On the Market: A Mid-Cambridge Victorian with a Lush Private Garden

Enjoy a glass from the wine cellar before walking to nearby Harvard Square.


Photo by Paul Girello

12 Bigelow St., Cambridge
Price: $2,500,000
Size: 3,369 square feet
Bedrooms: 5
Baths: 3.5

Snatching up this mid-Cambridge Victorian attached single-family is a victory in itself. But there’s lots more to cheer here, from the painstakingly preserved historic details of the carved wooden banisters to the soaring ceilings. If you’re pressed to pick a favorite part of this home, though, that private back garden probably wins first prize. With a spacious deck, patio, and a tree-shrouded garden, it’s a bit of pastoral paradise within a quick walk to Harvard Square and all that Cambridge has to offer. Or, hop on your bike that’s waiting in the back bike rack and peddle on your way.

If you can peel yourself from the garden and a covered front porch where you can breeze through the warm days on the porch swing, inside beckons with plenty of charm. Built in 1883, the home boasts the best parts of Victorian detailing, including a charming foyer with a fireplace, which adds to the warmth cast from the second fireplace in the nearby living room. The ceilings in the living room tower over nine-and-a-half feet tall, giving the generous windows plenty of leeway to lighten up the wood-filled space. Custom cabinets also grace the family gathering spot, and a cozy reading nook awaits your next perusal of The Secret Garden, inspired by your new digs.

From there, French doors lead to the formal dining room. The nearby kitchen features an island, granite countertops, and built-in open cabinets to elevate your china into works of art for display. There’s plenty of room to stretch out in the sunny space, with breakfasts in the adjoining window-flanked dining spot right by the deck and with full garden views.

When it’s time to hibernate for the night, tuck into the main suite on the second floor—up the classic double-staircase—with its walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom. Vintage details abound here and the rest of the rooms, including a second office on the top floor with its angled ceilings and skylight. And speaking of vintage, the brick-walled wine cellar keeps the elixir flowing for spring gatherings in the garden.

For information, contact Charles Cherney, Compass, cambridgerealestate.com.

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

Photo by Paul Girello

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