#mejiaconstruction

Maybe it’s the summer produce piling up on the counter, or maybe it’s the way I can’t open the dishwasher without blocking the fridge — but lately, the layout of our kitchen has been driving me nuts. It’s funny how you can live with something for years and then one day… snap. You’re suddenly done with it.

That happened to me last week. I was trying to prep dinner while my husband washed dishes and our kid made a PB&J, and it felt like we were all playing bumper cars. There’s no flow, no good lighting, and not nearly enough counter space. I don’t need a showpiece kitchen, just one that doesn’t make cooking feel like an obstacle course.

So I started researching kitchen layout fixes and stumbled onto Mejia Construction’s kitchen remodeling page: https://mejiaconstructionde.com/services. They’re based right here in New Castle, and reading through their approach honestly calmed me down a bit.

🍴 It’s About How You Use the Kitchen

What stood out to me was how much emphasis they place on function. Not just cabinets and colors — but how a kitchen works in everyday life. They talk about improving traffic flow and building around cooking habits, not trends. That resonated so hard. We’re not trying to impress anyone — we just want to be able to cook a meal without running into each other like we’re on a sitcom set.

They also mentioned custom islands, energy-saving appliances, and durable finishes that can stand up to heavy use. That’s exactly what we need. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve replaced drawer pulls or had to re-caulk around the sink. It adds up.

🔍 Planning My Dream Layout (In My Head, For Now)

Mejia’s page had me sketching new ideas in my notebook during lunch. What if we moved the fridge closer to the pantry wall? What if the island had built-in storage and enough overhang to seat two people for breakfast? I started picturing pendant lights over the prep area, deep drawers for pots, maybe even a built-in spice rack.

I loved that they seemed to care about daily use — not just magazine-cover aesthetics. Things like lighting that’s bright but soft, outlets where they actually make sense, and cabinets that open fully without smacking into each other. The basics. But better.

This part really got me: they use “stain-resistant countertops” and materials that last. I don’t want quartz that chips the first time someone drops a mug. I want something that’s going to handle spaghetti night, science projects, and the occasional wine spill with grace.

🧃 One Step Closer to Making It Happen

I’m not ready to rip everything out yet — we still have to budget, figure out timing, and brace ourselves for the chaos of a reno — but this is the closest I’ve ever felt to actually doing it. I even showed my husband the Mejia Construction page and he said, “They look solid.”

That’s high praise from him.

For now, I’m measuring the space, dreaming of drawers that glide like butter, and avoiding Pinterest (it just makes me feel broke). But when we’re ready? I think we’ll go local. These folks seem to understand what Delaware kitchens really need.

You know how some houses just kind of... evolve in weird ways over time? That’s ours. It’s like every room was designed in a different decade by a different person with very specific taste and no concern for what was happening elsewhere in the house.

We moved in seven years ago, full of optimism and Pinterest boards. At the time, the "quirky charm" of a DIY’d backsplash and oddly-angled hallway walls didn’t seem like such a big deal. But now, with two kids, a growing work-from-home schedule, and furniture that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere, it’s starting to feel like we’re living in a puzzle where the pieces just don’t quite connect.

Which is what got me thinking: what if we didn’t just fix one room... but rethought the whole layout?

🧱 The Big-Picture Fix I Never Considered Until Now

The idea of a whole home renovation always felt out of reach. I thought it was only for people with massive budgets or old homes that needed tearing down to the studs. But while scrolling through local remodelers (as one does after rearranging the living room for the tenth time), I found Mejia Construction’s page about home renovations — and it reframed the whole idea for me.

Here’s the page: https://mejiaconstructionde.com/services. What stood out right away was how practical their approach is. They’re not just doing showy flips — they’re working with actual families in New Castle, helping improve how homes function for daily life.

They talk about layout changes, smart upgrades, insulation, flooring, framing — the whole deal — but in a way that feels doable and even phased, if needed. That’s what caught me. Not a total demolition, but thoughtful, intentional changes over time that make a house feel like it’s working with you, not against you.

