Make one of your visits to a Lumber Liquidators/Home Depot or low-end source of wood flooring, and other to a high end supplier to architects. Understand what will be required to insure that the floor is protected from moisture and insulated. Ask each to show you the difference in quality and type - which floors can be refinished and which really can't. Examine the thickness of the veneer and the number of plies underlaying it. Ask them each about the types of underpad and glue they use -- you will be shocked to learn that it costs almost as much as the wood. Don't pay for what you don't need (and they may try to sell, while offering a competitive price on the wood) but don't skimp on what you do. Negotiate the best terms for installation, return of excess product ordered, and warranties. Force yourself to read horror stories of botched jobs (google Lumber Liquidators for a sample) and be an educated consumer. It is a substantial investment you're about to make - not just in putting this floor in, but the cost of dealing with the consequences of a mistake later. Trust -- but verify!

You should take a look at some of the Ideabooks on small spaces. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/small-space-small-budget-learning-from-the-upward-bound-house-stsetivw-vs~39257

Another thing to check out is what will need to be done to the concrete slab. Garage slabs are not made to "indoor living requirements". They are built for "out door" use. To install flooring the concrete slab will have to be sealed against excess moisture. This is an added expense most people don't know about. Vapour barriers are used under modern concrete slabs for HOUSES. They are not required and are RARELY USED under garages. That means the "leaky" or very porous concrete in the garage will need treatment well before any conversion takes place. This might require exterior drainage, interior sealants and/or sumpums (depends on local soil and drainage conditions). These conversions happen all the time. There is an entire industry in Vancouver BC where "laneway" houses are being built. The original thought came from converting garages to independant living spaces. Don't lose hope. Just be prepared for a bigger investment. Chat with local architects/construction/design business in your area to find out the very basics of what is required for code and the "problems" they seem to face with these types of conversions. Good luck!

Thanks for all the great feedback. We are most definitely getting Wilsonart countertops and I have decided on Autumn Carnival. We are not as focused on the resale value as a reason for replacing the counters, we just want something different. We are removing the butcher block for now. It was made by my husband's grandfather and we are taking it out for a break and also plan to take it with us and put it in our next house, which we hope to build. KSissy - thanks for the tip on the crown molding, I suggested that to my husband and he was lukewarm but now I am even more convinced we should do that now, so thx. Regarding the doors, the one to the far left of the stove is a lazy susan so there's not much we can do with that. We are not going to order the countertop until the wood floor is picked out as well. Thx again everyone I hope to post updated photos when it all comes together!