diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/ChatPanel.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/ChatPanel.tsx
index a4181c6..3eae20d 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/ChatPanel.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/ChatPanel.tsx
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ export default function ChatPanel({
           <span className="text-[11px] font-medium text-xibe-text-dim bg-xibe-surface px-3 py-1 rounded-full border border-xibe-border-subtle">{msg.content}</span>
         </div>
       ) : msg.role === 'error' ? (
-        <div key={msg.id} className="text-sm text-xibe-error bg-xibe-error/10 border border-xibe-error/20 rounded-xl px-4 py-3 shadow-sm">{msg.content}</div>
+        <div key={msg.id} className="text-sm text-xibe-error bg-xibe-error/10 border border-xibe-error/20 rounded-xl px-4 py-3">{msg.content}</div>
       ) : (
         <MessageBubble key={msg.id} role={msg.role as 'user' | 'assistant'} content={msg.content} isStreaming={msg.isStreaming} timestamp={msg.timestamp} />
       ),
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ export default function ChatPanel({
               </div>
 
               {needsSetup ? (
-                <button onClick={onOpenSetup} className="rounded-full bg-xibe-accent px-8 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium text-xibe-bg hover:bg-xibe-accent-hover transition-colors shadow-sm">
+                <button onClick={onOpenSetup} className="rounded-full bg-xibe-accent px-8 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium text-xibe-bg hover:bg-xibe-accent-hover transition-colors">
                   Complete Setup
                 </button>
               ) : (
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ export default function ChatPanel({
         <div className={`relative ${CHAT_WIDTH}`}>
           {/* Command dropdown above input */}
           {isSlashMode && filteredCmds.length > 0 && (
-            <div className="absolute bottom-full mb-2 w-full rounded-xl border border-xibe-border-subtle bg-xibe-surface/95 backdrop-blur-md shadow-lg overflow-hidden animate-slide-up z-20">
+            <div className="absolute bottom-full mb-2 w-full rounded-xl border border-xibe-border-subtle bg-xibe-surface/95 backdrop-blur-md overflow-hidden animate-slide-up z-20">
               {filteredCmds.slice(0, 6).map((cmd, i) => (
                 <button key={cmd.name} onClick={() => { setInput(cmd.name + ' '); inputRef.current?.focus(); }} className={`flex w-full items-center justify-between px-4 py-2.5 text-left text-sm transition-colors ${i === selectedCmd ? 'bg-xibe-surface-hover text-xibe-text' : 'text-xibe-text-secondary hover:bg-xibe-surface-hover/50'}`}>
                   <span className="font-mono font-medium text-xibe-text">{cmd.name}</span>
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/CommandPalette.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/CommandPalette.tsx
index b6cf203..92a24d6 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/CommandPalette.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/CommandPalette.tsx
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ export default function CommandPalette({ onClose, onCommand }: Props) {
 
