diff --git a/vibn-frontend/components/project/project-icon-rail.tsx b/vibn-frontend/components/project/project-icon-rail.tsx
index 0f8a608d..ec9ca54e 100644
--- a/vibn-frontend/components/project/project-icon-rail.tsx
+++ b/vibn-frontend/components/project/project-icon-rail.tsx
@@ -91,7 +91,14 @@ export function ProjectIconRail({ workspace, projectId }: Props) {
   );
 }
 
-import { Monitor, Smartphone, RotateCw } from "lucide-react";
+import {
+  Monitor,
+  Smartphone,
+  RotateCw,
+  Wand2,
+  Palette,
+  Maximize2,
+} from "lucide-react";
 import { usePreviewToolbarStore } from "./preview-toolbar/preview-toolbar-state";
 
 function PreviewDeviceToggles() {
@@ -100,93 +107,207 @@ function PreviewDeviceToggles() {
   const triggerRefresh = usePreviewToolbarStore((s) => s.triggerRefresh);
 
   return (
-    <div
-      style={{
-        display: "flex",
-        gap: 4,
-        background: "#f1ebe3",
-        padding: 4,
-        borderRadius: 8,
-        border: "1px solid #e8e4dc",
-      }}
-    >
-      <button
-        onClick={triggerRefresh}
-        title="Reload Preview"
+    <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 8 }}>
+      <div
         style={{
           display: "flex",
-          alignItems: "center",
-          justifyContent: "center",
-          width: 28,
-          height: 26,
-          borderRadius: 6,
-          border: "none",
-          cursor: "pointer",
-          transition: "all 0.15s",
-          background: "transparent",
-          color: "#8c8580",
-          marginRight: 4,
+          gap: 4,
+          background: "#f4f4f5",
+          padding: 4,
+          borderRadius: 8,
+          border: "1px solid #e4e4e7",
         }}
-        onMouseEnter={(e) => (e.currentTarget.style.color = "#1a1a1a")}
-        onMouseLeave={(e) => (e.currentTarget.style.color = "#8c8580")}
       >
-        <RotateCw size={14} />
-      </button>
+        <button
+          onClick={triggerRefresh}
+          title="Reload Preview"
+          style={{
+            display: "flex",
+            alignItems: "center",
+            justifyContent: "center",
+            width: 28,
+            height: 26,
+            borderRadius: 6,
+            border: "none",
+            cursor: "pointer",
+            transition: "all 0.15s",
+            background: "transparent",
+            color: "#71717a",
+            marginRight: 4,
+          }}
+          onMouseEnter={(e) => (e.currentTarget.style.color = "#18181b")}
+          onMouseLeave={(e) => (e.currentTarget.style.color = "#71717a")}
+        >
+          <RotateCw size={14} />
+        </button>
+
+        <div
+          style={{
+            width: 1,
+            height: 16,
+            background: "#e4e4e7",
+            alignSelf: "center",
+            marginRight: 4,
+          }}
+        />
+
+        <button
+          onClick={() => setDeviceMode("desktop")}
+          style={{
+            display: "flex",
+            alignItems: "center",
+            gap: 6,
+            padding: "4px 10px",
+            borderRadius: 6,
+            fontSize: "0.75rem",
+            fontWeight: 500,
+            border: "none",
+            cursor: "pointer",
+            transition: "all 0.15s",
+            background: deviceMode === "desktop" ? "#ffffff" : "transparent",
+            color: deviceMode === "desktop" ? "#18181b" : "#71717a",
+            boxShadow:
+              deviceMode === "desktop" ? "0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05)" : "none",
+          }}
+        >
+          <Monitor size={14} />
+          Desktop
+        </button>
+        <button
+          onClick={() => setDeviceMode("mobile")}
+          style={{
+            display: "flex",
+            alignItems: "center",
+            gap: 6,
+            padding: "4px 10px",
+            borderRadius: 6,
+            fontSize: "0.75rem",
+            fontWeight: 500,
+            border: "none",
+            cursor: "pointer",
+            transition: "all 0.15s",
+            background: deviceMode === "mobile" ? "#ffffff" : "transparent",
+            color: deviceMode === "mobile" ? "#18181b" : "#71717a",
+            boxShadow:
