Elifa is an incredible host, and her apartment is fantastic. It is in the heart of Kadykoy, a hipster and lively neighborhood. The apartment is exactly as in the photos. It has everything you need both for a short and longer stay. It was important to me that the apartment was warm and had a boiler to regulate the temperature.
There are many cafes and restaurants nearby, a coworking space, and a hammam. If you want to travel to the European part of the city, the ferry is only a 10 minutes walk from the apartment. Subway is also close by, as well as a bus station.
Overall, I can't recommend this apartment highly enough. If I travel to Istanbul again, I will be happy to stay at Elifa's place again.