Alex and Maria have a really gorgeous big basement studio and it is exactly as it is described and how it looks in the pictures. There are a lot of different options for light, with switches everywhere, so you can really customize your lighting. Maria was there to welcome me when I first arrived and show me the important things I needed to know. A very gracious and kind person. After that we were left to ourselves until we had a tiny problem with the WIFI. When I called her she was there in two minutes to make sure it was working properly again (just restart the router!). Also there are little treats left here and there in the apartment for the guests, fresh towel sets for each guest, little chocolates on the side table, a coffee machine with two mugs ready to go. All in all these little touches are what make the place such a joy to stay in. For smoking there is a small covered area outside the front door which is perfect, so you do not have to stay out in the weather to smoke. A really beautiful cozy place, perfect for couples or friends. I would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a place in Montreal that is close to the heart of the city, but just residential enough to be a perfect home. The location is beautiful, NDG is in my opinion one of the prettiest parts of Montreal. I would never look for another place in Montreal if it was up to me, unfortunately, sometimes they are all booked up! But that just goes to show how well they treat their guests.