+              deviceMode === "mobile" ? "0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05)" : "none",
+          }}
+        >
+          <Smartphone size={14} />
+          Mobile
+        </button>
+      </div>
 
       <div
         style={{
-          width: 1,
-          height: 16,
-          background: "#d9d2c5",
-          alignSelf: "center",
-          marginRight: 4,
+          display: "flex",
+          alignItems: "center",
+          gap: 6,
+          background: "#fafafa",
+          border: "1px solid #e4e4e7",
+          padding: "4px 12px",
+          borderRadius: 8,
+          height: 34,
+          minWidth: 200,
+          color: "#71717a",
+          fontSize: "0.75rem",
         }}
-      />
+      >
+        <span style={{ opacity: 0.5 }}>/</span>
+        <input
+          type="text"
+          defaultValue=""
+          placeholder="Path (e.g. /dashboard)"
+          style={{
+            background: "transparent",
+            border: "none",
+            outline: "none",
+            width: "100%",
+            color: "#18181b",
+            fontSize: "0.75rem",
+          }}
+        />
+      </div>
 
-      <button
-        onClick={() => setDeviceMode("desktop")}
-        style={{
-          display: "flex",
-          alignItems: "center",
-          gap: 6,
-          padding: "4px 10px",
-          borderRadius: 6,
-          fontSize: "0.75rem",
-          fontWeight: 500,
-          border: "none",
-          cursor: "pointer",
-          transition: "all 0.15s",
-          background: deviceMode === "desktop" ? "#ffffff" : "transparent",
-          color: deviceMode === "desktop" ? "#1a1a1a" : "#8c8580",
-          boxShadow:
-            deviceMode === "desktop" ? "0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05)" : "none",
-        }}
-      >
-        <Monitor size={14} />
-        Desktop
-      </button>
-      <button
-        onClick={() => setDeviceMode("mobile")}
-        style={{
-          display: "flex",
-          alignItems: "center",
-          gap: 6,
-          padding: "4px 10px",
-          borderRadius: 6,
-          fontSize: "0.75rem",
-          fontWeight: 500,
-          border: "none",
-          cursor: "pointer",
-          transition: "all 0.15s",
-          background: deviceMode === "mobile" ? "#ffffff" : "transparent",
-          color: deviceMode === "mobile" ? "#1a1a1a" : "#8c8580",
-          boxShadow:
-            deviceMode === "mobile" ? "0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05)" : "none",
-        }}
-      >
-        <Smartphone size={14} />
-        Mobile
-      </button>
+      <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 4, marginLeft: 4 }}>
+        <button
+          title="Visual Edit"
+          style={{
+            display: "flex",
+            alignItems: "center",
+            justifyContent: "center",
+            width: 32,
+            height: 32,
+            borderRadius: 8,
+            border: "1px solid transparent",
+            background: "transparent",
+            color: "#71717a",
+            cursor: "pointer",
+            transition: "all 0.15s",
+          }}
+          onMouseEnter={(e) => {
+            e.currentTarget.style.background = "#f4f4f5";
+            e.currentTarget.style.color = "#18181b";
+          }}
+          onMouseLeave={(e) => {
+            e.currentTarget.style.background = "transparent";
+            e.currentTarget.style.color = "#71717a";
+          }}
+        >
+          <Wand2 size={15} />
+        </button>
+        <button
+          title="Theme"
+          style={{
+            display: "flex",
+            alignItems: "center",
+            justifyContent: "center",
+            width: 32,
+            height: 32,
+            borderRadius: 8,
+            border: "1px solid transparent",
+            background: "transparent",
+            color: "#71717a",
+            cursor: "pointer",
+            transition: "all 0.15s",
+          }}
+          onMouseEnter={(e) => {
+            e.currentTarget.style.background = "#f4f4f5";
+            e.currentTarget.style.color = "#18181b";
+          }}
+          onMouseLeave={(e) => {
+            e.currentTarget.style.background = "transparent";
