Vice President Kamala Harris famously lives at Number One Observatory Circle, one of the most iconic residences in the country – but while much is known about the home's history, its interiors are notably more mysterious. Or at least, they were until now.
If anybody were to introduce us to Vice President's design decisions, it would have to be Bobby Berk, Netflix's Queer Eye star, who visited Kamala Harris this week. 'Went to DC and got a private tour of the VP's house from the VP,' the designer shared via Instagram. 'Such an honor to meet you, Madam Vice President. Thank you for being such an amazing champion for equality.'
Bobby shared a rare glimpse inside Kamala's living space – where stand-out features include the built-in bookshelves and artwork above the fireplace. However, while its architectural assets and storage solutions are something to note, we can't help but feel more distracted by its strikingly patriotic living room color scheme.
How can you strike a balance between red, white, and blue without overly saturating your space? While these colors (particularly red) can be hard to get right, the Vice President's living room offers an inspiring starting point that is subtly patriotic.
As mentioned, decorating with red can be tricky, but the Vice President has balanced her red wallpaper and rug with white-painted shelving (and the white fireplace), bringing a sense of calmness to the otherwise vibrant space. And, while the white paint has its design benefits, we'd say it's also a nod to the flag – with two of the three colors working harmoniously together in the space.
While we admit there is no significant amount of blue in the room, there are some varying hints of the shade on the bookshelves – most notably on the top left side alongside her gray vase. As we suggested, though, the space is subtly patriotic – and we think she's got the balance just right.
What else do we know about Number One Observatory Circle?
Number One Observatory Circle (also often referred to as the Naval Observatory) is the Vice President's official residence, meaning it is currently home to Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff, the Second Gentleman of the United States.
The house, located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C, was designed by architect Leon E. Dessez and built in 1893 for $20,000 (today, equivalent to around $651,407). It was initially constructed for the observatory superintendent; however, the chief of naval operations reportedly liked the house so much that in 1923 he took it over for himself.
Over the years, the Vice President has welcomed countless foreign leaders, dignitaries, and celebrities to their homes, and the Naval Observatory has continued to operate. According to the government website, the site is used by scientists who observe the sun, moon, and planets to publish astronomical data needed for accurate navigation.
We're reading up about the home's history via this book (available on Amazon) below.
