SA’s favourite lifestyle title turns 20
16 September 2013
This October marks 20 years in print for House and Leisure. Launched in October 1993, South Africa’s original home-grown design, decor and lifestyle magazine has steadily become a leading title in the home and living sector.
The October 20th birthday issue pays homage to HL’s history, highlighting some of the publication’s favourite moments from the past two decades, all of which represent the heart and soul of the magazine. ‘HL couldn’t be where it is today without its heritage,’ says Editor Naomi Larkin. ‘It’s never been just about the bricks and the mortar but about how we create real homes for our families in the country we want to live in. And it’s about the multitalented people who are continually designing, creating, making.’
To celebrate the milestone, the publication has undergone a revamp of its own and is sporting a bold new design while still bringing readers the same beautiful houses, engaging stories and hot trend reporting that its always been known for. ‘It’s been a few months of planning, experimenting, designing and, finally, crafting to arrive at a new look for the pages,’ says HL Creative Director Katherine Botes. ‘Luckily we had great architecture to begin with, so the update is not in the content – that’s always fresh.’ The new look is cleaner and more modern – an excellent framework from which to showcase South African homes, decor and lifestyle.
Over the past 20 years HL has seen circulation rise to 45 000, and the publication has embraced all things digital with a rapidly expanding website – a revamp of which is in the pipeline – and an ever-increasing social-media presence. The annual House and Leisure House of the Year awards are a highlight for South African homeowners, and the recently launched HL Rising Stars acknowledges local up-and-coming creative talent to watch and creates a platform from which they can shine. The annual Luxury issue event is a hot ticket on the social calendar and the Food issue has become something of a collector’s item. Twenty years, 230 issues, over 880 recipes and 660 house profiles later, House and Leisure truly reflects the pleasure of living here now.
House and Leisure by numbers:
Circulation: 45 356 (ABC January - March 2013, Total circulation)
Facebook likes: 9 015 (16 September 2013)
Twitter followers: 6 827 (16 September 2013)
For more House and Leisure:
Web: www.houseandleisure.co.za
Facebook: Facebook.com/HouseandLeisure
Twitter: @HouseLeisureSA (Hashtag: #HL20)