+            e.currentTarget.style.color = "#71717a";
+          }}
+        >
+          <Palette size={15} />
+        </button>
+        <button
+          title="Fullscreen / Pop-out"
+          style={{
+            display: "flex",
+            alignItems: "center",
+            justifyContent: "center",
+            width: 32,
+            height: 32,
+            borderRadius: 8,
+            border: "1px solid transparent",
+            background: "transparent",
+            color: "#71717a",
+            cursor: "pointer",
+            transition: "all 0.15s",
+          }}
+          onMouseEnter={(e) => {
+            e.currentTarget.style.background = "#f4f4f5";
+            e.currentTarget.style.color = "#18181b";
+          }}
+          onMouseLeave={(e) => {
+            e.currentTarget.style.background = "transparent";
+            e.currentTarget.style.color = "#71717a";
+          }}
+        >
+          <Maximize2 size={15} />
+        </button>
+      </div>
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/vibn-frontend/components/vibn-chat/chat-panel.tsx b/vibn-frontend/components/vibn-chat/chat-panel.tsx
index edde4c45..1468c005 100644
--- a/vibn-frontend/components/vibn-chat/chat-panel.tsx
+++ b/vibn-frontend/components/vibn-chat/chat-panel.tsx
@@ -337,11 +337,11 @@ function renderMarkdown(text: string): string {
 
     const containerStyle = `
       margin: 12px 0;
-      border: 1px solid #e8e4dc;
+      border: 1px solid #e4e4e7;
       border-radius: 8px;
       overflow: hidden;
-      background: #faf8f5;
-      box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(1a,1a,1a,0.02);
+      background: #fafafa;
+      box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.02);
       font-family: var(--font-ibm-plex-mono), SFMono-Regular, Consolas, monospace;
     `
       .trim()
@@ -352,11 +352,11 @@ function renderMarkdown(text: string): string {
       justify-content: space-between;
       align-items: center;
       padding: 6px 12px;
-      background: #f0ede8;
-      border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e4dc;
+      background: #f4f4f5;
+      border-bottom: 1px solid #e4e4e7;
       font-size: 0.68rem;
       font-weight: 600;
-      color: #6b6560;
+      color: #52525b;
     `
       .trim()
       .replace(/\s+/g, " ");
@@ -376,12 +376,12 @@ function renderMarkdown(text: string): string {
 
     const buttonStyle = `
       background: #ffffff;
-      border: 1px solid #e8e4dc;
+      border: 1px solid #e4e4e7;
       border-radius: 4px;
       padding: 2px 6px;
       font-size: 0.65rem;
       cursor: pointer;
-      color: #6b6560;
+      color: #52525b;
       display: flex;
       align-items: center;
       gap: 4px;
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ function renderMarkdown(text: string): string {
     .replace(/\*\*(.+?)\*\*/g, "<strong>$1</strong>")
     .replace(
       /`([^`]+)`/g,
-      '<code style="background:#f0ede8;padding:1px 5px;border-radius:3px;font-family:var(--font-ibm-plex-mono),monospace;font-size:0.85em;overflow-wrap:anywhere;word-break:break-word">$1</code>',
+      '<code style="background:#f4f4f5;padding:1px 5px;border-radius:3px;font-family:var(--font-ibm-plex-mono),monospace;font-size:0.85em;overflow-wrap:anywhere;word-break:break-word">$1</code>',
     )
     .replace(
       /^### (.+)$/gm,
@@ -513,24 +513,26 @@ const MessageBubble = React.memo(function MessageBubble({
             width: 24,
             height: 24,
             borderRadius: "50%",
-            background: "#1a1a1a",
+            background: "#f4f4f5", // Zinc-100 instead of black
             display: "flex",
             alignItems: "center",
             justifyContent: "center",
             marginRight: 8,
             flexShrink: 0,
             marginTop: 2,
+            border: "1px solid #e4e4e7",
           }}
         >
           <span
             style={{
-              color: "#fff",
+              color: "#18181b", // Dark gray instead of white
               fontSize: "0.6rem",
               fontWeight: 700,
               fontFamily: "var(--font-lora),serif",
+              fontStyle: "italic",
             }}
           >
-            V
+            V.
