Welcome to Redhead Can Decorate and the spectacular 2021 Holiday Housewalk, hosted by Jennifer Rizzo. I am so excited, and honored to say this is my 3rd year participating in the popular virtual Christmas parade of homes that has captured eyes since 2009. For my contribution this year, I decided to focus in on the heart of our home here in Southeast Michigan. I hope you enjoy reading all about “Our Cozy Christmas Kitchen Lounge” below, just as much as I enjoyed creating it for all of us. If you would like to start at the very beginning of the Holiday Housewalk (there are 10 homes before mine), you can start at house #1 which is Jennifer Rizzo’s beautiful home.
If you happen to be stopping by from house #10 Marci Schneider, Welcome!
Come on in to Our Cozy Christmas Kitchen
Us old folks, I mean “Empty Nesters” have switched up our kitchen a little bit since it’s usually just the two of us for dinner every night. You see, both of our kiddos are dorming at college now, so Rick and I have been zooming in on more of what feels right for us in our home when we are here alone. To be honest, we’ve never been a sit-down-to-the-table type of family. The atmosphere in our kitchen is more chill, and I hope you’ll feel that relaxed vibe as you sift through the photos. Come on in, it’s nice and warm in here with the crackling fire…
The first thing you may notice (besides the black ice skates hanging over our tree) is that our kitchen table is missing 😲. Yep, that’s right…the parents are getting a little wild in their old age. We swapped out the kitchen table for a cool Mid-century Modern sofa. Don’t worry though, the table isn’t far, and is waiting in the adjacent room in our front living room for when we need it (which has been 0 times in the last 6 months).

When I began thinking about this year’s theme for the Holiday Housewalk, I really dug deep and tried to focus in on what truly inspires my decorating style for Christmas. With that being said, it always goes back to my childhood living in Buffalo, New York.
The black ice skates I actually found at a thrift store years ago, which takes me back to many, many years of ice skating during the long cold months in Buffalo. I absolutely love how the ice skates stand out in the room and bring out our black mantel, and the black frames surrounding our loved ones. They are truly the icing on the tree.

Uh oh…look who decided to try to sip my fake Christmas martini 😆. I guess we could call it a “Kitty Cocktail”!
Adorable Cozy Christmas Hutch
Our kitchen is by far the heart of the home, and where we spend the majority of our time (work & play). In fact, it’s something I look forward to enjoying every single night. There is honestly no other place I would rather be than sitting in front of the fire with my husband. If you turn around from the fireplace, you’ll get a peek at our built in hutch, and black island. I enjoyed thinking outside of the kitchen, and brought in cozy supplies such as blankets and pillows, and they really softened up the hutch for that warm and fuzzy feeling.
If you look close, you’ll notice that I used an old Cola crate as a cute ornament display. In addition, the wooden deer and the cardinal are both treasured pieces from my Mom.
Dream Christmas Cooking Station
Before we get to our dreamy cooking station, I want to invite you to enter our fresh Cedar wreath giveaway that’s going on right now 😉. To enter just click here: Fresh Cedar Wreath Giveaway. If you enter the giveaway, you could win a wreath just like this one on our pantry door…

If our kitchen was a city, the hottest spot in town would be my cooking station 😆. I’m telling you, I feel so lucky to have such a neat place to cook up a storm for the ones I love.
Speaking of storms…yah, there really was a huge blizzard in Buffalo, NY in 1977. I was 7, and we had off school for 2 whole weeks (see homemade chalkboard sign in photo below). I remember my dad keeping a journal on a yellow note pad keeping track of all the crazy weather events that took place. Our door was frozen shut, the wind chill was -75 degrees, and I remember my brother (God rest his soul) kicking a frozen half gallon paper milk carton down our street from when we went to walk to get milk. Oh, and if you can spot the loaf of bread in the photo below, that too was what I remember…my Dad cooking homemade bread because it was cheaper.
In case you’re wondering, here’s my view at my “cooking station” while chopping up carrots & celery for Rudolph…
Here’s also one more peek at the white built in hutch that didn’t always look so fresh. If you would like to see it when we moved in 12 years ago, just click here: “White Hutch Makeover”.

