to entertain? or to unwind?

Serious "Before" pictures (we've since made some strides)

So as most of you know by now, I moved a little over a week ago and I still haven't come down from the high of being in the new place. Nesting, admittedly, is something I love to do. Toss in the fact that I've got a Mom who's a designer and a new roommate with an impeccable eye for interior design and you've got the makings for something pretty fantastic. Yummy.

However, our current predicament is as follows: Do we turn the living room into a living room-meets-dining room so as to facilitate my entertaining jaunts or do we stay true to the typical living room standards? While at first glance, it would seem I'm initially drawn to the first option, I'm not entirely sold on it either. The size of our kitchen has allowed us to put in a high bar table with two bar stools which means there is definitely a place to cozy up to your meal. But, there's also something to be said about having the option of setting a table for more than two. Floor plans abound are in our immediate future, of that I am sure. Because one way or another, I'm confident we'll reach a happy median.

That said, how do the rest of you utilize your one communal room? I'm talking to you, apartment dwellers. And which do you weigh more heavily? A room to unwind or a room to entertain?