           </span>
         </div>
       )}
@@ -561,14 +563,13 @@ const MessageBubble = React.memo(function MessageBubble({
             (!msg.timeline || msg.timeline.length === 0))) && (
           <div
             style={{
-              padding: isUser ? "9px 14px" : "10px 14px",
-              borderRadius: isUser
-                ? "14px 14px 4px 14px"
-                : "4px 14px 14px 14px",
-              background: isUser ? "#1a1a1a" : "#f7f4ef",
-              color: isUser ? "#fff" : "#1a1a1a",
+              padding: isUser ? "9px 14px" : "4px 0px",
+              borderRadius: isUser ? "14px 14px 4px 14px" : "0",
+              background: isUser ? "#111827" : "transparent",
+              color: isUser ? "#fff" : "#111827",
               fontSize: "0.84rem",
               lineHeight: 1.6,
+              letterSpacing: "-0.01em",
               fontFamily: "var(--font-inter),ui-sans-serif,sans-serif",
               ...proseWrap,
             }}
@@ -669,12 +670,13 @@ function TimelineText({ text }: { text: string }) {
   return (
     <div
       style={{
-        padding: "10px 14px",
-        borderRadius: "4px 14px 14px 14px",
-        background: "#f7f4ef",
-        color: "#1a1a1a",
+        padding: "4px 0px",
+        borderRadius: "0",
+        background: "transparent",
+        color: "#111827",
         fontSize: "0.84rem",
         lineHeight: 1.6,
+        letterSpacing: "-0.01em",
         fontFamily: "var(--font-inter),ui-sans-serif,sans-serif",
         marginBottom: 6,
         ...proseWrap,
@@ -2044,11 +2046,33 @@ export function ChatPanel({
                 gap: 8,
                 background: "#fff",
                 borderRadius: 12,
-                border: "1px solid #e8e4dc",
+                border: "1px solid #e4e4e7",
                 padding: "10px 12px",
-                boxShadow: "0 2px 6px #1a1a1a08",
+                boxShadow: "0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.03)",
               }}
             >
+              {/* Fake Suggested Next Steps Chips (for design review) */}
+              {!sending &&
+                messages.length > 0 &&
+                messages[messages.length - 1].role === "assistant" && (
+                  <div
+                    style={{
+                      display: "flex",
+                      gap: 6,
+                      marginBottom: 4,
+                      overflowX: "auto",
+                      paddingBottom: 4,
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    <button style={suggestionChipStyle}>
+                      Implement bulk checkout
+                    </button>
+                    <button style={suggestionChipStyle}>
+                      Make mobile responsive
+                    </button>
+                    <button style={suggestionChipStyle}>Connect Stripe</button>
+                  </div>
+                )}
               <textarea
                 ref={inputRef}
                 value={input}
@@ -2091,6 +2115,27 @@ export function ChatPanel({
                   paddingTop: 4,
                 }}
               >
+                <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 6, flex: 1 }}>
+                  {/* Mode Toggles */}
+                  <select
+                    value={chatMode}
+                    onChange={(e) => setChatMode(e.target.value as any)}
+                    style={{
+                      appearance: "none",
+                      background: "transparent",
+                      border: "none",
+                      fontSize: "0.75rem",
+                      fontWeight: 500,
+                      color: "#71717a",
+                      cursor: "pointer",
+                      outline: "none",
+                      padding: "4px 8px",
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    <option value="vibe">Discuss</option>
+                    <option value="collaborate">Plan</option>
+                  </select>
+                </div>
                 <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 6 }}>
                   <button
                     type="button"
@@ -2105,23 +2150,58 @@ export function ChatPanel({
                     style={{
                       ...COMPOSER_ACTION_BTN_BASE,
                       background: "transparent",
-                      color: "#8c8580",
+                      color: "#a1a1aa",
                       border: "1px solid transparent",
