2019-06-01 Homes and Gardens

‘EvEryonEdesirestomaketheirhome

ascomfortable,tastefulandconvenient

asmeanswillallow;andit willbethe

endeavourofthismagazinetohelp

towardsthatend.’Suchwasthepromise

madeinthefirstissueofOurHomes

andGardensinJune1919.Pricedatone

shilling,Britain’sfirsthome-interest

magazinestrucka positivenoteasthe

nationpulledbackfollowingtheend

oftheFirstWorldWarandthelossof

over one million of its citizens. The

magazinereactedtothechangingdomestic

circumstancesofmiddle-classhouseholds

whereservantswerenowinshortsupply.

Luckily,therehadbeenanexplosioninthe

availabilityoflabour-savingdevices,thanks

tothenewelectricitynetwork,andthe

meritsofelectricirons,telephonesand

gramophoneswerediscussedatlength,as

werepotentialwaystodisguisethemfrom

view.Stylingtipsincludeddecorativeuses

forpaisleyshawlsanda guidetomaking a

humpty (a sort of fireside pouffe).→

Homes & Gardens c e l e b r a t e s

its landmark birthday by delving

into the archives to explore the life

and times of an iconic brand

WORDS andrew falconer

100

yeaRs