A reader told me she spotted the British Prime Minister’s Downing Street kitchen on the White House Flickr account today, so I looked it up. Sure enough, you can see it in the background behind First Lady Michelle Obama and the British Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron when they met for tea recently.
I’m surprised the kitchen looks so sleek and contemporary when the other rooms I’ve seen from 10 Downing Street look much more traditional and grand. You can take a virtual tour of the house here. Or for laughs, watch Hugh Grant dance through it that classic scene from Love Actually. 
UPDATE: A reader explains that the private residence is actually at 11 Downing Street. Thanks, Anna!
(Thanks to Niamh for finding this. White House photo taken by Lawrence Jackson.)
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, great find, Julia & Niamh! I love to see houses of famous people, especially if they remain hidden normally. I love this kitchen, by the way! It looks like such a happy place. I guess I’d expected something heavier, or something. Love this
!!
And oh yes, Love Actually is great. Please go see it, even if you normally don’t like those romantic Hugh Grant movies. Trust me, it’s priceless
I suspect that there is a larger working kitchen at 10 Downing where chefs prepare meals for visiting dignitaries and this one is just for the Prime Minister’s family.
Oh, this is sooo cool!
Really interesting post, Julia. Love these kind of posts!
Have a great day!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Love that the kitchen actually looks lived in! And LOOOOVE that scene from Love Actually. Just thinking about it makes me smile!!
A famous kitchen that actually looks real and a Hugh Grant moment…made my day!
. Thanks, Julia!!
Love the kitchen and yellow sofa. Adore Love Actually!!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
It’s fantastic. I love how she entertained Michelle Obama in such a casual, homey space. You expect to see a tricycle on the floor or something.
I’m noticing how lovely the color of Mrs. Obama’s dress and the couch go together!
Have you ever seen the BBC series “The Amazing Mrs. Pitchard”? I was surprised by the appearance of the 10 Downing Street kitchen in that program – small and modern. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fX-8b1Tj4e0#t=68s) While not exact, it was closer than I thought.
I hadn’t seen that. Thanks, Nancy!
Thank you for posting! I have always wanted to see inside #10! I love the open shelves…
And yes – totally love Mrs. O’s dress color matched with the couch!
Thanks!
Awesome picture! I love that cheery yet sleek yellow couch. Hugh Grant is so adorable and fumbling, you have to love him.
Julia,
Thanks for the cool post!
I did a little research on the 10 Downing St. website you listed above; according to the website, below the State Dining Room is “the original vaulted stone kitchen.” Now that’s something I’d really like to see! I wonder if it has a giant old fireplace with a hook hanging in the flue for a giant pot?
Great post, Julia. Hugh Grant is so flippin’ cute…..:D
Now they just need a nice cupboard for their DVD storage.
This is actually 11 Downing Street. When Tony Blair was in office he and Gordon Brown swapped residences as private residence at No. 11 is larger and Blair needed more room for his family and Gordon Brown was single at the time. David Cameron has continued this set-up. Here are some articles about the flat
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/27/david-cameron-taxpayers-home-improvements
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13547142
Interesting! Thanks for explaining that, Anna! -Julia
Um LOVE those shelves!
totally gorgeous kitchen and I LOVE the yellow (mustard) couch!
I’m straining to read those DVDs! This photo is much nicer that how they portrayed #10 Downing Street in the film The Queen!
And Hugh Grant’s dancing is just as funny in Music and Lyrics but the movie is not quite as good as Love Actually. That one is the best!
I want those shelves too!
I absolutely love that loveseat. Goldenrod is one of my favorite colors.
I took the virtual tour…I’m disappointed…desperately in need of redecoration…the yellow in the Grand Stairway area is ghastly, the terracotta room is awful…the furniture looks old and in need of reviving. Gosh…and I always find something lovely in every home but this came as a total surprise to me. Sorry to be mean but I just don’t like the decor at all….history and all.
and by “old” I mean “tired”…of course most of it is old lol
I’m not surprised Samantha Cameron has this stylish a kitchen. She was after all the creative director at Smythson for a very large time. The Cameron’s are such a modern couple and I’m pleased to see this kitchen.
We’re not all ancient buildings, cottages and chintz. This is a nice example of cool britannia I think.
The first time I saw this pic on a blog, the article and everyone’s comments were on what they were wearing, but I was totaling eying that kitchen
VERY cool find! It looks like a house that’s “lived in,” and not so much like some stuffy old place.
Very cool find. The kitchen and living area are very nice.
Wow, a few days ago I looked at this picture and never noticed the Kitchen!! Thanks for the picture and for the link. No. 10 has a beautiful traditional understated elegance with priceless art and antiques.
Well this was a TREAT!! thanks so much for sharing this – I was amazed how modern it looked!
Mary
Does anyone else think that the sofa looks a little bit cheap and basic for the house of the Prime Minister?
I think most of the house looks a little cheap & basic. Not that I consider that a bad thing; in these economic times it would be bad form to flash a lot of wealth especially when it’s paid for by the public. Mrs. Obama’s dress color goes very well with the couch!
Hi,
This is my first time on your blog. I googled about house hunter as I was curious as to how people chose just between 3 homes. When I bought my home I went through nearly 50+
Now I know, thanks to you. Thanks for showing us the kitchen at 10 Downing Street. And as for Hugh Grant, that just made my day.
Lovely blog and I must say I share your passion about homes too. One of my favorite past times is visiting model homes ! Do visit my blog, unfortunately it is not about homes, but rather something that goes on in all homes….. cooking !