🛠️ What I’m Dreaming Of Now

So now I’m imagining how we could take the awkward kitchen-living room hallway situation and turn it into a real open-concept space. Move a wall, add some light, shift the laundry out of the kitchen (who decided that was a good idea, anyway?), and finally create the flow we’ve been craving.

They also mention electrical and lighting updates, drywall repair, better insulation — which is huge for us. The back half of the house gets so cold in the winter and weirdly stuffy in the summer. It's never felt balanced. Honestly, I didn’t even think about airflow and insulation as something we could address in a remodel.

Plus: trim, flooring, ceilings — all those in-between things that make a house feel finished. Right now we have about four different types of baseboard, two weird ceiling textures, and mismatched outlets that spark every once in a while (not kidding).

🧠 Starting Small, Thinking Big

I’m still nervous about the cost and scope — I won’t lie — but reading through Mejia’s page made it feel like we don’t have to tackle everything at once. We could start with one area — say, opening the kitchen and updating the electrical — and slowly work through the rest as time and budget allow.

The biggest thing I took away was this idea that home should evolve with you, not just around you. Our house still has good bones. We just need help reimagining how those bones can support the next phase of our life.

It’s weirdly comforting to think about not needing to move just to get a house that fits us better. Maybe we’ve already got that house. It just needs a little help from people who know what they’re doing.

So yeah — that’s where my head is now. Not ready to pull the trigger yet, but definitely collecting ideas, talking to friends, and bookmarking pages like Mejia’s for when we’re ready to take the leap.

It started with one of those rabbit hole nights — I just meant to look up storage ideas, and suddenly I was 40 pins deep into “basement transformation” boards. Game rooms, home offices, mini guest suites… you name it. And there I was, sitting on the stairs to our basement, staring into the semi-finished void like it was waiting for purpose.

Our basement’s not scary or gross. It’s just… blah. Cement floors, a sad ceiling fan, and boxes from three moves ago. We've used it as overflow space — laundry, storage, a temporary workout zone during lockdown — but never really claimed it. And now with work-from-home life sticking around and the kids needing more hangout space, it feels like a missed opportunity.

🛠️ Time to Turn the Dead Zone Into Something Real

I started poking around local contractor sites and found myself on Mejia Construction’s basement remodeling page. You can find it here: https://mejiaconstructionde.com/services. I was honestly impressed by how clearly they laid things out — from insulation to lighting, moisture barriers to code compliance.

They mentioned turning basements into offices, gyms, or even guest rooms — and that got the gears turning. We don’t need a man cave or a wine cellar (who even uses those?), but we could really use a multi-use space that works for now and the future.

🧱 The Must-Haves That Make It Feel Doable

Reading through their service details, I realized that what’s been stopping us isn’t creativity — it’s logistics. We’ve always worried about moisture, lighting, and just how much work it would take to make it feel like a real part of the house. But Mejia talks about installing moisture barriers, handling full framing and insulation, and setting up smart lighting that makes a once-dark basement feel warm.

I didn’t even know about some of the things they mentioned, like custom room builds. It made me think — what if we split the basement? One half could be a chill den for movie nights, and the other a flexible space that shifts between office and guest room as needed. Add built-ins for storage, maybe even a compact bathroom down the line.

Also: soundproofing. Please. If my husband’s going to keep taking Zoom calls at 8 a.m., I’d love not to hear them from upstairs.

🛋️ Feeling Inspired, Not Overwhelmed

That’s the thing — this didn’t feel like one of those “$80k total home gut” dreams. The way Mejia explains their basement remodels made it feel approachable. Like it’s not all or nothing. You can start with framing and basic layout changes and build from there. They also mentioned helping with code compliance, which is such a Delaware-specific headache. (Bless them for knowing the local quirks.)

I’m not quite calling contractors yet, but I did finally clear out half the boxes. I found a high school yearbook, a George Foreman grill, and a lot of tangled cords. One step closer, right?

This fall, I might sit down with the Mejia team and talk layout. Even just a dry, insulated, well-lit space would be a huge win. Add a rug, a couch, maybe a mini fridge for sodas and sports nights, and suddenly we’ve gained a whole floor of our home back.

Crazy what a Pinterest spiral can kickstart.