Erika Heet is bringing extensive experience—earned at Dwell, Robb Report, Architectural Digest, and Dwell on Design (Los Angeles and New York)—to her new role as executive editor at Interiors. Heet, who joins other recent staff additions, including art director Charles Kay Jr. and advertising director Rick Harrison, chats with EAL about her drive, the publication’s direction and what readers can expect in issues to come.

Where do you envision Interiors in the next year?
My greatest hope is to continue the editorial vision of Interiors owner Patrick O’Bryan, who set out to create a magazine like no other in the industry. [James Barra founded the magazine and served as editorial and creative director and salesperson for its first year.] We will continue to illuminate the most compelling architecture and interior design projects around the world with thoughtful stories and incredible layouts that illustrate projects just as the architects and designers intended them to be seen, through an artistic lens unencumbered by any visual noise.

We’ll be revamping the site, interiorsmagazine.com, beyond its current status as a digital version of the magazine, introducing exclusive Web content and implementing a new digital and social media strategy.

There have been staff changes at the magazine recently. Has the editorial focus changed?
Each of the select few industry professionals who has been at the editorial helm of Interiors has brought a unique vision to this magazine, so a slight shift in focus is inevitable given my particular background and focus—which is quite varied, from Architectural Digest to Dwell—but with the exception of introducing a more robust architectural focus, we have no plans to change the core elements of what makes this magazine great.

Share some highlights from your first issue.
Our October/November issue is full of stunning modern and contemporary art and design. We visit the prolific artist Jun Kaneko in his studio in Omaha, Nebraska; sculptor and designer Eric Schmitt opens the doors to his atelier outside Paris; and photojournalist Audrey Hall interviews Polish-born Brazilian design legend Jorge Zalszupin at his home in São Paulo.

Our features range from a modern beach house in Southern California by Arianna Noppenberger to a contemporary home for vintners up the coast by designer Conrad Sanchez and his architect father, Harvey. We visit a pied-à-terre in the sky in Chicago by designer Suzanne Lovell for art aficionados, and a home filled with art and furnishings by design legends for collectors in Barcelona. We are very proud of how this issue came together, with such an artful focus.

What is most exciting about this new opportunity? Do you foresee certain challenges?
I have been obsessed with Interiors since it began as Shelter magazine, and since I first began writing for Interiors in 2009, I have held it in the highest regard as a model of design and storytelling excellence. So quite simply, it is a dream come true to head up the editorial department. As for any looming challenges: to continue—and strengthen—the editorial legacy of Interiors, and it’s a challenge I’m happy to take on.