Your kitchen cabinet dealer should install or have leads for those who do. RTA is import garbage, and it isn’t even cheap anymore since the tariffs.

"The house was built in the early 90s so this can be grandfathered with breaking code per 2 other contractors but I think also for design it would look better closed." That does not make it safe or help you if the there is a fire due to the opening.

For starters, your cabinetmaker is measuring the aisle widths incorrectly. Aisle widths are measured to/from the items that stick out into the aisle the farthest -- counter overhangs (1.5" beyond cabinets), appliance handles, etc. They are NOT measured to/from cabinets like your layout shows. The 24-inch cabinet depth only includes the cabinet box, it does not include the doors/drawer fronts or the counter overhangs. This means your aisles are at least 3" narrower than they look -- even narrower in front of the range. Is the refrigerator a true built-in refrigerator? Or, is it a counter-depth? Counter-depth refrigerators are around 31" deep, not including any required air clearances behind them. In addition to deeper depths, the doors of counter-depth refrigerators must extend out past all surrounding items (walls, counters, cabinets, etc.) to allow them to be opened fully for full access and cleaning. (The term "counter-depth" only refers to the refrigerator's box/carcass -- it does not refer to the overall depth including doors & handles.) Does your island have the minimum recommended seating overhang of 15"? It looks less than that.

How did you like it when you saw it 3D? Ultimately, the decision is yours. As you see , you will get conflicting opinions here. There is no "right" answer. Yes designers will say a small space should be light and bright and all one color, but I have done kitchens in a condo with black painted cabinets - why? Because my client loved them and didn't want what everyone else was doing or what was "supposed" to be done because of the size of the room. I wish I could find the pictures to show you. I know it is over whelming. Just take a deep breath and have confidence in what you are getting. Best of Luck!