We stayed in Fatih's second floor apartment, near Galata Tower, for six days. It was a great base from which to explore Istanbul. A short walk down to Galata Bridge (the walk back is a climb but manageable) leads you across to the old city and it's wonderful sights.
We were in Istanbul when the protests started at the end of May. We found the area around Galata and the apartment quite safe and sufficiently distant from the main demonstration in Taksim Square.
Fatih was a helpful and caring host, providing information on the area and public transport options. The apartment was as described on Fatih's site and as reviewed by other guests.