Maria and her family are warm and welcoming. She sat with me every morning for breakfast and gave some great tips for restaurants. They have a little kitty who can be very affectionate (I usually hate cats, but this one I loved).
Their home has an eccentric layout that actually works very well--a big dining/cooking area that spills out into a lovely garden. The bedroom is small, but the balcony overlooking the garden makes up for this. The neighborhood (De Pijp) is vibrant and trendy. It's close to central Amsterdam by public transportation or by foot.