Laura's place for the price and location is a steal BUT YOU MUST be a cat person. Isabelle and Ellie (the cats) are no trouble but it is very much their home so if you're not comfortable with their toys everywhere and the litterbox in the bathroom then the apartment might not be for you.
In my time staying with Laura I had absolutely no issues. She was very gracious with dealing with my flight complications which resulted in my late arrival (she sleeps in the lounge so me coming in with a suitcase at 1am isn't exactly an ideal situation). As a host Laura is there to offer you any information you might need or for a chat about most things entirely dependent on you. The foundation of all her rules for her place are entirely built on mutual respect. As mentioned above she sleeps in the lounge so if you like a late night (as I do on occasion) taking care is key. During the week Laura is at work all day so we only crossed path of an evening or on the weekends.
The bedroom was a decent size with a comfortable Queen size bed and ample storage space. As is customary for New York City there is functioning air conditioning unit, which was a blessing on those days the weather was in the high 90s! There are nice touches too, a little basket of all possible toiletries and you'll find a small selection of books on the city.
The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you might need if you're going to cook at home, although this doesn't seem to be done too often in New York. There are several grocery stores within easy walking distance so picking up any food stuffs you might need is no chore.
The bathroom though dominated by the cats litter box, which can at times be a little pungent, is kept usually clean and the shower is decent.
I didn't really spend much time in the lounge as the majority of my days were spent out exploring the city.
Having a washer and dryer in the apartment is also a huge help. The small gym downstairs in the building is also available for your use as are the roof terraces which offer a great view of the Hudson and George Washington Bridge.
The area is great, taking the 1 train downtown can get you to Times Square in about 40 minutes but Hamilton Heights itself is full of character and has some quality local restaurants a little further up Broadway or on Hamilton Place, (Fumo is a recommendation if you like Italian).
Overall my stay with Laura was a great experience, so my thanks go to her.