You can't go wrong renting Brigitte's place.
It is In a quiet local neighborhood. Secure, airy, beautiful, and cozy. The bed is very comfortable. It has all the amenities you might need as a traveller. I loved the many interesting books (in multiple languages!) and artwork.
Less than 5 minutes easy walk away are a baker, butcher, wine shop, tobacco shop, fresh produce market, and supermarket. An incredible italian restaurant (I am italian myself so I am very picky ahaha). Also a metro station. Want to venture a bit farther? A gourmet shop with sausages, pates, preserved fruit, wines, and an overwhelming assortment of cheeses are just minutes away. a Bookstore. Plenty of other shopping and interesting things to look at in the neighborhood. Brigitte provides a rolly-cart shopping thing so you can get as much as you want/ need without having to carry or acquire excessive bags. Plenty of other places to eat just a short walk away.
How much more convenient does it get?? We wanted to be out of the bustle and craziness of the touristy areas...and we got it. Plenty of local-type places to eat and shop which we just loved. Notre-Dame is 30 minutes away on foot (as long as you go in the correct direction to begin with...which we didn't haha but we got to see more of paris that way). The Seine is about 20 minutes on foot. Plenty of interesting shopping in-between. Bring a big shopping bag!
We loved the very clean, neat, comfortable, and efficient space, the balcony, and being out of the "touristy"areas. The kitchen was stocked with everything we could possibly need (including a Moka pot.... we had accidentally left ours in Geneva...oops) Loved being less than 5 minutes to the metro (which i think everyone should try... its the cheapest and best way to explore the city of Paris). We loved being able to cook our own meals (mainly breakfast...but who's keeping track? :) )
However, I definitely used my (not very good 20 years ago-high-school) french. Because this is not a touristy spot.... most people do speak a small amount of english and it is not a problem if you don't but but it does help to have a bit of french as well. I found all over France that most people appreciated that i Tried to speak their language first... we got much better service that way... but always try to be calm and polite. Remember your please and thank you. And your smile. We did meet a fellow american in our Paris adventure... she would just yell "beer!" when the waitperson came around. She said they always knew what she wanted (how can you not?) but she never got good enough service to tip for... what a shock. As it happens, gratuity seemed to be included... but i saw plenty of people leaving tips anyway. So we did too.
They are avid recyclers there (as everyone should be). The instructions are easy to follow and include pictures. There are a few rules on what is ok to go down the drain. There is no air conditioning.... but plenty of windows for a cross breeze and Brigitte provides fans as well. We loved staying in her space. It truly felt like the home we wished we could have in Paris.
As a host Brigitte is incomparable. Gracious, multilingual, and friendly, she was a breath of fresh air after an unfortunate "rude awakening" by a taxi driver.... but not to worry. She can tell you exactly how to get there without taxis (we ended up taking an uber but YOU don't have to) and make plenty of recommendations of where to go and how to get there. We had a little problem with the washer the first night we were there and she came over the very next morning to make sure it was fixed!
Overall, HIGHLY recommend!!!!!