Azadeh is the most welcoming and helpful host I ever had. She will help you with everything from ordering water to suggesting how to navigate around the city.
The flat is full of her paintings, which is creating unique atmposphere – the is intuitively communicating with the viewer making him/her think.
The apartment is situated in most central part of Istanbul, few minutes walk from Taksim, thus being walking distance from the airport buses (Havaist) and well connected to all other parts of the city. It is on the verge of (for me) most interesting part of the city, with antique shops, restaurants and old hamamas, all of where you could meet both tourists and locals.
The day/night life in this part of town is bursting, which is great for going out and hanging around, but could be a bit of challenge to have a sound sleep on Saturday nights in middle of the tourist season, though :)
The flat is suitable for a couple with a child (or even another baby to put in the master bed, which is really big), good both for tourist and writing retreat.
Though the apartment did not have an airconditioning (which scared me, when staying from mid-July to mid-August), you realise it is reallly not needed. The flat has very good natural airflow and old thick walls that guard you from the outside heat. It is also equiped with ventilators which are more than enough.
The apartment has all virtues and challenges of a pretty old building, high ceilings and cracky floors are just some of them.
I am warmly recommending both host and her place.