Deborah was the hospitable owner: arranging my entry to the house even when she was out at work; taking me through a tour of the house and facilities; making the food in the fridge available, and buying the cereals and fruits I requested. She wasn't always there, and did not make me feel being observed by the over-bearing host, but was responsive to messages, calls and email.
Although the description promotes it as a private room, the other non-exclusive areas of the 2nd floor, such as the bathroom, dining area and kitchen were unoccupied and unused during my time of use, so I never had the sense of it as shared space; the host had her own living area in the 3rd floor. It could almost be described as a private apartment. Its home-like charm was also enhanced by the absence of any attempt to make it look other than being part of a 100+-year old house. But make no mistake, it was a comfortable bed I slept on.
The neighbourhood was quiet and homey, surrounded by other homes of equal age and families; it was only a short walk from a coffee shop and laundry shop and two blocks from Mass. Ave.
There is nothing unique about the frontage of the house, so if one is looking for a hotel look, this is not the AirBnB to get. But if one wants to live like a native resident of Cambridge, with the comforts of home, this is it.