In this Aug. 21, 1978 file photo shows American television chef Julia Child showing a salade nicoise she prepared in the kitchen of her vacation home in Grasse, southern France.AP/Associated Press
Built in 1889, the soft purple six-bedroom, six-bathroom (four full, two half) home became a culinary epicenter for Child and her husband, Paul, upon his acceptance of a job in Cambridge in 1961. She remained in the 6,321-square-foot home until 2001, when she moved to a retirement community and donated the house to Smith College, which later sold it, according to History Cambridge.
The front steps lead to the entrance. Drone Home Media
The Cambridge City Council voted this summer in favor of putting up a historical marker at Child’s former home, where she filmed some of her PBS shows.
Now, it’s time for a new owner to make it their own.
Just a few blocks from Harvard Yard, the home is tucked behind a white fence. A brick walkway, gracious front yard, and a few steps lead up to the house, which welcomes guests through a grand entry. Inside, to the right, is a space that is currently set up as a living and dining room combination. Back in the hallway, there’s a family room on the left with French doors, a bay window with a built-in seat, a fireplace, and endless shelves.
The foyer looking into the living room. Drone Home Media
The living room and dining room have an open concept. Drone Home Media
In the kitchen, don’t expect to find anything that resembles what it was in Child’s day when she filmed some of her later shows like “In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs” and “Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home” right in her home kitchen, according to the Julia Child Foundation. She donated her kitchen to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. (“Charmingly, a sticker for one of her favorite local restaurants, Eat, is still visible on her refrigerator door,” History Cambridge writes.)
The kitchen. Drone Home Media
The Butler’s pantry. Drone Home Media
Now, the space has been adapted for the modern era, with Poggenpohl cabinetry, a six-burner cooktop, marble countertops, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. A large island is the anchor, and the eat-in area is surrounded by a wall of windows that embraces the natural setting. In the Butler’s pantry, where Paul Child once stood making martinis, you’ll now find further Poggenpohl cabinetry, Sub-Zero refrigeration, and a beverage cooler. The kitchen provides easy access out to the yard.
The dining area of the kitchen. Drone Home Media
“The feel of her is still in there,” said Ed Feijo of Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo, and team at Coldwell Banker, who has the listing. “Even though obviously it’s been renovated, you still get that sense of why she wanted to be there. It’s just very tranquil and relaxing.”
Head up to the second floor to find four bedrooms, including the primary bedroom suite. It features a fireplace, walk-in closet with built-in cabinetry and pocket doors, and an ensuite bathroom with a double vanity. A private balcony feels nestled in the trees.
The primary bedroom. Drone Home Media
The primary bedroom has a spacious seating area. Drone Home Media
On the third floor are two more potential bedrooms, one of which easily functions as a media room with a fireplace. There’s an office space and there’s plenty of additional storage. On the finished lower level, there’s an exercise room, a laundry room, a half-bathroom, a wine room, and several storage spaces.
An office nook. Drone Home Media
The outdoor space is one of the most unique aspects of the home. Many of the same plants are the ones that were planted by the Childs themselves. Feijo notes that the property is a “garden-style house,” and that a lot of the properties on Professor’s Row are set sideways, specifically designed to take in the garden from every angle. There are two covered porches, a patio, a stone wall, and a fenced-in yard surrounded by mature plantings that create an environment of tranquility.
A back patio. Drone Home Media
The home has its own porte cochère, in addition to the driveway parking, where Child once parked her old Volkswagen after returning home from the market with fresh ingredients.
