You're on the right track - the more you learn, the better. "This Old House" is well worth watching, and all their remodels are online. A source of tried and true (if unimaginative) ideas are in house plans; there are many online and it pays to spend time looking at how traffic flow, cabinets, entrances, etc are handled. That said, nothing turns off a contractor faster than an armchair expert, so remain open to suggestions. Given your stated like of modern/industrial, I imagine you have have a good idea of what you want, so you might not need a designer, and perhaps not an architect. Hiring a structural engineer for a few hours to look around and to get their thoughts and advice is a great idea. Realtors, remodeling, contractors, codes, financing - it's all a "Wild West" under-regulated mine field - listen to your people skills, your gut instincts, and common sense.

If you turn off the breaker that feeds the electricity to those fixtures, you don't have to worry about electrocuting yourself. Just be sure to rewire correctly to prevent fires. Black to brass, white to bright(silver), and ground (bare copper) to green. When tightening the marrettes, make sure both wires are securely attached.

Somehow, I think you were meaning more of a product to put over the whole kit and kabang not simply painting. If so, YES, there are several choices. Cheapest is to get a fiberglass or acrylic surround at your local big box store. Check to make sure that it can be glued to old tile. Then there is REAL solid surface, like Corian, Swanstone, Transolid, Kohler Choreograph and so on. What makes a solid surface special is that if it should be somehow stained, scuffed, or scratched, it can be repaired by the homeowner. That is because the colors are not on the surface, but are all the way through the material. Some cracks and such can be repaired by professionals, too. These walls can last a lifetime without getting worn looking. No grout, too. Some will have visible caulk in the corners, others, not. There are also shops like Bathfitters, who come in and cover the tub and tile completely, not DYI.

When you listed the things that you don't like, none of them would require you do do big structural changes. things I do not like include: old, run down cabinets that are chipped and very worn inside, not having efficient and useful storage/cabinets, including two corner cupboards that are black holes; chipped flooring; 1990s countertops... I'd like something new and clean, with ample storage and more counterspace. If you change the way you use your rooms so that you only have one living area and one dining area, each can be a good size. Moving walls can add unexpectedly to your expenses because you need to re-do all the flooring and the ceilings too. If you can find a way to meet your needs within your existing footprint, you can use more of your budget for, for example, these very efficient storage units to make good use of your 2 corners. With the right units you can get a lot into those corners and make them fully functional. I lengthened the wall of your kitchen beside the refrigerator, which is a very inexpensive renovation, to give you more wall space and more counter space. I switched the refrigerator and the "new" counter space, to give you a nice long counter between the refrigerator and stove. But you could leave the refrigerator where it is and put a pantry to the right of it, or a second counter, if you feel that meets your needs better. I think you have room for a storage pantry in the dining area too, especially if you switch the "swing" of the door which is not a big structural change. Your current nook area could have a movable island like this to avoid issues with the low window, or a peninsula of some kind if you like. You haven't given us exact measurements so these are just ideas. Renos can run away with you cost-wise, and it's easy to get carried away and over-improve your home relative to others in your area. I think you can get the kitchen you want without structural changes.