Are Media has announced a raft of appointments across three of its most iconic homes brands: Australian House & Garden, Belle and Country Style.
Gavin Kirk returns to Are Media as the editor of Australian Home & Garden after editing Belle. He was most recently GM of luxury communications agency Élysée Collective.
Tanya Buchanan has become editor-in-chief of Belle and Country Style, while Kylie Imeson has been named editor of Country Style and Hannah James has been named deputy editor of Belle and Country Style, she had previously been dep ed of just Country Style.
Kate Hassett has been made digital editor across Australian House & Garden, Belle and Country Style having previously been the deputy editor of Inside Out. Bethan Lacoba has been promoted to features editor of Australian House & Garden. Saskia Neascu has joined Belle as a senior content producer from Habitus.
Are Media said the announcement accelerates Australian House & Garden, Belle and Country Style as connected content brands spanning print, digital, video, social, audio, and experiential channels.
Are Media general manager, homes and lifestyle, Jocelin Abbey, said the new approach aligns consumer behaviour with advertiser demand, creating trusted, high-reach environments. Each brand will deepen its editorial authority while expanding the commercial offerings across talent-led properties, event-based IP, thought leadership programs and content-to-commerce innovation.
The first new initiative unveiled under the new strategy launches in September with Australian House & Garden’s Interior Agenda, a premium trend and forecasting platform that will expand into a content and event series in 2026. It will complement the brand’s iconic Top 50 Rooms awards program, now in its 27th year and recognised as Australia’s longest-running residential interior design awards.
“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. 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,” said Abbey.
