Hi everyone, I'm Lorraine. I founded HomeIdea at the end of 2024 after I left my banking job, but the idea had been brewing in my mind for over five years. In that time, I moved 14 times—from campus housing to downtown LA, back to China, and through multiple apartments in Shanghai. Every home told a different story, shaped by the space, the city, and the objects within it.

Through these moves, I discovered how furnishings could transform a space from something generic into something deeply personal. The right accents—hand-embroidered textiles, handcrafted pottery, bold modern drinkware—don’t just decorate; they tell a story. Each piece enhances and transforms a house into a sophisticated, intimate sanctuary.

As someone who has constantly been on the move, I’ve learned the challenge of finding the right pieces. The perfect object—the one that fits both my space and my budget—often took months of searching. And yet, every piece I found, I treasured. I meticulously wrapped them in layers of clothing, tucked them into suitcases, and carried them from one home to the next. These objects weren’t just aesthetic; they were meaningful.

While I loved the process of hunting for unique décor, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why did it have to be so hard? Why did it take months of searching to find one special piece? That question eventually led me here—to quitting my job and launching HomeIdea.