A 16-room lodging house called Cambridge Common House is opened on Garden Street, giving several of its rooms views of the Cambridge Common on the edge of Harvard Square, said its operator, Lark.
Opening room rates range from $299 to $599 for double occupancy, which includes a housemade breakfast spread in the lounge each morning, followed by coffee, water and sweets through the day, according to a Monday announcement of the opening.
Each room in the 1880 home of the Howe family has a gas fireplace and has undergone a redesign by Newburyport’s Elder & Ash – updates to what has “long been a gathering place for students, artists and intellectuals,” Lark said. Its description of the home now:
Cambridge Common House’s interior decor is rooted in traditional elements with museum-quality finishes and fixtures. Textured wallpaper in classic stripe patterns and flora and fauna motifs line the walls, and a color palette of deep greens and blues, neutrals and gem tones create a worldly, polished environment without pretension. Rich woodwork and moldings elevate each guest room’s original architectural charm … Furniture at Cambridge Common House echoes this refined atmosphere, with vintage tufted Chesterfield chairs, mahogany canopy beds in some rooms and built-in, deep crimson wraparound beds in the smallest accommodations. While most of the building’s design elements are anchored in tradition, striking abstract artwork provides playful contrast throughout the property. The doorway to each guest room is lined with floor-to-ceiling striped drapery, creating the feel of a grand entrance to guests’ own private pied-à-terre.
Though Lark is a New England development and management company, Cambridge Common House was intended to be its first Greater Boston property in a portfolio of 150 boutique hotels in North America. “As a lifelong New Englander, I have always had my sights set on opening a Greater Boston property, but we didn’t want to debut in the city with just anything,” said Rob Blood, founder and chair of Lark.
When the financially troubled Sonder pulled out of managing Central Square’s 907 Main hotel in November, though, Lark stepped in quickly to replace it.
Cambridge Common House is considered the company’s flagship in the area, Blood said, citing its “rich history, prime location and an identity that feels innately Cambridge.”
Cambridge Common House, 2 Garden St., Harvard Square, Cambridge
Some glimpses of Cambridge Common House by James Reed Photography:
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