Reduce sidebar control clutter in session navigation

The project filter and session search were competing for the same narrow vertical lane in the desktop sidebar. This change merges them into a single search surface, keeps project scoping available through an embedded trigger, and trims the surrounding control chrome so the sidebar reads like one cohesive tool instead of stacked widgets.

Constraint: Sidebar filtering behavior and existing project dropdown logic had to remain intact
Constraint: This commit must exclude unrelated in-progress desktop and server changes in the worktree
Rejected: Keep separate project and search controls with smaller spacing | still wastes vertical space and keeps the visual split
Rejected: Move project filtering into a second modal flow | adds friction to a frequent navigation task
Confidence: high
Scope-risk: narrow
Reversibility: clean
Directive: Keep project scoping embedded in the search lane unless session discovery changes materially
Tested: bun run test src/components/layout/ProjectFilter.test.tsx src/components/layout/Sidebar.test.tsx src/__tests__/pages.test.tsx; bun run lint; bun run build
Not-tested: Manual dark-theme screenshot pass after the final integrated layout change

desktop/src/components/layout/ProjectFilter.tsx

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ let cachedProjects: RecentProject[] | null = null
 let cacheTimestamp = 0
 const CACHE_TTL = 30_000
 
-export function ProjectFilter() {
+export function ProjectFilter({ variant = 'default' }: { variant?: 'default' | 'embedded' }) {
   const t = useTranslation()
   const { availableProjects, selectedProjects, setSelectedProjects } = useSessionStore()
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false)
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ export function ProjectFilter() {
     : selectedProjects.length === 1
       ? optionByPath.get(selectedProjects[0]!)?.title || fallbackProjectTitle(selectedProjects[0]!, t('sidebar.other'))
       : `${selectedProjects.length} projects`
+  const triggerLabel = isAllSelected ? t('sidebar.allProjects') : label
 
   const toggleProject = (projectPath: string) => {
     if (isAllSelected) {
@@ -160,19 +161,45 @@ export function ProjectFilter() {
         type="button"
         onClick={() => setOpen((current) => !current)}
         aria-expanded={open}
-        className="flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-[var(--radius-lg)] bg-[var(--color-surface-container-low)] px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-[var(--color-text-primary)] shadow-[0_1px_0_rgba(255,255,255,0.6)] transition-colors hover:bg-[var(--color-surface-hover)]"
+        aria-label={triggerLabel}
+        title={triggerLabel}
+        className={
+          variant === 'embedded'
+            ? `inline-flex h-7 w-7 items-center justify-center rounded-[8px] border transition-colors duration-200 ${
+              isAllSelected
+                ? 'border-transparent text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)] hover:bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-hover)] hover:text-[var(--color-text-secondary)]'
+                : 'border-[var(--color-sidebar-item-active-border)] bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-active)] text-[var(--color-text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-hover)]'
+            }`
+            : 'inline-flex h-8 max-w-full items-center gap-1.5 rounded-[10px] border border-[var(--color-sidebar-filter-border)] bg-[var(--color-sidebar-filter-bg)] px-2 text-left text-[14px] text-[var(--color-text-primary)] transition-colors duration-200 hover:bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-hover)]'
+        }
       >
-        <span className="truncate max-w-[180px]">{label}</span>
-        <ChevronIcon open={open} />
+        {variant === 'embedded' ? (
+          <span className="relative flex items-center justify-center">
+            <FolderIcon className="h-[14px] w-[14px]" />
+            {!isAllSelected && (
+              <span className="absolute -right-1 -top-1 h-1.5 w-1.5 rounded-full bg-[var(--color-brand)]" />
+            )}
+          </span>
+        ) : (
+          <>
+            <FolderIcon className="h-[14px] w-[14px] text-[var(--color-text-secondary)]" />
+            <span className="min-w-0">
+              <span className="block truncate text-[14px] font-semibold tracking-tight">{label}</span>
+            </span>
+            <span className="flex h-[14px] w-[14px] flex-shrink-0 items-center justify-center text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)] transition-colors">
+              <ChevronIcon open={open} />
+            </span>
+          </>
+        )}
       </button>
 
