We are officially announcing our first-ever giveaway contest! A few weeks ago we were contacted by CSN Rugs (part of the CSN stores network) to run a contest for our readers, in which one lucky person will win a free (yes free!) rug. Well, it took some time to go through CSN’s selection (who knew how difficult it could be to pick out just one rug), but we finally settled on a really great choice, perfect for indoor and outdoor use.

For the next two weeks you have the opportunity to enter your name in our Rug Giveaway Extravaganza for the chance to win a 4′x6′ natural bamboo jade black area rug (at right). We think the jade black bamboo rug adds a dramatic aspect to any space, and its unexpected composition is sure to get lots of compliments from friends.

I WANT TO WIN A RUG! HOW DO I ENTER??
It’s simple! Just leave a comment with your name (be sure to list your email address in the form), and include a brief statement about how you would make this rug work in your home. A winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, July 17, 2009.

Important details:

Prize: 4′x6′ natural bamboo jade black area rug

How to enter: Leave a comment with your name, and include a brief statement about how you would make this rug work in your home.

Entry deadline: Thursday, July 16, 2009

CAN I TELL MY FRIENDS!?
Absolutely! If you would like spread the word about this contest on your blog, Facebook, etc., we ask that you please use the following text in your post (be sure that the links work):

“Wanna win a free rug? Stop by the function key to enter your name for a chance to win a 4′x6′ natural bamboo jade black area rug! Contest ends July 16, 2009!”

To post on Twitter, please use the following text: “Win a free natural bamboo jade black area rug from http://tinyurl.com/lolb6r @thefunctionkey! #giveaway #contest”

Repost from 2Modern Design Talk . . .

I’m really digging this f-clamp shelf designed by Ricochet Studio. At first glance it looks like the designer simply coated the metal clamp in white paint, but no! It’s actually cast entirely from bone china and looks just like the real thing. So alas, clumsiness being my constant companion, I suppose the fragile, china-cast shelf would be better suited in less-maladroit home.

If you’re a fan of Sufjan Stevens, chances are you’ll enjoy Chad VanGaalaen. The Calgary-based musician got his start in music as a busker and went on to be signed by Flemish Eye and Sub Pop. You should definitely listen to “Whisper Tree” — my favorite from his most recent record — in which he’s accompanied by a plucky banjo, and at times his voice melodically quivers just like the prodigal Stevens. Plus there’s something about the honest sounding key signature that strikes a sad chord in your heart.

Listen to “Whisper Tree”

Looking for a svelte accessory to accompany your evening attire? Me too! Which is why I love these hand-beaded clutches. Each one has the perfect amount of eye-catching color to get you noticed.

Visit OAK to pick one up for yourself.

Yes, this is for real. Visit glidden.com, select you favorite hue, and in 3-4 weeks you’ll receive a free quart of paint at your doorstep! To partake in this great offer, get started at glidden.com.

This video was on Ellen a few weeks ago, it is soooooooooooooo hilarious. In fact, I laughed my way to washboard abs. Enjoy!

For anyone who has ever felt an overwhelming need to escape from their present environment, you have a friend in Veasyble. Created by Gloria Pizzilli, Arianna Petrakis, Ilaria Pacini, and Adele Bacc, Veasyble is a conceptual set of accessories that transform to create an intimate world for the wearer at a moment’s notice.

According to the artists, “The idea derives from a reflection on the change in our relationship with the domestic environment, due to the effects of our increasing mobility, and how this has affected our concept of intimacy, creating new demands.”

And to further display Veasyble in use, the four women took to the streets, photographing themselves enjoying a moment of privacy in very public spaces, the results are stunning:

To see more images and how Veasyble works, visit their Web site.

Lovisa Wattman is this month’s featured designer at from Sthlm, a Web site that highlights one Swedish designer and their products each month. Ms. Wattman enjoys cooking, and so her products tend to be food-focused. I’m smitten over her

Oval Oak Parmesan Cheese Grater with storage box. It’s a beautifully crafted implement that can be used in the kitchen and at the table. In fact, it’s so sleek and modern you will probably want to craft your meals around cheese just so you can use it!

A few years ago I gave up body wash and switched to bar soap. I figured it’s a cheap way to be a little indulgent. If you spend $6.00 on a bar of soap, you know it’s going to last a month or so, and you’re rewarded with its sumptuous fragrance every time you bathe. Yesterday I picked up a bar of Pacifica’s French Lilac (the package is beautiful, and I wish I could paper it all over my walls), and I can’t stop inhaling it. If you like lilac’s, you’ll be addicted, too.

27 years young . . .