   return (
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-start justify-center pt-[20vh] bg-black/40 backdrop-blur-md" onClick={(e) => { if (e.target === e.currentTarget) onClose(); }}>
-      <div className="w-full max-w-lg rounded-xl border border-xibe-border bg-xibe-surface shadow-lg overflow-hidden animate-slide-up">
+      <div className="w-full max-w-lg rounded-xl border border-xibe-border bg-xibe-surface overflow-hidden animate-slide-up">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2 border-b border-xibe-border-subtle px-4 py-3">
           <svg className="h-4 w-4 text-xibe-accent shrink-0" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2} viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M3.75 6.75h16.5M3.75 12h16.5m-16.5 5.25h16.5" /></svg>
           <input
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/MessageBubble.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/MessageBubble.tsx
index d476a99..082b2c8 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/MessageBubble.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/MessageBubble.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const MessageBubble = memo(function MessageBubble({ role, content, isStreaming }
   if (isUser) {
     return (
       <div className="flex justify-end animate-fade-in w-full group">
-        <div className="max-w-[85%] sm:max-w-[75%] rounded-2xl bg-xibe-surface px-4 py-3 text-[15px] leading-relaxed text-xibe-text whitespace-pre-wrap">
+        <div className="max-w-[85%] sm:max-w-[75%] rounded-2xl bg-[#27272a] px-4 py-3 text-[15px] leading-relaxed text-xibe-text whitespace-pre-wrap">
           {content}
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -27,21 +27,21 @@ const MessageBubble = memo(function MessageBubble({ role, content, isStreaming }
       <div className="prose prose-invert max-w-none text-[15px] leading-relaxed text-xibe-text
         prose-p:my-3 prose-headings:my-4 prose-ul:my-3 prose-ol:my-3 prose-li:my-1
         prose-pre:my-4 prose-pre:bg-transparent prose-pre:p-0
-        prose-blockquote:my-4 prose-blockquote:border-l-2 prose-blockquote:border-xibe-surface-hover prose-blockquote:pl-4 prose-blockquote:text-xibe-text-dim
+        prose-blockquote:my-4 prose-blockquote:border-l-2 prose-blockquote:border-xibe-border prose-blockquote:pl-4 prose-blockquote:text-xibe-text-dim
         prose-a:text-xibe-text-secondary hover:prose-a:text-xibe-text prose-a:underline prose-a:underline-offset-2
         prose-strong:text-xibe-text prose-strong:font-semibold
-        prose-code:text-xibe-text-secondary prose-code:bg-xibe-surface prose-code:px-1.5 prose-code:py-0.5 prose-code:rounded-md prose-code:font-medium prose-code:before:content-none prose-code:after:content-none
+        prose-code:text-xibe-text-secondary prose-code:bg-xibe-surface-raised prose-code:px-1.5 prose-code:py-0.5 prose-code:rounded-md prose-code:font-medium prose-code:before:content-none prose-code:after:content-none
         prose-h1:text-xl prose-h2:text-lg prose-h3:text-base prose-h1:font-semibold prose-h2:font-semibold prose-h3:font-semibold">
         <ReactMarkdown
           remarkPlugins={[remarkGfm]}
           components={{
             pre: ({ children }) => (
-              <pre className="overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-xibe-surface p-4 text-[13px] font-mono leading-relaxed my-4">{children}</pre>
+              <pre className="overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-xibe-surface-raised p-4 text-[13px] font-mono leading-relaxed my-4">{children}</pre>
             ),
             code: ({ className, children }) => {
               const isInline = !className;
               return isInline ? (
-                <code className="rounded-md bg-xibe-surface px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[13px] font-mono text-xibe-text-secondary">{children}</code>
+                <code className="rounded-md bg-xibe-surface-raised px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[13px] font-mono text-xibe-text-secondary">{children}</code>
               ) : (
                 <code className={`${className ?? ''} text-[13px] font-mono`}>{children}</code>
               );
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/SettingsPanel.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/SettingsPanel.tsx
index 717e14c..21e5ac2 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/SettingsPanel.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/SettingsPanel.tsx
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export default function SettingsPanel({ onClose, onModelChange, onProviderChange
 
   return (
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center bg-black/40 backdrop-blur-md">
-      <div className="w-full max-w-2xl h-[70vh] rounded-xl border border-xibe-border bg-xibe-surface shadow-lg flex flex-col animate-slide-up overflow-hidden">
+      <div className="w-full max-w-2xl h-[70vh] rounded-xl border border-xibe-border bg-xibe-surface flex flex-col animate-slide-up overflow-hidden">
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between border-b border-xibe-border-subtle px-5 py-3">
           <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-xibe-text">Settings</h2>
           <button onClick={onClose} className="rounded-md p-1 text-xibe-text-dim hover:text-xibe-text hover:bg-xibe-surface-hover transition-colors">
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/SetupWizard.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/SetupWizard.tsx
index e4de907..33adfdb 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/SetupWizard.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/SetupWizard.tsx
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ export default function SetupWizard({ onComplete, onClose }: Props) {
 
