The Moment I Understood the Power of a Home

This week, I attended a masterclass called The Brand, the Business & You with Ruth Larkin and Padraig Hyland, where they shared their incredible entrepreneurial journeys.

One moment particularly stayed with me.
Padraig spoke about the importance of finding your “heart story.”

So I asked myself a simple question:

Why do I care so much about home?

I could have been passionate about many other things.
So why does the idea of well-being at home resonate with me so deeply?

And then, a memory came back to me.

Several years ago, while I was studying for my master’s degree on another island, a close friend invited me to live with her. Her apartment was located right across from the university.

Two months earlier, she had lost her mother, with whom she had been living.

During our time as roommates, I stayed in her mother’s bedroom. But in a way, I also inherited everything that surrounded her presence.

Her mother had been a gentle and loving woman who cared deeply about the well-being of her children.

I remember feeling overwhelmed by the number of objects, memories, and traces of life still present in the apartment. I can only imagine what my friend must have been feeling.

One day, I saw her standing in front of the wardrobe, discouraged. She looked at me and said:

"I don’t know how to start sorting through all of this."

At that moment, my rational mind wanted to say: "They are just objects." But I knew they were not just objects.

Behind every magazine holder, every decorative item, every book, every dress… there was a memory. A piece of life.

For months, I stayed by her side. I watched her go through this process, never wanting to rush her.

Little by little, I began to notice a change.
Her posture shifted and also her mindset. And one day she said: "What if we repainted the living room? My mother always wanted to do it, but she did not have the time."

So we began.

First the living room. Then the bathroom. Then the kitchen. Eventually, we renovated the entire apartment.

This new energy didn’t only transform the space.
It helped her rebuild herself and supported her through the grieving process.

She was incredibly courageous. She took the time she needed and listened to herself in order to heal.

Years later, I had realised that this experience shaped the way I look at homes today.

A house is never just a physical place. It holds memories, emotions and invisible layers of life.

Through my work with Akawell, I help people reconnect with their homes, transform them, and sometimes gently close one chapter before opening another.

And you, have you ever realised how deeply a home can hold the story of our lives?

Book Your First Home Alignment Consultation

Whether you’re moving, renovating, or simply feel that your space no longer reflects you, there’s always a way to improve, redefine or even expand the walls.

👉 Book your first 90-minute Home Alignment Consultation for €90
Together, let’s make your home your most powerful ally.