Merchant Lofts gave us a very thorough experience of New Orleans. The front door has to be lifted in order for it to open/shut properly. It was almost like there was no top hinge. Walking in, the place was very clean. The old exposed brick was a beautiful detail. And it was nice and cool - AC was definitely a nice break from the heat and humidity. However, the sofa was torn. I was skeptical of sitting on it but when I did, I didn't sit there long. It was very uncomfortable. We tried taking a break from the city, sit back to relax and watch some TV - only to find out that the batteries in the remote were dead. Luckily, we found another remote and switched out the batteries. The kitchen was beautiful and dishes were clean. The bedroom (sheets, blankets and pillows) were very soft, clean and comfortable. But bed was super firm. The bathroom and shower was very impressive. However, we barley had any water pressure while taking a shower. In my opinion, that the most disturbing thing about this place was the noise. You could hear every single person, car, siren, etc. on the street. It sounded like the windows were open. However, the location of the place was right in the city of New Orleans. You are gonna hear the typical city noise. It kind of made me wonder if all of the buildings heard as much as we did.
But on a more positive note: we did enjoy our stay. Not once did I feel unsafe while inside our room. The location was phenomenal. Walking distance from everything.
Overall, if you are looking to experience New Orleans while staying in an older building and don't mind the noise, this place would not be a bad choice.