New Editor of House Beautiful Makes Room for Changes

Marian McEvoy, the new editor in chief of House Beautiful magazine, loves change: “I’ve always felt change is good. If you live with the same things around you, something in you goes to sleep.” She also loves color--”colors that you can name--not shady gray or murky oatmeal--but lavender and lime and turquoise and lemon yellow. Real color.”

Editor since 1991 at Elle Decor, McEvoy, 51, was appointed last July, succeeding Louis Oliver Gropp. February’s House Beautiful is her premiere, and starting with the cover’s new, bold two-tone logo in tropical orange and pink, McEvoy’s style is clear both inside and out.

The 105-year-old Hearst publication offers new decorating features, such as “Designer Challenge,” for which designers do a room with furnishings from mass-market retailers such as Home Depot and Pier 1 Imports. “The point is,” McEvoy explained, “it is cooler to be clever than to throw gobs of money around.” She added that interior design no longer has tyrants dictating fashionable decor. She believes people should combine their travels, hobbies and their own personalities into home design.

Another first for the magazine--as well as for McEvoy--is an open invitation for readers to e-mail her directly. McEvoy said the response has been like an instant focus group. Every morning she reads, and answers, up to 80 letters.

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You’ve run out of excuses to find out what that one item at home--affectionately called a family heirloom--is actually worth (if anything). The “Appraise It!” television show is looking for Angelenos with treasures to participate in the show during January and February shoots, which are being filmed at Butterfields on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. The show airs on HGTV on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 and 8 p.m.

To be considered, send a snapshot of the object along with a brief description and story plus a daytime telephone number to: “Appraise It!,” 400 Tamal Plaza, Suite 424, Corte Madera, CA 94925. Call (415) 924-8000, Ext. 22, for more information.

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“Rooms With a View: Landscape and Wallpaper” will open at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York on April 24 and continue through Oct. 14. The exhibition explores the 300-year history of wallpaper, emphasizing its use of landscape themes. The exhibition includes 80 objects, most from the museum’s permanent collection.

For details, call (212) 849-8400.

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Candace A. Wedlan can be reached at candace.wedlan@latimes.com.