Santa Decorated Built In Shelves Surround Fireplace
Last year, I decorated this tall built-in shelf with red and white Santa themed decor. I didn’t have the heart to take it down after Christmas was over, so I just kept it up. This is exactly what it looks like today in our cozy Christmas kitchen lounge. The photos are of my Mom & Dad whom are both 86 years young living in Buffalo, N.Y….
Speaking of my Dad, he is the one who would get the big “Christmas box” out every year when I was little. It was my favorite day of the year, besides Christmas of course. He and I would decorate the entire house in one afternoon, including our Christmas tree. Thanks, Dad XXOO
Vintage Style 1975 Christmas Tree with Tinsel
Those certainly were special days decorating back in the 1970’s, and even 1980’s. As I got older those are the times that still stick with me, and are with me every inch of the way while I trim the tree. The black skates, are a nice unexpected topper, but what really makes me happy is tinsel. A little bit of good old fashioned tinsel is what we all need 😊. Rest assured, I removed the tinsel from the bottom half of the tree after this photo was taken to keep our 3 cats safe.
Thank You for Visiting Our Cozy Christmas Kitchen Lounge
I hope you enjoyed Our Cozy Christmas Kitchen Lounge…you’re welcome here always. To make sure we keep in touch, I invite you to subscribe to my free weekly newsletter here. Next week I’m sharing a beautiful fresh centerpiece made with clipping from our Michigan Pines.
That’s all for today, my friends. Thank you so much for stopping over to our cozy nest. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! Don’t forget, tomorrow morning house #12 Craftberry Bush will be hoping you can continue the tour from her pretty home…
2020 Silver & Gold Holiday Housewalk
2019 Holiday Housewalk
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Absolutely loved all of this, Julie!! The black accents in your home are so cozy. The black ice skates are so perfect with all the deep color. Thanks for sharing your inspiration and hard work. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Stacey!
Always such a fun tour- love your tree with the tinsel and vintage ornaments! I have fond/not-so-fond memories of tinsel! I love how it looks but it always stuck to me! HA!
Yes! It still does that lol
Love your home all decorated for Christmas!
Thank you, Marci!
Your home is definitely very chill and inviting. Love the view to the living room through those stunning doors. Thanks for the beautiful tour.
Thank you, Julia!
Oh Julie – you absolutely outdid yourself this year! Just BEAUTIFUL!!
Thanks for stopping over, Mel!!! ♥️💕♥️
You did a lot of work on this, it is a GREAT display of effort, love to all, Mom and Dad in NY.
Thank you, Dad!
We love you in NY, Mom and Dad.
Love you, too!!! Enjoy the candles!!!
Gosh! I love the change you made regarding the table and sofa! So cozy! Kitty looks the way I do after a few cocktails!
Jane you crack me up. Can’t wait for your kitchen to be done!!
Love every inch of what you posted. Thank you for sharing the significance of so many of the items you used. Yep – you can decorate! Great swap adding the couch.
Thank you, so much Carolina! Your comment made my day~
Julie, your home is always so beautiful this time of year, so warm and welcoming and so very cozy! I love the picture of the kids decorating the tree, such great memories. Love the switch of the sofa from the table and the cute kitty looks like she’s getting into some trouble. Thanks for opening up your beautiful home to all of us! XO Kristin
Thank you for stopping by, Kristin! Can’t wait to stop by your tour on Thursday ❤️❤️❤️
I love the skis hanging in the kitchen! Did you paint them with flat paint? How did you hang them?
Hi Kathy! I found these at a garage sale… I honestly don’t remember painting them black. I think they came that way. I did however stencil on “Buffalo Blizzard of 77” which I speak of in the post. I just used a little brush with a little white paint.
So cozy! I LOVE your new modern couch! Perfect spot to sip cocktails and enjoy the glow of the tree. Merry Christmas! xx
Thank you, Danielle!!
Beautiful. So warm and cozy and so inviting. I love how every decoration has a story behind it. A nostalgic Christmas. My favourite.
Hi Connie! You are always so good to me. Thank you for your encouragement!! Thank you for taking the time to stop over! Merry Christmas!
Julie,
It amazes me how much you remember about your childhood and how you incorporate it into your Christmas Home Tour! It shows the love you have for your family, while showcasing your decorating talents beautifully! I always enjoy the memories you share😊😊😊.
Thank you, Dido! Enjoy your lantern!!! Love you~
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You really decked the halls girl!! Your home looks beautiful wearing all it’s pretty Christmas finery. Wishing you and your fam a great holiday!! ~ Shannon
Thank you, Shannon!
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Which one of the little “reds” are you around that tree? My favorite thing…. the black ice skates and for taking me back to when I was young around our own Christmas tree. And tinsel, can’t forget tinsel but they sure don’t make it like they used too.
I’m the little one…. I noticed my box of tinsel this year was not cut thoroughly. Luckily it’s still under a buck 💕!!! Thanks for stopping over, Bliss!
I so much enjoyed your Christmas home tour!
Thank you, Paula!
I love all of your beautiful Christmas touches Julie! I absolutely adore your vintage tree. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you, Jenn!!
To my very talented friend!
I do consider you a friend, even though we have never met. The tour was so beautiful and inviting, wish I could be there to say Merry Christmas to you and your family.
The black ice skates take me back to when I was ten. I wanted to go skating with my friends, but had no skates, so my Mum bought me a second hand pair, but they were “black”. I cried and said I couldn’t wear them, my friends had white. My Mum said that is all we can afford, so I polished them up and put some pompoms on and went skating!
Got our first snow today, after all the flooding in B.C.
Have a great Holiday.
Cheers, Bette.
Oh my goodness, Bette! Our friendship through this blog is very special! The skates prove it. Merry Christmas, stay safe!!! I hope your husband is doing well.
I always loved your kitchen, and never thought it could get any pretty. As always, you keep proving that theory wrong. Why? Because you are just that good. Just that talent. I love it all. Fabulous job! Thanks for sharing. Happy holidays
Hey Julie, love your kitchen and all the nostalgia especially the skates, both black and white! You also brought back all of my memories from home of our families; nothing like a Buffalo winter. Hope all of you have a Merry Christmas! Love when Uncle Bob comments! The Rank cousins in Texas❤️
Thank you for stopping by, Cinda! Merry Christmas XO
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