Kurston Melton, Co-Founder of Collection of Collections, a New Orleans creative studio has been collecting independent magazines since 2015. In 2024, she turned her home studio into a magazine library for folks to slow down, get off their screen and read a magazine.

Room for Reading stems from my love of tactile, print matter and writing. Nothing compares to the thrill of running your fingers over textured pages or being completely enveloped in the design of the written word alongside photographs. I’ve traveled to hundreds of places and met even more people in the pages of these magazines.

The space is an invitation for magazine aficionados and the curious alike to immerse themselves in the world of independent print.

A framed botanical print of various flowers, a magazine titled 'apartame', a small black display easel holding the magazine, a wooden bowl, a small teal desk lamp, and a clear glass are all placed on a round wooden table.
A black and brown dog wearing a colorful bandana lying on a patterned rug indoors.

All photos by Tiffany Smith.

It’s important for me to share these pieces of art with community. I think often about the power of independent print, particularly as we are witnessing ongoing violent, targeted attacks on press freedom. These magazines exist beyond the boundaries and restrictions of mainstream media.

I offer Room for Reading as a space to satiate (y)our hunger for authenticity, truth-telling and intentionality.

While Room for Reading is not a retail space, it is a resource space. Enjoy the low ceilings of the studio, chill the f*ck out, and get inspired by a collection of print publications.

READ OUR COLLECTION
A cozy seating area with a wicker canopy chair featuring colorful cushions, a magazine rack filled with magazines, and framed artwork on the wall.
Interior of cozy room with wall decorated with framed art, a whiteboard, a mirror, and magazine racks. Faux grass carpeting covers part of the floor, with a brick pillar supporting a wooden ceiling beam. There are cushions stacked on a stool and a small black table, along with various toys and books.
A wooden desk with a small black desk lamp, a stack of magazines, and a few books on top. Next to the desk is a wooden chair with a cushion and a rolled up fabric or blanket on the seat. In the background, there is a white wall with a black and white mural or drawing of cartoonish characters.

Get off your screen and read a magazine.

Magculture (London)

STACK Magazines (London)

Heath Newstand (San Francisco)

City Reader (Portland, OR)

Corso Como (Milan)

Skylight Books (Los Angeles)

Dear Friends Books (New York City)

McNally & Jackson (New York City)

Casa Magazines (New York City)

Shops We Get Magazines From

DaléZine (Miami) 

Well Read (Lisbon)

Under the Cover (Lisbon)

Another Corner (Philadelphia)

Ooga Booga (Los Angeles)

Quail Ridge Books (Raleigh, NC)

Little King (Beacon, NY)

Chess Club (Portland, OR)

Iconic Magazines (New York City)

Field Floral (Richmond, VA)

A cluttered living room with a desk and chair, a small table with books, and walls decorated with artwork and bookshelves.
A person holding an open book with colorful images of plush toys and a hiding animal, with a stack of colorful cushions in the background.

Magazine Shops We Miss

The Stacks (New Orleans, LA)

Print Matters (Zurich)

Quick Quick (Atlanta)

Issues Issues (Oakland, CA)

Get off your screen and read a magazine.

A home office or study area with a wooden desk, reading materials, a black adjustable desk lamp, and a window with white curtains letting in natural light. The background features a wall with colorful artwork, a hanging mobile, and a wire rolling cart filled with papers and a basket of books or magazines.