It was a real treat to stay at Shahrzad's apartment for a week. She goes out of her way to make your time in Istanbul enjoyable. She offered breakfast one morning and also regularly provided tea and great Turkish coffee. And she always asked if there was anything I wanted or whether I needed help with anything.
The location of the apartment is good, in that it's a stone's throw from a bus station. It's also a a 15-minute walk from popular Taksim Square (although the bus also goes to the square).
The apartment is nice, though nothing extraordinary. The shower and hot water are good, there's a clothes washer, it has good light and comfortable beds and a fine kitchen. The neighborhood is earthy and offers plenty of food possibilities - pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, etc.
Istanbul is a great city, and staying at Shahrzad's made my time there even better.