       {open && dropdownPos && createPortal(
         <div
           ref={dropdownRef}
-          className="w-[380px] max-w-[calc(100vw-32px)] overflow-hidden rounded-[20px] border border-[var(--color-border)] bg-[var(--color-surface-container-lowest)]"
+          className="w-[360px] max-w-[calc(100vw-32px)] overflow-hidden rounded-[18px] border border-[var(--color-border)] bg-[var(--color-surface-container-lowest)]"
           style={{
             position: 'fixed',
-            left: Math.min(dropdownPos.left, window.innerWidth - Math.min(380, window.innerWidth - 32) - 16),
+            left: Math.min(dropdownPos.left, window.innerWidth - Math.min(360, window.innerWidth - 32) - 16),
             ...(dropdownPos.direction === 'down'
               ? { top: dropdownPos.top }
               : { bottom: window.innerHeight - dropdownPos.top }),
@@ -184,9 +211,13 @@ export function ProjectFilter() {
             <button
               type="button"
               onClick={selectAll}
-              className="flex w-full items-center gap-3 rounded-[16px] px-4 py-3 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-[var(--color-surface-hover)]"
+              className={`flex w-full items-center gap-3 rounded-[12px] px-3 py-2.5 text-left transition-colors ${
+                isAllSelected
+                  ? 'bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-active)]'
+                  : 'hover:bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-hover)]'
+              }`}
             >
-              <FolderIcon />
+              <FolderIcon className="text-[var(--color-text-secondary)]" />
               <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
                 <div className="truncate text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--color-text-primary)]">{t('sidebar.allProjects')}</div>
               </div>
@@ -207,11 +238,13 @@ export function ProjectFilter() {
                     key={option.projectPath}
                     type="button"
                     onClick={() => toggleProject(option.projectPath)}
-                    className={`flex w-full items-center gap-3 rounded-[16px] px-4 py-3 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-[var(--color-surface-hover)] ${
-                      checked ? 'bg-[var(--color-surface-selected)]' : ''
+                    className={`flex w-full items-center gap-3 rounded-[12px] px-3 py-2.5 text-left transition-colors ${
+                      checked
+                        ? 'bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-active)]'
+                        : 'hover:bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-hover)]'
                     }`}
                   >
-                    {option.isGit ? <GitBranchIcon /> : <FolderIcon />}
+                    {option.isGit ? <GitBranchIcon className="text-[var(--color-text-secondary)]" /> : <FolderIcon />}
                     <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
                       <div className="truncate text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--color-text-primary)]">{option.title}</div>
                       {option.subtitle && (
@@ -277,7 +310,7 @@ function ChevronIcon({ open }: { open: boolean }) {
   )
 }
 
-function FolderIcon() {
+function FolderIcon({ className = 'text-[var(--color-text-secondary)]' }: { className?: string }) {
   return (
     <svg
       width="20"
@@ -288,14 +321,14 @@ function FolderIcon() {
       strokeWidth="1.8"
       strokeLinecap="round"
       strokeLinejoin="round"
-      className="flex-shrink-0 text-[var(--color-text-secondary)]"
+      className={`flex-shrink-0 ${className}`}
     >
       <path d="M22 19a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H4a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h5l2 3h9a2 2 0 0 1 2 2z" />
     </svg>
   )
 }
 
-function GitBranchIcon() {
+function GitBranchIcon({ className = 'text-[var(--color-text-secondary)]' }: { className?: string }) {
   return (
     <svg
       width="20"
@@ -306,7 +339,7 @@ function GitBranchIcon() {
       strokeWidth="1.8"
       strokeLinecap="round"
       strokeLinejoin="round"
-      className="flex-shrink-0 text-[var(--color-text-secondary)]"
+      className={`flex-shrink-0 ${className}`}
     >
       <circle cx="18" cy="18" r="3" />
       <circle cx="6" cy="6" r="3" />

desktop/src/components/layout/Sidebar.tsx

@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ export function Sidebar() {
       <div className={`px-3 pb-2 ${isTauri && !isWindows ? 'pt-[44px]' : 'pt-3'}`}>
         <div className={`flex ${sidebarOpen ? 'items-center justify-between gap-3' : 'flex-col items-center gap-2'}`}>
           <div className={`flex min-w-0 items-center ${sidebarOpen ? 'gap-2.5' : 'justify-center'}`}>
-            <img src="/app-icon.png" alt="" className="h-8 w-8 rounded-lg flex-shrink-0" />
+            <img src="/app-icon.png" alt="" className="h-8 w-8 flex-shrink-0" />
             <span
               className={`sidebar-copy ${sidebarOpen ? 'sidebar-copy--visible' : 'sidebar-copy--hidden'} text-[13px] font-semibold tracking-tight text-[var(--color-text-primary)]`}
               style={{ fontFamily: 'var(--font-headline)' }}
@@ -200,25 +200,26 @@ export function Sidebar() {
         <>
           <div
             data-testid="sidebar-project-filter-section"
-            className="sidebar-section sidebar-section--visible relative z-20 flex-none px-3 pb-1"
+            className="sidebar-section sidebar-section--visible relative z-20 flex-none px-3 pb-2"
             style={{ overflow: 'visible' }}
           >
-            <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-              <ProjectFilter />
+            <div className="flex h-9 items-center rounded-[14px] border border-[var(--color-sidebar-search-border)] bg-[var(--color-sidebar-search-bg)] pl-1.5 pr-3 transition-colors focus-within:border-[var(--color-border-focus)]">
+              <ProjectFilter variant="embedded" />
+              <span className="mx-2 h-4 w-px bg-[var(--color-border)]/80" aria-hidden="true" />
+              <span className="pointer-events-none flex shrink-0 items-center text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)]">
+                <SearchIcon />
+              </span>
+              <input
+                id="sidebar-search"
+                type="text"
+                placeholder={t('sidebar.searchPlaceholder')}
+                value={searchQuery}
+                onChange={(e) => setSearchQuery(e.target.value)}
+                className="min-w-0 flex-1 bg-transparent pl-2 pr-0 text-[13px] text-[var(--color-text-primary)] placeholder:text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)] outline-none"
+              />
             </div>
           </div>
 
