For Jorge and Marcela Valencia, Kitchen Tune-Up is more than a business. It is an extension of the life they have built together, the community they have come to love, and their belief that the kitchen has a unique way of bringing families together.
Married for 20 years and parents of three children, Jorge and Marcela’s journey began far from Long Beach. Their story as expatriates eventually brought them to the United States, first to Miami in 2012 after Jorge was relocated by the company he had worked for across Colombia, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S.
“We’ve been in the U.S. for 14 years,” Jorge said. “We feel blessed and grateful for having the opportunity to come to the U.S.”
Years later, another relocation brought Jorge from Miami to New York in October 2021. At first, Long Beach was not necessarily the plan. He had been advised to live on Long Island, and in a difficult housing market, the search for the right place took time. Long Beach entered the picture when Jorge asked his realtor to find something close to JFK Airport.
He landed first in a small studio, then another apartment, spending long stretches in New York while traveling back and forth to Florida to see his family.
“It was a long period of time by myself in NY and traveling home in Florida,” he said.
But during that season, something unexpected happened: Long Beach began to feel like home.
“During that time, I fell in love with this town,” Jorge said. “It is a small town where people are very kind and friendly. There is an incredible sense of community.”
He noticed the details that give Long Beach its character: people walking and biking, families out in the neighborhood, the boardwalk, the beach and the feeling of daily life happening outdoors. After a long search, the family finally found a house in August 2023. Fittingly, it was in Long Beach.
“Now we all love it,” Jorge said.
Their children have settled into their schools, and Jorge and Marcela have embraced the community as both residents and business owners. Their love for Long Beach helped inspire them to open Kitchen Tune-Up, allowing them to combine their professional backgrounds with the values that matter most to their family.
For the couple, building a business together has been a natural extension of the partnership they have shared since they were 21 years old.
“It’s been an incredible experience,” Jorge said. “We have a beautiful and happy marriage, and we complement each other very well.”
That balance shows up in the business. Jorge brings years of management experience, while Marcela brings her background as an architect specializing in interior design and finishes. Together, they offer clients both operational guidance and a trained design eye.
“My experience in management and Marcela’s as an architect, specialized in interior design and finishes, have been a great mix to be able to offer our clients a superior quality service and support,” Jorge said.
At Kitchen Tune-Up, their work centers on one of the most important spaces in a home. For Jorge and Marcela, the kitchen is not simply a place to prepare meals. It is where family gathers, conversations unfold, children grow up and everyday memories are made.
“We chose kitchen remodeling because we truly believe in the importance of the kitchen,” Jorge said. “Big or small, it is the heart of every home.”
That belief shapes the experience they hope to create for clients. Kitchen projects can feel overwhelming, especially for families trying to balance design choices, budgets, timelines and daily routines. Jorge and Marcela want to guide people through that process with care, helping them imagine what is possible and bring it to life in a way that suits how they actually live.
“Our main goal is to help people bring to reality their dreamed kitchen,” Jorge said, “and guide them through this process until they have the right space for their families.”
That family-centered approach reflects their own lives. Jorge and Marcela are passionate about cooking, outdoor activities and spending time together with their children. In Long Beach, where the beach, boardwalk and close-knit neighborhoods support that lifestyle, they have found a place that aligns with what they value most.
As they look back on their journey, gratitude is a central theme: gratitude for the opportunities that brought them to the United States, for the community that welcomed them, and for the chance to build something meaningful together.
“For us, having the opportunity to work together, build together, make decisions, and all that implies running a business and the family, and being successful in both, is something we are very grateful and proud of,” Jorge said.
Like any family or business, the journey has included challenges, adjustments and unknowns. But for Jorge and Marcela, those experiences have strengthened their partnership and deepened their appreciation for where they are now.
Their story is one of movement, resilience and finding home in an unexpected place. Today, through Kitchen Tune-Up, they are helping other families shape the spaces where their own stories will unfold.
“For us, having the opportunity to work together, build together, make decisions, and all that implies running a business and the family, and being successful in both, is something we are very grateful and proud of”