Secret Library Hidden in the Woods Is Every Bibliophile's Dream Come True

Tucked away in the quiet woods of Upstate New York, you’ll find the Hemmelig Rom, a cozy cabin equipped with its own private library.

A bookworm’s dream come true, the secluded space—whose name translates to “secret room” in Norwegian—was designed by Studio Padron in collaboration with Smith Design Office as a gorgeous guesthouse for a nearby vacation home. The delightful dwelling comes furnished with everything you need to leaf through a good book: a big, fluffy bed, snug armchair, and, of course, a wall-to-wall selection of reading material. A charming wood-burning stove heats the 200-square-meter space, so you'll always be nice and toasty no matter the weather.

While the inside is warm and welcoming, the exterior is modern and minimalist. The box-like structure features plain walls obstructed only by two large windows and the front door. Painted entirely black, it "strikes a strong figure in the landscape, creating an enigmatic presence in the winter terrain" while simultaneously echoing the trees that surround it. With its sleek design and stark color choice, the contemporary cottage is a unique and surprising forest find.

If Hemmelig Rom's obvious creature comforts and appealing aesthetic weren’t enticing enough, the tiny reading retreat also promotes sustainable construction: the logs that comprise it derive from the oak trees that were cleared to make room for the main house, "preserving and transforming a material that would otherwise have become construction waste."

With its modern approach to design and construction, cozy amenities, and ideal setting, guests are sure to live happily ever after in this picture-perfect hideaway.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

The highly-anticipated Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has recently opened its doors to the public. Designed by architect David Adjaye, construction on this striking, 400,000-square-foot building took four years. It occupies the last remaining space on the National Mall, earning its place as a structure that’s compelling both inside and out.

The inspiration for the three-tiered, ornamental NMAAHC came from Yoruban art from West Africa; this reference has a deep historical significance, because it’s where more than half of the 18th century slave trade took place. Adjaye’s contemporary interpretation recalls the tribe’s traditional wooden caryatid—a sculpted female figure serving as a vessel with a bowl on her head.

Beyond the overall shape, NMAAHC has an intricate, decorative facade that’s clad in bronze aluminum panels. It too holds a deeper meaning and relates to the ironwork of African American slaves in the 19th century New Orleans.

The newest Smithsonian boasts 36,000 artifacts and currently features over three thousand of them. Some date back to the 1600s—such as objects from the slave trade—while some, like Oprah’s couch, are more recent. Admission to the museum is free.

Winner of the 'It's Amazing Out There' Photo Contest Reveal the Beauty of Weather

There were more than 60,000 submissions from photographers around the world that show the beauty of weather and nature for The Weather Channel's third annual It's Amazing Out There photography contest. Crushing storms, birds in flight, and spectacular sunrises highlight the great environment we live in.  But it was Long Island photographer Greg Gulbransen who captured the grand prize of $15,000 for his eerily powerful image, Fire on Ice.

The photograph was captured on a trip to Manitoba, which the photographer specifically planned in order to see the migration of polar bears over the frozen Hudson Bay, a phenomena that occurs every November. "The weather turned that day," Gulbransen said. "It got really really cold and all of a sudden, we woke up and went outside and saw the sun was coming up. The temperature changed so rapidly that the water was evaporating like that. We had this amazing fire-and-ice situation. It didn’t last very long, maybe 20 minutes. I just knew it was magical." That magical moment turned to panic as the photographer wasn't sure he'd gotten the photo he'd been after. With the freezing temperatures causing his battery to run low, there was uncertainty about it lasting long enough to grab the desired image.

"I said to myself, 'I hope a bear walks into this scene' and sure enough this bear just walked into the scene," he shared. "The bear walked out there with his head down. I was so cold, I couldn’t feel my fingertips and I was praying my battery wouldn’t freeze and I said, 'bear, would you just lift your head about 8 inches?' And sure enough, it lifted its head and that’s when I got the shot. I knew it was a special moment when I took it." The classic combination of being in the right place at the right time with an eye for the image helped Gulbransen take home the coveted prize.