                       cursor: "pointer",
                       transition: "all 0.1s ease",
                     }}
                     onMouseEnter={(e) => {
-                      e.currentTarget.style.background = "#f0ede8";
-                      e.currentTarget.style.color = "#1a1a1a";
+                      e.currentTarget.style.background = "#f4f4f5";
+                      e.currentTarget.style.color = "#18181b";
                     }}
                     onMouseLeave={(e) => {
                       e.currentTarget.style.background = "transparent";
-                      e.currentTarget.style.color = "#8c8580";
+                      e.currentTarget.style.color = "#a1a1aa";
                     }}
                     title="Attach file to context"
                   >
                     <Paperclip style={{ width: 14, height: 14 }} />
                   </button>
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    style={{
+                      ...COMPOSER_ACTION_BTN_BASE,
+                      background: "transparent",
+                      color: "#a1a1aa",
+                      border: "1px solid transparent",
+                      cursor: "pointer",
+                      transition: "all 0.1s ease",
+                    }}
+                    onMouseEnter={(e) => {
+                      e.currentTarget.style.background = "#f4f4f5";
+                      e.currentTarget.style.color = "#18181b";
+                    }}
+                    onMouseLeave={(e) => {
+                      e.currentTarget.style.background = "transparent";
+                      e.currentTarget.style.color = "#a1a1aa";
+                    }}
+                    title="Voice dictation"
+                  >
+                    <svg
+                      width="14"
+                      height="14"
+                      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                      fill="none"
+                      stroke="currentColor"
+                      strokeWidth="2"
+                      strokeLinecap="round"
+                      strokeLinejoin="round"
+                    >
+                      <path d="M12 2a3 3 0 0 0-3 3v7a3 3 0 0 0 6 0V5a3 3 0 0 0-3-3Z"></path>
+                      <path d="M19 10v2a7 7 0 0 1-14 0v-2"></path>
+                      <line x1="12" x2="12" y1="19" y2="22"></line>
+                    </svg>
+                  </button>
                   {selectToggle}
                 </div>
                 {(() => {
@@ -2140,11 +2220,11 @@ export function ChatPanel({
                       style={{
                         ...COMPOSER_ACTION_BTN_BASE,
                         background: isActive
-                          ? "#1a1a1a"
+                          ? "#111827"
                           : canSend
-                            ? "#1a1a1a"
-                            : "#e8e4dc",
-                        color: isActive || canSend ? "#fff" : "#a09a90",
+                            ? "#111827"
+                            : "#e4e4e7",
+                        color: isActive || canSend ? "#fff" : "#a1a1aa",
                         border: "none",
                         cursor: isActive || canSend ? "pointer" : "not-allowed",
                         transition: "all 0.15s ease",
@@ -2668,6 +2748,34 @@ export function ChatPanel({
           </button>
         )}
         <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 4 }}>
+          {/* Top-Level Publish Button */}
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={() => {
+              if (activeThread && !sending) {
+                sendMessage("ship it");
+              }
+            }}
+            disabled={!activeThread || sending}
+            style={{
+              background: "#18181b",
+              border: "none",
+              cursor: activeThread && !sending ? "pointer" : "not-allowed",
+              padding: structural ? "4px 12px" : "5px 14px",
+              borderRadius: 6,
+              color: "#fff",
+              display: "flex",
+              alignItems: "center",
+              fontSize: "0.75rem",
+              fontWeight: 600,
+              opacity: activeThread && !sending ? 1 : 0.5,
+              transition: "opacity 0.15s ease",
+            }}
+            title="Ship to production"
+          >
+            Publish
+          </button>
+
           <button
             type="button"
             onClick={newThread}