I loved Sema's apartment because it is in an authentic Istanbul neighbourhood with real people with whom I could interact. It wasn't a tourist trap. I went shopping at the grocery store, bought breakfast at the bakery, and jogged in the mornings. In the evening, I went to the gym two doors down that was attractively priced, offering day passes and monthly memberships. I also visited the trendy bars, cafés and restaurants not far from the apartment.
I worked remotely during the day on the big wooden desk in the apartment, and the internet always worked perfectly. The ferry docks were walking distance from the apartment, and I took the ferry to the touristy area on the European side. After visiting the tourist attractions, I looked forward to taking the ferry back to Kadiköy because it's a nice area. I recommend staying at Sema's apartment.