24 Rockingham Street

Set on one of Cambridgeport's quietest side streets, 24 Rockingham announces itself with charm: a painted Victorian in lavender and periwinkle, with two bright yellow doors and a generous dose of personality. Inside, the first-floor layout is warm and surprisingly expansive, with a gracious foyer, fireplace sitting room, and an open kitchen/dining area with white cabinetry, stainless appliances, a generous island, and a cheerful retro-style refrigerator. Two bedrooms, an office/study, and a front room that can flex as living space or a third bedroom give the main level unusual versatility. The finished lower level adds bonus living space for work, workouts, guests, or play, while a large separate storage area handles the practical side. Outside, a magnolia-shaded bluestone courtyard feels like its own small world--intimate, leafy, and strung with lights for dining or lingering. One-car tandem parking. Close to Central, Harvard, MIT, BU, the Charles River, and Cambridgeport favorites.