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December 2009

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Don Carney & His Artwork

I’m a huge fan of artist and designer Don Carney and his quirky cool ink drawings which Jonathan Adler wittily describes as “ye oldie meets gothic meets mantiques meets botanical.” Carney’s technique involves the use of ink-filled eyedroppers and tiny brushes to create intricate, vintage inspired drawings that can be purchased through Adler’s shops in New York or Los Angeles as well as at the recently opened Patch NYC showroom in Boston which Carney owns with his partner John Ross. In addition to Carney’s art, the new showroom offers eclectic assortment of jewelry, accessories and …

Aside from being a celebrated interior designer and photographer, Vicente Wolf is also an adventurous world traveler. In fact, it’s his passion for travel that informs and inspires much of his design work which reflects his global sensibility. Vicente enjoys immersing himself in other cultures and his travels have taken him to such far flung places as Ethiopia, Thailand, India, Peru, Myanmar, New Guinea, Namibia and the list goes on. This holiday, he’s embarking on an exotic seven week trip around the world. Read on to find out more…

Where are you off to for the holidays this year?

Interior designer Jamie Drake, best known for his fearless use of bold, vibrant color, shares his holiday plans exclusively with So Haute!

What are you up to for the holidays this year?

I’ll be in East Hampton with my immediate family and some friends for Christmas. Then I will run away from the cold to Miami for New Years!

What presents are you hoping Santa will leave under your tree?

A new black dress coat, because the ones I have and love have just had it! Weekly flower delivery, because sometimes I just don’t find the time to buy …

Want to know what some of the biggest names in design are up to for the holidays? So Haute has the scoop! I checked in with some of my favorite designers, artists and tastemakers – including Jamie Drake, Madeline Weinrib, Vincente Wolf, Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz and more – to find out what they have planned this holiday season and what gifts are at the top of their wish list. They also dish on some of the gifts they’ll be giving this year too. Find out who’s heading to the Hamptons and who will be roughing it in Timbuktu…Who’s craving an island …

Snow White Coconut Cake-4

Earlier in the summer I had my best friend and her husband over for a visit and I made them this very decadent, very yummy coconut cake. I garnished it with freshly shaven coconut and let me tell you, this cake was insanity! Here’s the recipe:

Double Layer Coconut Cake

Adapted from Sweets: Soul Food Desserts & Menus by Betty Piner

2 sticks (one cup) of unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs separated

3 cups sifted cake flower (I prefer Swan’s Down)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut…

When buying a hostess gift my rule of thumb is to spend no more than $50. So if you’re headed to a last minute holiday party and have no idea what to get the host or hostess, here are 7 great finds under $50!

If I’m going to a Christmas party I always love to gift the hostess with a pretty ornament for the tree. Wedgwood has a beauiful collection of holiday ornaments that make the perfect hostess gift. Wedgwood Snowflake Relief Ornament, $29.95 at wedgwoodusa.com.

Food items always make great, easy gifts. How about a decadent bottle …