You’ve got a good start in that your architecture isn’t nearly as limiting as some with the ceiling heights in emulating your dream. But you have a long way to go.

Save 70K-130K and hire a Kitchen Designer. That means not wasting any money on any interim changes. You wring every dollar that you can out of keeping what you have while planning the new dream space.

Or, you might want to aim lower, and save the money for the kids college fund.

You could do a 30-50K makeover and keep what you have just by having them professionally painted, new counters sink and faucet, plus a new lighting plan, and new wood floors for the whole house. Plus painting the house.

It's not an update but rather a full blown remodel you're looking into, if you want to make that kind of a change.

Just going white on uppers and counters won't do it-you have your flooring to consider, and it will be out of character and in dissonance unless you change it too

your dream kitchen might seem simple, yet it's not, with its stacked cabinets and glass and whatnot. Not at all. It's a pretty high end kitchen. I don't want to overwhelm you with probable numbers neither I know your budget-just something to keep in mind

As you don't know yet how the kitchen would function for you, in terms of layout and such-I'd move first, live in the house for several months minimum-better a year, noticing everything that I find useful/want to change...will the island work for you, for example, or you'd prefer a rectangle but with increased storage instead of sitting space since you have your dining right next to it? but could benefit from more storage?

and all sorts of functional stuff like that.

think of a plan, figure out the budget you're ready for..don't hurry into anything major just yet. It might not be your dream kitchen, yet it's a normal kitchen, you know? It doesn't need immediate intervention or something, Think it through. Bring your favorite teapot and plants meanwhile:) Little things they do make a difference. Maybe even moreso than some major ones.

As for white counters..they used marble look Quartz. From what I can see. So, Quartz..and I imagine white Corian would be cheaper, yet still nice clean look? And it's easy to take care of.

following with interest to hear other comments

and wishing you the best with your purchase and new home!

Sophie's ideas sound good. It would look lovely. To me, your kitchen has good bones! I assume this is not your furniture, correct?