   return (
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center bg-black/40 backdrop-blur-md">
-      <div className="w-full max-w-md rounded-xl border border-xibe-border bg-xibe-surface shadow-lg animate-slide-up">
+      <div className="w-full max-w-md rounded-xl border border-xibe-border bg-xibe-surface animate-slide-up">
         <div className="px-6 pt-6 pb-4">
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-4">
             <div>
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/ToolCallCard.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/ToolCallCard.tsx
index cf53f79..dabcf7b 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/ToolCallCard.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/ToolCallCard.tsx
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ const ToolCallCard = memo(function ToolCallCard({ toolName, toolInput, toolOutpu
                 <span className="text-[10px] font-bold uppercase tracking-widest text-xibe-text-dim">Input</span>
                 <div className="h-px flex-1 bg-xibe-border-subtle/50" />
               </div>
-              <pre className="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg bg-xibe-bg border border-xibe-border-subtle p-3 text-[12px] font-mono text-xibe-text leading-relaxed shadow-inner">{inputStr}</pre>
+              <pre className="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg bg-xibe-bg border border-xibe-border-subtle p-3 text-[12px] font-mono text-xibe-text leading-relaxed">{inputStr}</pre>
             </div>
           )}
           {outputStr && (
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ const ToolCallCard = memo(function ToolCallCard({ toolName, toolInput, toolOutpu
                 <span className="text-[10px] font-bold uppercase tracking-widest text-xibe-text-dim">Output</span>
                 <div className="h-px flex-1 bg-xibe-border-subtle/50" />
               </div>
-              <pre className="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg bg-xibe-bg border border-xibe-border-subtle p-3 text-[12px] font-mono text-xibe-text-secondary leading-relaxed max-h-64 shadow-inner">{outputStr.length > 5000 ? outputStr.slice(0, 5000) + '\n\n...[Output truncated]...' : outputStr}</pre>
+              <pre className="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg bg-xibe-bg border border-xibe-border-subtle p-3 text-[12px] font-mono text-xibe-text-secondary leading-relaxed max-h-64">{outputStr.length > 5000 ? outputStr.slice(0, 5000) + '\n\n...[Output truncated]...' : outputStr}</pre>
             </div>
           )}
         </div>
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/styles/global.css b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/styles/global.css
index 9e886c2..44ce566 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/styles/global.css
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/styles/global.css
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 @import "tailwindcss";
 
 @theme {
-  --color-xibe-bg: #0A0A0A;
-  --color-xibe-surface: #171717;
-  --color-xibe-surface-raised: #262626;
+  --color-xibe-bg: #09090b;
+  --color-xibe-surface: #18181b;
+  --color-xibe-surface-raised: #27272a;
   --color-xibe-surface-hover: #27272a;
-  --color-xibe-border: #262626;
+  --color-xibe-border: #27272a;
   --color-xibe-border-subtle: #18181b;
   --color-xibe-border-focus: #3f3f46;
   --color-xibe-muted: #71717a;
   --color-xibe-text: #fafafa;
   --color-xibe-text-secondary: #a1a1aa;
   --color-xibe-text-dim: #71717a;
-  --color-xibe-accent: #fafafa;
-  --color-xibe-accent-hover: #e4e4e7;
-  --color-xibe-accent-muted: rgba(244, 244, 245, 0.15);
+  --color-xibe-accent: #e4e4e7;
+  --color-xibe-accent-hover: #ffffff;
+  --color-xibe-accent-muted: rgba(244, 244, 245, 0.1);
   --color-xibe-brand-blue: #60A5FA;
   --color-xibe-brand-green: #34D399;
   --color-xibe-brand-orange: #FBBF24;
diff --git a/screenshot.png b/screenshot.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f89e259
Binary files /dev/null and b/screenshot.png differ
diff --git a/screenshot.py b/screenshot.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2f1e39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/screenshot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
+
+with sync_playwright() as p:
+    browser = p.chromium.launch()
+    # open a chat with user and assistant message and tool calls
+
+    # for simplicity, let's just use the current page
+    page = browser.new_page()
+    page.goto("http://localhost:5173/")
+    page.wait_for_timeout(2000)
+
+    # Click on the textarea, type some text, and send it
+    page.fill('textarea', 'Hello')
+    page.press('textarea', 'Enter')
+    page.wait_for_timeout(2000)
+
+    page.screenshot(path="/home/jules/verification/screenshots/screenshot_chat.png")
+
+    # Also open the settings to see it
+    page.goto("http://localhost:5173/")
+    page.wait_for_timeout(2000)
+    page.click('text=Settings')
+    page.wait_for_timeout(2000)
+    page.screenshot(path="/home/jules/verification/screenshots/screenshot_settings.png")
+    browser.close()