Mina is a great host and we had a lovely time at her and Lisa's place. The flat, while not awfully central, was in a halfway point that allowed us to explore both the city centre and its outskirts, and was near the transportation hub in Westbahnhof. It was also near to shopping streets and there was a supermarket practically in front of the building. The area was calm and nice.
The building in itself was a beautiful piece of architecture, although the entrance area showed a bit of wear and tear. But by God, I don't think I've ever stepped into a lift that could be described as 'jaw-dropping' until now.
Being in the top floor made the atelier have a little nest-like feeling and it means you spare yourself a whole deal of noise and you get obscene light. Even with the curtains down to keep the cold out, there was ample amounts of it. The house had its quirks (mainly it struggled with too many appliances on), but it more than made up for it with its charm. The pictures don't lie, for a one-room flat it's lovingly roomy, there is lots of detail (the books, the well-stocked little pantry, the cutlery and crockery, the beautiful quilt and more towels than we knew what to do with), it's tastefully and uniquely decorated and it quickly becomes obvious the space has a life of its own that makes you feel right at home.
The flat consistently managed to meet our every need, all while withstanding the chilling January cold. The bathroom was cozy and spacious and had an amazing bathtub to boot. The kitchen had any possible utensil, a super-fast, responsive stove, and a trove of spices, grains, pasta... that made our mouths water and breakfast and dinner a breeze. The bed was perfectly dressed for the weather and we could have buried ourselves under even more bedding had we wanted to.
And Mina was so nice, accommodating and communicative. Although we couldn't meet her in person, she arranged for a friend (hi Alessandro!) to show us around the flat and answer our questions and she kept in touch throughout arrival and departure, making sure everything was okay.
All in all, a great stay that we'd be glad to book again. We will dearly miss the place.