When a Space Starts to Feel Like Home
By Jordan Illsley
What makes a place feel like home to you?
That’s a question I’ve never spent much time reflecting on — and certainly never expected to find myself answering while staying in a downtown apartment suite. Yet somehow, my Louise suite at The Bridge in Bridgeland managed to shift that perspective.
I tend to be a reflective person, often drifting into thought, pondering life. For me, home begins with quiet. I spend most of my days networking, in meetings, or navigating the natural rush of city life. So, at the end of the day, I crave a space where stillness fills the air.
That was the first thing I noticed when I stepped into the suite — the silence. It wasn’t hollow or cold.
It was calming. Settling. Like the room had taken a deep breath and was inviting me to do the same.
As I began to unpack and settle in, I started to notice small details that quietly brought me comfort. Like how, in the evenings, the sunset would spill through the windows and turn the living room and kitchen into something soft and glowing — almost like cotton candy. Or how waking up to natural light each morning seemed to add a kind of quiet energy to the day before it even began.
After a few days, I found myself slipping into creative rhythms. Most evenings, you’d find me at the small wooden desk positioned near the living room window. It was simple, but something about it pulled me into a flow state — no distractions, just the soft glow of the room, the city lights beyond, and space to think. I came to crave those evenings. I’d watch the clock inch toward 5 p.m., counting down to the moment I could return to my cozy little sanctuary and sink back into the stillness.
The next step in a place feeling like home, for me, is knowing I can host the people I love. So naturally, I put that to the test.
My brother, sister-in-law, and nephew were headed to the Calgary Comic Expo for the weekend, and I invited them to stay with me. I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I was pleasantly surprised. Having two bedrooms made their visit seamless, and having my own ensuite bathroom gave me the privacy I needed to feel settled.
Growing up, I always dreamed of having a place of my own — somewhere to host my family, where laughter could bounce off the walls and card games would stretch long into the evening. I pictured cooking dinner while the rest of the crew relaxed in the living room, chiming in on the jokes between stirring the pot. So you can imagine the joy I felt when that dream became real.
That weekend created a memory I’ll hold onto for a long time. The living room held the four of us perfectly — I curled up in my usual round chair while the three of them bundled onto the couch. We stayed up late, swapping stories, cracking jokes, and soaking in the glow of the city lights just outside the window.
The next day, after saying goodbye to my family, I sank into the couch and took a quiet moment to reflect on my time at The Bridge. Afternoon light poured through the windows, birds chirped outside, and a sense of peace settled over me.
That’s when I realized — I had answered my own question. What makes a place feel like home?
HOME IS THE LITTLE THINGS
It’s waking up to sunlight that softens your morning. It’s getting lost in your creative rhythm. It’s having space to breathe, to be still, and not worry about what’s outside your walls. It’s the ability to welcome loved ones in — to let them relax, laugh, and gather in joy.
It’s when everything just fits — not because it’s perfect, but because it holds you perfectly.
Or in other words: home is my Louise suite at Bridge.
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