Lara's place is very cute and cozy. The location is absolutely perfect: a quiet tree lined street, yet close to the beach and all the Ipanema hotspots. The place was well decorated, and the ceiling fans were so good at keeping us cool we didn't even need to use the aircon. The building is very safe, secure, well kept and with helpful staff. Lara was very helpful and responsive and able to organize our stay at very short notice.
For longer stays, the washer-dryer is an amazing asset to have inside the apartment (not a communal facility, as in the listing). The only small downside we found for longer stays is the lack of any proper cooking utensils (we had to buy a frying pan), but the nearby restaurants and cafes will cater for the needs of most guests.
At a very reasonable price, Lara's place is excellent value and we wouldn't hesitate to stay again.