I miss Nest Magazine.
I have been really feeling the absence of Nest: A Quarterly of Interiors magazine lately, more than four years after it became defunct. On a whim I Google searched “I miss Nest Magazine” this week and found out how very not alone I am. Photos of people’s Nest Mag collections above are from Flickr—see here, here, here and here. I think it can be argued that no interior design and architecture magazine has ever matched Nest for creativity and artistry. Its smart and well-researched essays, its wildly imaginative layouts and covers, and its heterogenous, outward-looking understanding of design have all helped elevate it to cult status. Deservedly. It was unique in American if not international publishing and it’s sad that its breadth of vision is now gone. My rare copy of Nest Mag no. 1 was “borrowed” at some point – they’re worth about $150 or more on eBay now. (Note: Nest is to be distinguished from the new shelter magazine which has decided to call itself The Nest). Here’s a small initial sample from my own collection of Nest volumes, and I’ll be posting more:
And for a visual archive of all Nest’s issues and covers look here (but don’t click the “Look inside…” as it leads to annoying popups). More page spreads here, and in the next post.
A commenter below has photographed all of the covers; see his Flickr set.
RIP Nest 1997 – 2004.
Tags: archictecture, design, Flickr, graphic design, I miss Nest Magazine, interior design, magazine design, magazines, Nest Magazine, Nest Quarterly of Interiors, publishing
November 10th, 2008 at 12:39 am
[...] « I miss Nest Magazine. [...]
February 14th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
[...] A few of our favourite spreads from Nest Magazine. [...]
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
[...] Also see: this post [...]
March 30th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I love NEST!!! Thanks so much for posting this and reminding me.. That magazine was truly unparalleled – so richly detailed and diverse in scope…
August 1st, 2010 at 5:57 pm
[...] Nest is a New York based magazine, self described as a “unique shelter magazine,” or “quarterly of interiors” which featured nontraditional architecture, landscaping, and interior design. Focusing on spaces people lived in as opposed to the modern or antique interiors of beauty like the rest of interior design magazines. Nest almost never used templates or had regular features, it pushed the envelope of the magazine publishing world. It was published quarterly from 1997 until winter 2003-04, for a total of 26 issues.Next Published: June 15, 2010 Filed Under: N Tags: Design « Previous Post Next Post » [...]
August 24th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I still remember the first time I saw Nest. I was at one of those large bookstore chains drinking coffee and looking at the magazines; fairly bored and them I saw it Spring 2001. It was immediately interesting, the shape, main article, the cover. I started flipping through and was so happy I started laughing. It was so imaginative, inspiring and edgy (the “why get dressed to get Nest” ad). I couldn’t believe I found such a treasure at a generic bookstore. I immediately said bye to my friend, paid and rushed home to devour it, ads, articles, pics horoscope, and even the french and italian article summaries. love love love
September 29th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
[...] A friend recently introduced me to Publication Studio. And this looks like a really interesting publishing project… I’m especially interested by the fact that it’s run by Matthew Stadler who was the literary editor of Nest magazine (I love/loved Nest magazine and miss it!). [...]
October 21st, 2010 at 6:43 am
i miss it too!!
January 4th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I miss Nest too :’(
February 12th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
When I read in the NYT that Nest was to cease publishing, I sat on the floor with my toddler and cried.
July 11th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
[...] title says it all), now in its third issue. If you hanker magazines as objects – like the defunct NEST or the quite vibrant ESOPUS, you'll truly enjoy this love-child of Fleur's FLAIR and PORTFOLIO [...]
September 5th, 2011 at 4:48 am
I have quite a few issues of this magazine prior to publishing ceased, it was an INCREDIBLE publication and haven’t seen the like previously – a unique artistic vision
September 13th, 2011 at 7:12 am
[...] this kind of alternative design (everyday life design) have a look to Apartamento magazine and Nest [...]
December 29th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
I had NEST quarterly in its entirety, minus one issue, and sold it all to a second-hand physical media shoppe upon my last move. I did so with several LPs (which are also now out of print) regretfully. Shortly after, NEST went out of print.
WHY WHY WHY
Perusing those pages gave me so much joy: the superior design, the lovely and candid stories and interviews paired with rich photographs…a true vacation at one’s fingertips.
But then nothing lasts forever.
April 14th, 2012 at 6:50 am
Hello, I have backissues available – 10, 12, 13, 14, 19, 22 – £20, £100 the lot
Please contact me if interested.
August 26th, 2012 at 7:45 am
I have issues #17 [summer 2002] and #18 [fall 2002] I would release for 40.00 U.S.D. Let me know if there is any interest. I agree these were a very special event in publishing history.
August 26th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Leonard, my sister finally brought me the six you sent me. They’re in great condition – thanks! I might be interested in 17 and 18… let me think.
August 27th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Hi Lindsay! Sure no pressure. Stay light!
November 6th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Since magazines in general are now almost defunct, I will opine that NEST is the single greatest design piece in the history of magazines. Its adoption and devotion to a theme for each issue, its perfection of placement of print elements and in particular the placement of die cuts relative to the photography, was without comparison anywhere. Why would anyone cut a tiny cross into the very center of the magazine, incorporating the void into each and every page, and do it perfectly? Because they could.
The founder and editors seemed to be perfectly aware that they were doomed from the start. Their demand for artistic and mechanical perfection was too expensive to support through the cover and subscription price. Their flagrant rejection (contempt?) of the glossy shelter magazine norm made it unlikely they would gather advertiser sponsorship. I have no idea why or how they undertook this madness but I’m glad they did. Sadly, I kept none of my copies but I’m glad others did.
November 22nd, 2012 at 8:26 am
Dear Ouno,
Today I photographed all Nest Magazine covers – at least the ones I own. I’m still looking for back issues…
You might want to have the covers – they can be seen and used via my Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/86697087@N00/sets/72157632074701074/
Best,
Ronald
January 7th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
long lost love