The new monthly is priced at £3.20 and targets women in their 30s with home and garden ideas as well as cooking, entertaining and luxury travel. The first issue includes a covermounted 76-page cookery book designed and compiled by the editorial team.
Former Real editor Sian Rees, also an author of interior design books, has been recruited to make a UK success out of Hubert Burda's six-year-old German homes magazine, Wohnen & Garten. The publisher has already launched French and Italian versions.
Rees said: "Living & Gardens is a unique editorial proposition, it celebrates the quintessential romance and charm of contemporary country style. We know issues such as urban escape, nesting and creating a relaxing and beautiful home environment are increasingly important to women."
Hubert Burda has stolen a march on rivals about to launch into the homes sector by getting its first edition out a month earlier than them.
4homes, from Channel 4 and Media 10, is set to launch on March 2 and will be followed 14 days later by The Sunday Times Inside Out, from News International's new magazine division News Magazines.
Competition is intensifying in the homes magazines sector as overall circulation is on the way down. Total copies sold stood at 2.5m in the first half of 2004 and were down 5% to 2.37m in the first half of 2005.
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