editor-in-chief, piet smedy, house & garden sa Our Editor-in-Chief, Piet Smedy, Image: H.J. Bester
Ask anyone who works in publishing and they will tell you looking back is not something we are wont to do. Ours is an industry always looking ahead; what is new and next – and while it is a philosophy that has always kept House & Garden at the forefront of the design zeitgeist, perhaps it is time to take a moment to reflect.
Like it or not, this time of year always ushers in a sense of introspection, a taking stock of the past 12 months, the highs, lows and plateaus. Perhaps it is the liminality of this period, the breathless push to the grand finale and then, just like that, we are flipping the calendar back to January and the year before becomes ancient history. I have always found it to be pure existentialist nightmare fuel – though perhaps unfairly so.
What an exceptional year for change – and change-making – at House & Garden. We launched ‘CUSP’, an exhibition that championed collectable design and the exceptional local craftspeople behind the work. Meanwhile, we continued to drive our Women Shaping Design mission, collaborating with industry legends such as Kelly Wearstler and Brigette Romanek, two of the most inspiring and straight-up boss designers working today, in our drive to spotlight the game-changing (and often unsung) female talents in the industry.
This issue also marks the first time in House & Garden’s history that we are running two different covers to celebrate the season: one, a striking architectural masterpiece in Joburg by designer Dylan Thomaz and the other, an exclusive look inside Always Welcome Heritage House, the just-opened Cape Town outpost of SA’s leading design-retail collective.
For the time being, the focus is firmly on home and the holidays. It is a tricky tightrope walk of expectation versus reality – as in, I would like to think I will be spending the next few weeks effortlessly hosting charming, alfresco midsummer dinner parties, catching up on reading and just generally passing the time in a Nancy Meyers fantasy. The reality is, more likely, a house full of clamorous (and ravenous) friends and family, feverish gift shopping and trying desperately not to overheat. Luckily in this issue, we are calling in the experts: from brilliant gifting ideas for all (yes, even that person in your life) to our tried-and-trusted guide to outdoor entertaining and the best in cooling home tech.
Looking back, it has been one helluva ride – and while there is much to still do, it certainly is reassuring to see how far we have come. I hope that you will find the time to reflect on your journey, and I will see you on the other side. Happy holidays.
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