GARDEN TERRACE CONTEMPORARY

LOCATION: CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS   

This contemporary Cambridge residence marked Mandarina Studio’s second project with returning clients. While the home had been recently renovated by the prior owners, the interiors lacked warmth and material depth. Mandarina re-envisioned the house across all four levels, refining the interiors to feel more personal, layered, and thoughtfully composed, while maintaining clean lines and a contemporary sensibility.

The main living spaces were shaped around light, scale, and proportion. In the double-height living room, a redesigned stone fireplace brings structure and vertical presence to the space, paired with a sculptural pendant selected in response to the room’s height and volume. 

A restrained palette provides a calm foundation, allowing materials and furnishings to add depth and interest. Warm woods, vintage carpets, and carefully selected pieces are layered throughout, creating a collected feel without excess. Technology is integrated with care, including a concealed projection system that allows for movie nights without introducing a visible television.

Upstairs, the private spaces continue the home’s quiet, cohesive tone. The primary suite features cathedral ceilings and a Turkish hand-knotted carpet that established the room’s palette. Custom glass sconces add a sculptural artisanal note, while a mandala mosaic detail in the primary bath offers a quiet personal reference. Children’s rooms and guest accommodations balance comfort with restraint, completing a home that feels considered and welcoming.