I stayed with Desirée for close to two weeks while I was in Barcelona for business. Her flat was conveniently located near my office in El Poblenou.
The neighborhood was quiet during my stay, and I felt safe walking around at night. I frequently walked to the nearby Rambla del Poblenou for dinner, or walked to the metro station just around the corner to meet people across the city.
Desirée's flat was small, but easily had room enough for two people. I had my own room with a door and a window view. The room and bathroom were clean and in good condition, though it was hard to get the shower to stay hot for long. She also has a washer in the unit, which helped a lot.
The best part was the host herself, though. Desirée helped me learn how to navigate the city, showed me where to go on the weekends, and even invited me out to hear her band. In the flat, she respected my privacy and was always conscious of her own noise levels, but never restricted my own movement in and out of the place. Couldn't ask for more.
I had a great time staying with her and will happily do so again next time.