By the way, not doing this myself. What i mean when I say don't know where to start I mean, who do i hire? a General contractor, a Kitchen designer, etc.

You should start with a general contractor (ideally one with a solid grasp of the building codes in your local area, and who can accurately understand and coordinate the work to be done based on the current layout of your home). A good GC will guide through the process. Where are you based?

I really appreciate your input! I am in L.A