Nicolas' place deserves to be in an interior design magazine - very chic and sparkling clean!
Nice little touches like a small welcome tin of chocolates, metro maps, and a guide of nearby food establishments gave a more personalized sense of hospitality despite Nicolas not being there during my stay.
His friend Kevin, who lives nearby, was there when I checked in and gave me a brief tour of the apartment and its amenities. He was easygoing and friendly, and politely checked in with me through text during my stay.
The apartment is about a 3 min walk away from Gambetta station, which made traveling within Paris so easy! The immediate neighborhood is also filled with restaurants, a grocery store, boulangeries, chocolatier, wine shops, and specialty food stores (foie gras, honey, etc.) to delight the gourmand in you.
They were gracious enough to permit me a late check out on my last day, which made it super convenient since my train left at 6pm.