Add CategoryLongtime Sportsgirl and Sussan chief executive Colleen Callander is selling her beachside Brighton home after giving it a magnificent makeover.
Ms Callander has $3.5m-$3.75m price hopes for the elegant four-bedroom Victorian, which she and her husband have listed for a May 15 auction to build their “dream home” in Sorrento.
The Geelong-born leading fashion retail figure spent a combined 13 years heading up the two major brands before leaving Sportsgirl last March. She also founded Mentor Me Women and has recently released a book, Leader By Design.
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Ms Callander said when her family — which also includes three adult children and “two beautiful chockie labs” moved into the 17 South Road property about five years ago, it had “great bones” but a dated look.
“It had brown floors and was otherwise yellow on the inside and out,” she said.
“It really needed a full makeover, and that’s what I did.”
She said she drew on her “30 years in the fashion retail game” to repaint, re-sand floorboards, and install new cabinetry, carpet, lighting, doors, Miele kitchen appliances and more.
“I always say fashion and homewares very much go hand-in-hand,” she said.
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The revamp also restored the 1885-built home’s heritage in marble fireplaces, arches, high ceilings and most notably, the facade.
“We’re real gardeners, so we did all that as well,” Ms Callander said.
“We have front and back yards. The back is more of a courtyard, so our dogs sit out the front a lot. They’re so friendly — everyone in South Road knows them by name.
“My husband loves a party, so when we redid the house, he said he was bringing front yard parties back. We had a Melbourne Cup lunch out the front with beautiful long tables.”
The family had also hosted Christmas for 24 relatives in the backyard each year.
“It’s a very easy home to entertain in,” she said.
Ms Callander said she started each day at the house by walking her dogs on the beach, which was “not even" two minutes away from the north-facing 625sq m block. Church Street and Brighton Beach train station were also conveniently close.
With their kids “coming and going”, she and her husband were selling to downsize to Sorrento, while keeping a city base in the Brighton area.
“We’ve had a holiday house down there for 16 years, so we’re knocking it over to build our dream home,” she said.
Nick Johnstone selling agent Sarah Korbel said the South Road home’s “meticulous” renovation that was “authentic to the era with a stylish, modern twist” and A-plus location were drawing interest from downsizers and families with grown-up children.
“This property is all about lifestyle,” she said.
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