I was looking for a peaceful, accessible, and more "local" place than touristy, and Virginie's place hit all those benchmarks. The balcony is a great place to sit and rest after walking the city all day, with a nice little seating area, an umbrella, and lots of plants. The apartment is conveniently situated -- near the hot spots without being right in the center of chaos and is still very accessible via metro. There are 3 metro stops nearby, and being close to Gare de l'Est and Gare Du Nord makes it an even more convenient base for the rest of Paris or day trips.
The apartment itself is spacious and well-appointed. Washer, elevator, iron, dish washer etc. Plus there's an office space with an incredible view out to Sacre Coeur for sitting down to read or using the computer. No A/C, but I was there during part of a heat wave and I didn't feel like I needed one -- the apartment stayed pretty cool & breezy. Quai de Valmy, the main road that hugs the canal is closed to cars on certain days/times so the whole area feels even more tranquil for walks or picnics.
All in all a great base for seeing Paris AND a great place to relax and watch the sunset with a glass of wine on the balcony. Would absolutely stay there again.