Second place winner Dale Johnson submitted an adventurous shot of a little visited Indonesian cave where he got "the toughest selfie I've ever taken," while third place winner Derek Burdney photographed a developing storm in Texas. A musculoskeletal radiologist, Burdney has been an avid storm chaser and photographer on the side for over 30 years. When the weather is right, he may take up to a week off in order to pursue his passion and get the right image.

In addition to the top three prizes, fans voted on their favorite images over four weeks. All 64 finalists, including the winning images, can be viewed on The Weather Channel's website.

Above: 1st Place: "Fire on Ice" by Greg Gulbransen

2nd Place: "Jomblang Cave, Indonesia" by Dale Johnson

3rd Place: "Nature's Fury" by Derek Burdney

Fan Favorite Winner, Week 1: "Ozzie" by David Eppley

Fan Favorite Winner, Week 2: "Lightning on the Susquehanna River" by Tony Bendele

Fan Favorite Winner, Week 3: "Beauty After the Storm" by Walter Dorsett

Fan Favorite Winner, Week 4: "Storms Coming" by Michael Zuccato Jr.

Amazing Twinkling Stars Skirt Adorned with 250 LED Lights

You want to feel like you “shine” when you wear an outfit, and now you can—literally. ThinkGeek has created aTwinkling Stars Skirt that’s adorned with over 250 tiny LED lights that sparkle like the night sky. Going from a “day look” to a “night look” is no problem because the midi-length garment illuminates a path all on its own. Plus, the skirt’s silhouette is stylistically versatile and flattering on many body types (from sizes XS to 5X).

To make the dazzle possible, designers have incorporated three layers of fabric into the garment. There’s a white liner, a white gauze layer, and the see-thru constellations on top. The gauze layer is how the skirt twinkles—it contains 30 elastic snap tabs in which the lights are attached (or detached).

Nestled within the waistband is a battery pack that allows you to turn the skirt on and off. Batteries are required, but with a fresh set, this skirt will shine for over three days straight. Get outfitted with this playful piece of clothing via theThinkGeek website.

Kinetic Art Tables Draw Hypnotic Designs in Sand

Twenty-five years ago Bruce Shapiro abandoned his medical practice to embark on a journey that would marry technology with the meditative practice of sand art. He ingeniously used CNC machines, which at the time were primarily used in industrial settings, to develop his kinetic art project known as Sisyphus. Named after the Greek mythological figure—who was doomed to endlessly push a boulder up a mountain, only to have it roll back down again—the metal balls featured in each piece are controlled by magnets that draw infinitely hypnotic patterns across grains of sand. Shapiro views his sculptures as instruments playing music, with each pathway carefully programmed.

While Shapiro has created sculptures for Sisyphus over the past 20 years, showing his work across the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, he more recently became intrigued with the thought of bringing the mesmerizing creations into the home. Along with Nordeast Makers, a Minneapolis based makers space he helped found, Shapiro has developed the Sisyphus Kinetic Art Table. The recently launched Kickstarter campaign, which has already doubled the team's original goal in a few short days, offers tables in three sizes with finishes in birch/maple, walnut, padauk and black veneer. All aspects of the table, except the electronics, have been crafted in the United States. 

"Over time I have come to view Sisyphus as more than a kinetic art piece: it is an instrument," Shapiro explains. "As a musical instrument plays songs, Sisyphus plays paths. My goal with this Kickstarter is to get Sisyphus into people's homes for them to enjoy as both furniture and art, but also, to inspire a community of composers to write 'music' for it."

Bringing the contemplation of a Zen garden indoors, Sisyphus has no on/off switch. It simply plugs in and automatically calibrates itself, loads a default playlist of paths, and begins playing. You can control playback, speed of play, and table-lighting from a mobile app or by using any browser to connect to Sisyphus with WiFi. Development is underway to allow other "composers" to create pathways for their tables. The only worry is that Sisyphus is so hypnotic, you may forget to speak with your guests while watching it at work!

