an additional living space.

“Both of my boys were born and raised here,” says Casana.

“Their bedrooms are just beautifully sized with the high ceilings. They have been so roomy for them to grow up in; going from cots to single beds to queen-sized beds now.”

At the back of the home is an open-plan living space with a central fireplace connecting the dining and living spaces, and French doors that open to the backyard.

“It is originally where the house ended and when we built the addition, we thought that it would be so beautiful to leave it exposed rather than render it,” Casana says.

“It is now a feature of the back room to have that beautiful original 1880 brickwork.”

A six-car garage has been built in the backyard overlooking the magnesium pool and barbeque area, and cleverly works as a separate gym, studio or entertaining room when empty.

“It is multi-purpose because it has air conditioning and lots of storage,” says Casana. “You can put the roller door up to open it to the garden and then entertain in there.”

The large yard has been perfect for accommodating large parties hosted by Casana’s two sons, and also provides plenty of space for her dogs, Alfie and Eddie, to play.

“It is great having a good-sized backyard because I have a one-year-old golden retriever and a seven-month-old flat coat retriever, so they’re both big dogs that are very active,” says Casana.

Casana’s favourite room, however, is the en suite where she finds time to relax and unwind.

“There is a beautiful bath and television in there, so once I hop in the bath with some bubble bath and a bath pillow and put the television on with the door shut, it is like a little sanctuary,” says Casana.

“There is also the cellar which is great because there is all the wine down there.”

Although the home is filled with beautiful memories, Casana is ready to move on as her eldest son has moved interstate for work and her youngest is also flying the nest.

“We have loved living here for the past 28 years or so, but it is time to move out and get something a bit smaller,” says Casana.

“My wish is that a family will move in and I know they will thoroughly love the house as much as I have.”

The sale is being handled by Tim Thredgold and Megan Thredgold of TOOP+TOOP.