feat: explore page space banners, icon-derived gradients, and space descriptions

- Redesign explore cards with banner images, overlapping icons, and frosted fade
- Extract dominant colors from space icons for dynamic banner gradients
- Add space description/banner fields to schema with migration
- Move origin label from banner overlay to content metadata row
- Support space descriptions in settings overview panel

packages/server/src/db/migrate.ts

@@ -79,6 +79,12 @@ export function runMigrations(db: Database.Database): void {
         { name: 'visibility', type: "TEXT DEFAULT 'private'" },
         { name: 'description', type: 'TEXT' }
       ]
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'spaces',
+      columns: [
+        { name: 'banner', type: 'TEXT' }
+      ]
     }
   ];
 

packages/server/src/db/schema.ts

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export const spaces = sqliteTable('spaces', {
   id: text('id').primaryKey(),
   name: text('name').notNull(),
   icon: text('icon'),
+  banner: text('banner'),
   ownerId: text('owner_id').notNull().references(() => users.id),
   inviteCode: text('invite_code').unique(),
   visibility: text('visibility').default('private'),

packages/server/src/routes/explore.ts

@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ function buildFullSpace(spaceId: string, forUserId: string): SpaceWithChannelsAn
     id: space.id,
     name: space.name,
     icon: space.icon,
+    banner: space.banner ?? null,
     ownerId: space.ownerId,
     inviteCode: space.inviteCode,
     visibility: (space.visibility ?? 'private') as SpaceWithChannelsAndMembers['visibility'],
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ export async function exploreRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
 
     let countSql = `SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT s.id) as total FROM spaces s WHERE s.visibility IN ('public', 'request')`;
     let querySql = `
-      SELECT s.id, s.name, s.icon, s.description, s.visibility, s.created_at,
+      SELECT s.id, s.name, s.icon, s.banner, s.description, s.visibility, s.created_at,
              COUNT(sm.user_id) as member_count
       FROM spaces s
       LEFT JOIN space_members sm ON sm.space_id = s.id
@@ -225,6 +226,7 @@ export async function exploreRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
       id: string;
       name: string;
       icon: string | null;
+      banner: string | null;
       description: string | null;
       visibility: string;
       created_at: number;
@@ -235,6 +237,7 @@ export async function exploreRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
       id: r.id,
       name: r.name,
       icon: r.icon,
+      banner: r.banner,
       description: r.description,
       visibility: r.visibility as ExploreSpace['visibility'],
       memberCount: r.member_count,

packages/server/src/routes/spaces.ts

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ function rowToSpace(row: typeof schema.spaces.$inferSelect): Space {
     id: row.id,
     name: row.name,
     icon: row.icon,
+    banner: row.banner ?? null,
     ownerId: row.ownerId,
     inviteCode: row.inviteCode,
     visibility: (row.visibility ?? 'private') as Space['visibility'],
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ export async function spaceRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
   app.post<{ Body: CreateSpaceRequest }>('/api/spaces', {
     preHandler: authenticate,
   }, async (request, reply) => {
-    const { name, icon, visibility, description } = request.body;
+    const { name, icon, banner, visibility, description } = request.body;
 
     if (!name || typeof name !== 'string') {
       return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'Space name is required', statusCode: 400 });
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ export async function spaceRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
         id: spaceId,
         name: trimmedName,
         icon: icon ?? null,
+        banner: banner ?? null,
         ownerId: request.userId,
         inviteCode,
         visibility: safeVisibility,
@@ -269,7 +271,7 @@ export async function spaceRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
     preHandler: authenticate,
   }, async (request, reply) => {
     const { id } = request.params;
-    const { name, icon, visibility, description } = request.body;
+    const { name, icon, banner, visibility, description } = request.body;
     const db = getDb();
 
     const server = db.select().from(schema.spaces).where(eq(schema.spaces.id, id)).get();
@@ -295,6 +297,10 @@ export async function spaceRoutes(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
       updates.icon = icon || null;
     }
 