If you're in New York this weekend, Shapiro will be at World Maker Faire (October 1 + 2, 2016) with his Sisyphustables on display.

Friendly Pet Raccoon Gets Adorably Playful Haircut on Its Back

Best Haircut of the Year goes to... this adorable 2-year-old raccoon from Taiwan. His name is Uni and once a year, his human named Joyce Tai takes him for his annual check-up, vaccination boosters, and a shave. Usually during the procedure, the animal would be shaved completely, but Tai and Uni's groomer worked out a way to make going to the doctors a little more fun. This year, Uni is flaunting quite the unique haircut. A fluffy design of a dog's paw rides on Uni's shaven body like a stick-on backpack, and the Internet is going wild over it. Tai runs a Facebook page where she shares photographs of her stylish furry friend in public. Now, over 5,000 people follow Uni and his distinctive shave. 

In addition to his unique haircut, Uni's pigmentation stands out amongst typical raccoons. His unusually pale color comes from a condition called leucism, but Tai prefers to say he's a "cinnamon" hue. According to Buzzfeed, Tai bought Uni in 2014, as it is legal to own a raccoon as a house pet in Taiwan. She's been giving Uni his famous shaves ever since. Last year, it was in the shape of a heart!

Despite Uni's global fame, Tai never imagined her raccoon would become this popular. She says of Uni's viral photos: "I’m just a normal working class person who wants to share photos of Uni with others to bring them some joy."

Another HEARTfelt design:

Trans Model Wears Stunning Couture Dress Made From Flags of Countries That Ban Homosexuality

Though the world has made great strides towards increased LGBTQ+ rights in recent years, there’s much more progress remaining to be made. At the EuroPride festival in Amsterdam back in July, participants in the parade’s opening walk carried the flags of 72 different countries where homosexuality is still outlawed; in 12 of those 72, the death penalty is punishment for the crime. A team of artists has now come together to show support for these places where oppressed communities continue to fight for equality. 

Cultuur en Ontspanningscentrum (COC), the oldest global center for LGBTQ+ advocacy, collected those diverse flags and partnered with fashion designer Matthijs van Bergen and artist Oeri van Woezik to sew them together into a couture dress. It was made to fit Valentijn De Hingh, IMG Models’ first transgender model as well as the official Trans Ambassador for EuroPride. Photographer Pieter Henket was brought on board to capture an image of the piece, choosing Rijksmuseum (the city’s national arts and culture museum) as the photo's backdrop.

As Henket explains on Instagram, the whole production took four days, but the final result is stunning. Pictured above (and in some behind-the-scenes moments below), De Hingh poses before The Night Watch, a beloved Rembrandt painting portraying a group portrait of Dutch militia. The gown—dubbed the Rainbow Dress—drapes glamorously around her. She appears poised but powerful, towering with stunning elegance to match the lavish museum walls. The shot seems to send a resounding message: despite sustained discrimination, the global LGBTQ+ community is united against hate and not backing down.

Fully-Functional Guitar Made From a Colorful Variety of Discarded Skateboard Decks

Discarded skateboard decks have often found a second life as stunning works of art. The self-taught wood carver Haroshi, for instance, stacks, shaves, and cuts skateboards into colorful, multi-layered sculptures. John Gibson of the 2nd Shot shop riffs off this trend, adding a dash of practicality to the one-of-a-kind objects. In collaboration with Canadian School of Lutherie, he has produced a custom electric skateboard guitar that’s made entirely out of the recycled material.

To create the fully-functional instrument, Gibson first collected broken and unwanted skateboards from local skate shops, parks, and friends. After selecting boards and colors, he removed the grip tape and cut them into a workable size, sanding the graphics and top lacquer off of them. He then glued and compressed the pieces into a block using 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of pressure. These segments were fitted onto an old guitar frame, and Gibson later had the frets, components, and other electronics installed. Finally, the instrument was tuned and played.

There’s only one of these guitars available, and it’s being sold through the 2nd Shot Etsy shop.