-          <div className="sidebar-section sidebar-section--visible flex-none px-3 pb-2">
-            <input
-              id="sidebar-search"
-              type="text"
-              placeholder={t('sidebar.searchPlaceholder')}
-              value={searchQuery}
-              onChange={(e) => setSearchQuery(e.target.value)}
-              className="w-full h-8 px-2.5 text-xs rounded-[var(--radius-md)] border border-[var(--color-border)] bg-[var(--color-surface)] text-[var(--color-text-primary)] placeholder:text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)] outline-none transition-colors focus:border-[var(--color-border-focus)]"
-            />
-          </div>
-
           <div
             data-testid="sidebar-session-list-section"
             className="sidebar-section sidebar-section--visible flex flex-1 min-h-0 flex-col"
@@ -246,7 +247,7 @@ export function Sidebar() {
                 if (!items || items.length === 0) return null
                 return (
                   <div key={group} className="mb-1">
-                    <div className="px-2 pb-1 pt-3 text-[11px] font-semibold tracking-wide text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)]">
+                    <div className="px-2 pb-1 pt-4 text-[11px] font-semibold tracking-wide text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)]">
                       {timeGroupLabels[group]}
                     </div>
                     {items.map((session) => (
@@ -274,22 +275,22 @@ export function Sidebar() {
                             }}
                             onContextMenu={(e) => handleContextMenu(e, session.id)}
                             className={`
-                              group w-full rounded-[var(--radius-md)] py-1.5 pl-4 pr-3 text-left text-sm transition-colors duration-200
+                              group w-full rounded-[12px] px-3 py-2 text-left text-sm transition-colors duration-200
                               ${session.id === activeTabId
-                                ? 'bg-[var(--color-surface-selected)] text-[var(--color-text-primary)]'
-                                : 'text-[var(--color-text-secondary)] hover:bg-[var(--color-surface-hover)]'
+                                ? 'bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-active)] text-[var(--color-text-primary)]'
+                                : 'text-[var(--color-text-secondary)] hover:bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-hover)]'
                               }
                             `}
                           >
-                            <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                            <span className="flex items-center gap-2.5">
                               <span
-                                className="h-1 w-1 flex-shrink-0 rounded-full"
+                                className="h-1.5 w-1.5 flex-shrink-0 rounded-full"
                                 style={{
                                   backgroundColor: session.id === activeTabId ? 'var(--color-brand)' : 'var(--color-text-tertiary)',
                                   opacity: session.id === activeTabId ? 1 : 0.5,
                                 }}
                               />
-                              <span className="flex-1 truncate">{session.title || 'Untitled'}</span>
+                              <span className="flex-1 truncate font-medium tracking-[-0.01em]">{session.title || 'Untitled'}</span>
                               {!session.workDirExists && (
                                 <span
                                   className="flex-shrink-0 text-[10px] text-[var(--color-warning)]"
@@ -399,11 +400,11 @@ function NavItem({
       aria-label={label}
       title={collapsed ? label : undefined}
       className={`
-        flex items-center rounded-[var(--radius-md)] transition-all duration-200
-        ${collapsed ? 'h-10 w-10 justify-center px-0 py-0' : 'w-full gap-2.5 px-3 py-2 text-sm'}
+        flex items-center transition-colors duration-200
+        ${collapsed ? 'h-10 w-10 justify-center rounded-[var(--radius-md)] px-0 py-0' : 'w-full gap-2.5 rounded-[12px] px-3 py-2.5 text-sm'}
         ${active
-          ? 'bg-[var(--color-surface-selected)] font-medium text-[var(--color-text-primary)] shadow-[0_8px_24px_rgba(15,23,42,0.08)]'
-          : 'text-[var(--color-text-secondary)] hover:bg-[var(--color-surface-hover)] hover:text-[var(--color-text-primary)]'
+          ? 'bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-active)] font-medium text-[var(--color-text-primary)]'
+          : 'text-[var(--color-text-secondary)] hover:bg-[var(--color-sidebar-item-hover)] hover:text-[var(--color-text-primary)]'
         }
       `}
     >
@@ -455,6 +456,15 @@ function ClockIcon() {
   )
 }
 
