Are Media has announced a restructure of its Homes & Lifestyle division, with new editorial appointments across Australian House & Garden, Belle and Country Style.
The publisher’s move positions the titles as connected brands across print, digital, video, social, audio and events, aimed at aligning audience demand with advertiser opportunities.
The first initiative under the strategy launches in September: Australian House & Garden’s Interior Agenda, a premium trend and forecasting platform set to expand into an event series in 2026. It will sit alongside the brand’s Top 50 Rooms awards, now in its 27th year.
To support the strategy, Are Media confirmed several senior editorial appointments across the portfolio, including Gavin Kirk who returns to Are Media from luxury PR agency Élysée Collective as Editor, Australian House & Garden, he was previously Editor of Belle.
Tanya Buchanan joins as Editor-in-Chief of Belle and Country Style, with Hannah James as Deputy Editor, Belle and Country Style, and Kylie Imeson as Editor, Country Style.
Kate Hassett, former Deputy Editor of Inside Out, has been appointed as Digital Editor across Australian House & Garden, Belle and Country Style.
Bethan Lacoba has been promoted as Features Editor, Australian House & Garden, while Saskia Neascu has been appointed as Senior Content Producer of Belle.
Jocelin Abbey: ‘We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Gavin Kirk to the helm of Australian House & Garden, joining a powerful, agenda-setting editorial team across the Homes vertical.’
Are Media GM of Homes & Lifestyle Jocelin Abbey said the changes will allow the brands to build editorial authority while growing commercial opportunities across talent-led properties, event IP, thought leadership and content-to-commerce.
“This evolution is about growing the impact of our Homes brands – creatively, culturally and commercially. We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Gavin Kirk to the helm of Australian House & Garden, joining a powerful, agenda-setting editorial team across the Homes vertical.
“Gavin’s creative vision and deep understanding of the Australian architecture and design community will help us grow Australian House & Garden’s impact while building deeper connections with our audience and partners.
Abbey added: “From Top 50 Rooms to the Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards, our Homes brands will continue to set the cultural agenda for design in Australia.”
Top image: Gavin Kirk and Tanya Buchanan