I have stayed in Pinar's apt at Kurdela Sok for 8 nights in June 2012. She told me that I was her first renter via this website after the students who rented the apt before had left. It's located in a lively and colorful and relatively poor popular neighborhood, in which it is one of the very few renovated buildings. This means that you get in touch with the life of real Istanbul people that you normally might not meet as a tourist in the regular tourist aereas. It is very near very well known and touristy aeras as Taksim Square, Istanbul's main shopping street Istakal Caddesi and the major aera with bars, cafés and clubs (all 5-10 mins walking). On Sundays there is a nice and busy market on the street. Lively means also quite noisy: bring your earplugs if you want to sleep early or sleep in the morning.
The apartment itself has been renovated in a simple and tasteful way: wooden floor, simple but adequate bathroom and kitchen
tyhe only inconvenience I acn think of is that the bathroom floor isn't perfectly inclined to the shower drain, in a way that the bathroom floor remains partly wet. The absence of airconditioning is not a problem, since the large number of windows make that there is enough ventilation. Pinar has been very kind: she even left some food and drinks in the fridge.
Last but not least: istanbul is a great cuity, which will make your stay unforgettable!