+function SearchIcon() {
+  return (
+    <svg width="15" height="15" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round">
+      <circle cx="11" cy="11" r="7" />
+      <line x1="21" y1="21" x2="16.65" y2="16.65" />
+    </svg>
+  )
+}
+
 function SidebarToggleIcon({ collapsed }: { collapsed: boolean }) {
   return (
     <svg

desktop/src/theme/globals.css

@@ -159,6 +159,15 @@
   --color-surface-sidebar: var(--color-surface-container-low);
   --color-surface-hover: var(--color-surface-container-high);
   --color-surface-selected: var(--color-surface-container);
+  --color-sidebar-filter-bg: transparent;
+  --color-sidebar-filter-border: rgba(218, 193, 186, 0.92);
+  --color-sidebar-filter-icon-bg: transparent;
+  --color-sidebar-search-bg: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.78);
+  --color-sidebar-search-border: rgba(218, 193, 186, 0.88);
+  --color-sidebar-item-hover: rgba(239, 238, 234, 0.82);
+  --color-sidebar-item-active: rgba(239, 238, 234, 0.94);
+  --color-sidebar-item-active-border: rgba(143, 72, 47, 0.12);
+  --sidebar-panel-bg-image: none;
 
   /* Border aliases */
   --color-border: var(--color-outline-variant);
@@ -179,6 +188,7 @@
 
   /* Shadows */
   --shadow-dropdown: 0 4px 20px rgba(27, 28, 26, 0.04), 0 12px 40px rgba(27, 28, 26, 0.08);
+  --shadow-sidebar-filter: none;
   --shadow-focus-ring: 0 0 0 1px rgba(143, 72, 47, 0.16);
   --shadow-error-ring: 0 0 0 1px rgba(186, 26, 26, 0.18);
   --shadow-button-primary: 0 8px 24px rgba(143, 72, 47, 0.18);
@@ -290,9 +300,20 @@
   --color-success: #7EDB8B;
   --color-warning: #F7C46C;
 
-  --color-surface-sidebar: var(--color-surface-container-low);
+  --color-surface-sidebar: #171615;
   --color-surface-hover: var(--color-surface-container-highest);
   --color-surface-selected: var(--color-surface-container);
+  --color-sidebar-filter-bg: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.01);
+  --color-sidebar-filter-border: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08);
+  --color-sidebar-filter-icon-bg: transparent;
+  --color-sidebar-search-bg: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03);
+  --color-sidebar-search-border: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
+  --color-sidebar-item-hover: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04);
+  --color-sidebar-item-active: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
+  --color-sidebar-item-active-border: rgba(255, 181, 159, 0.14);
+  --sidebar-panel-bg-image:
+    radial-gradient(circle at top left, rgba(255, 181, 159, 0.045), transparent 34%),
+    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0));
 
   --color-border: rgba(90, 65, 56, 0.18);
   --color-border-focus: rgba(255, 181, 159, 0.55);
@@ -306,7 +327,8 @@
   --color-brand: var(--color-primary);
   --color-text-accent: var(--color-tertiary);
 
-  --shadow-dropdown: 0 12px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+  --shadow-dropdown: 0 16px 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.42);
+  --shadow-sidebar-filter: none;
   --shadow-focus-ring: 0 0 0 1px rgba(255, 181, 159, 0.32);
   --shadow-error-ring: 0 0 0 1px rgba(255, 180, 171, 0.26);
   --shadow-button-primary: 0 12px 24px rgba(255, 110, 64, 0.18);
@@ -449,6 +471,8 @@ button, input, textarea, select, a, [role="button"] {
 .sidebar-panel {
   width: var(--sidebar-width);
   min-width: var(--sidebar-width);
+  background-image: var(--sidebar-panel-bg-image);
+  background-repeat: no-repeat;
   transition:
     background-color var(--motion-sidebar-duration) var(--motion-sidebar-easing),
     border-color var(--motion-sidebar-duration) var(--motion-sidebar-easing);