+    if (banner !== undefined) {
+      updates.banner = banner || null;
+    }
+
     if (visibility !== undefined) {
       const validVisibilities = ['public', 'request', 'private'];
       if (!validVisibilities.includes(visibility)) {

packages/server/src/ws/handler.ts

@@ -675,6 +675,7 @@ function buildReadyPayload(userId: string): {
         id: spaceRow.id,
         name: spaceRow.name,
         icon: spaceRow.icon,
+        banner: spaceRow.banner ?? null,
         ownerId: spaceRow.ownerId,
         inviteCode: spaceRow.inviteCode,
         visibility: (spaceRow.visibility ?? 'private') as SpaceWithChannelsAndMembers['visibility'],

packages/shared/src/types.ts

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export interface Space {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   icon: string | null;
+  banner: string | null;
   ownerId: string;
   inviteCode: string | null;
   visibility: SpaceVisibility;
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ export interface ExploreSpace {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   icon: string | null;
+  banner: string | null;
   description: string | null;
   visibility: SpaceVisibility;
   memberCount: number;
@@ -300,6 +302,7 @@ export interface AuthResponse {
 export interface CreateSpaceRequest {
   name: string;
   icon?: string;
+  banner?: string;
   visibility?: SpaceVisibility;
   description?: string;
 }
@@ -319,6 +322,7 @@ export interface UpdateChannelRequest {
 export interface UpdateSpaceRequest {
   name?: string;
   icon?: string;
+  banner?: string;
   visibility?: SpaceVisibility;
   description?: string;
 }

packages/web/src/components/chat/ExplorePage.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useExploreStore, type TaggedExploreSpace } from '../../stores/exploreSt
 import { useSpaceStore } from '../../stores/spaceStore';
 import { LoadingSpinner } from '../ui/LoadingSpinner';
 import { getSpaceGradient } from '../../utils/gradients';
+import { extractDominantColors, colorsToGradient } from '../../utils/colorExtractor';
 import { MemberListToggleButton } from '../layout/MemberListToggleButton';
 
 export function ExplorePage() {
@@ -219,14 +220,34 @@ function SpaceCard({
   const [requestMessage, setRequestMessage] = useState('');
   const [requestSent, setRequestSent] = useState(isPending);
   const [joinError, setJoinError] = useState('');
+  const [iconGradient, setIconGradient] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
-  const gradient = getSpaceGradient(space.id, space.name);
+  const fallbackGradient = getSpaceGradient(space.id, space.name).gradient;
   const isPublic = space.visibility === 'public';
   const isJoined = space.joined === true;
   const originLabel = space._instanceOrigin
     ? (() => { try { return new URL(space._instanceOrigin).host; } catch { return space._instanceOrigin; } })()
     : null;
 
+  const iconUrl = space.icon
+    ? (space.icon.startsWith('http') ? space.icon : `/api/uploads/${space.icon}`)
+    : null;
+  const bannerUrl = space.banner
+    ? (space.banner.startsWith('http') ? space.banner : `/api/uploads/${space.banner}`)
+    : null;
+
+  // Extract dominant colors from icon when no banner is set
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (bannerUrl || !iconUrl) return;
+    let cancelled = false;
+    extractDominantColors(iconUrl)
+      .then(colors => {
+        if (!cancelled && colors.length > 0) setIconGradient(colorsToGradient(colors));
+      })
+      .catch(() => {});
+    return () => { cancelled = true; };
+  }, [iconUrl, bannerUrl]);
+
   const handlePublicJoin = async () => {
     setJoining(true);
     setJoinError('');
@@ -263,23 +284,24 @@ function SpaceCard({
         ? 'border-accent-mint/20 hover:border-accent-mint/40'
         : 'border-border-soft hover:border-border-hard'
     }`}>
-      {/* Banner / Icon area */}
+      {/* Banner area */}
-      <div className="h-32 relative flex items-center justify-center" style={{ background: gradient.gradient }}>
+      <div className="h-32 relative overflow-hidden">
-        {space.icon ? (
+        {/* Background layer */}
-          <img
+        {bannerUrl ? (
-            src={space.icon.startsWith('http') ? space.icon : `/api/uploads/${space.icon}`}
+          <img src={bannerUrl} alt="" className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover" />
-            alt={space.name}
-            className="w-16 h-16 rounded-2xl object-cover shadow-lg"
-          />
         ) : (
-          <span className="text-3xl font-bold text-white/90 drop-shadow-md">
+          <div className="absolute inset-0" style={{ background: iconGradient ?? fallbackGradient }} />
-            {space.name.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
-          </span>
         )}
 
+        {/* Frosted bottom fade — Aether Drift glass */}
+        <div
+          className="absolute bottom-0 inset-x-0 h-16"
+          style={{ background: 'linear-gradient(to top, rgba(20,20,26,0.9), transparent)' }}
+        />
+
         {/* Joined badge (top-left) */}
         {isJoined && (
-          <div className="absolute top-2 left-2">
+          <div className="absolute top-2 left-2 z-[2]">
             <span className="flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full text-[10px] font-semibold bg-accent-mint/25 text-accent-mint backdrop-blur-sm">
               <svg width="10" height="10" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor">
                 <path d="M9 16.17L4.83 12l-1.42 1.41L9 19 21 7l-1.41-1.41z" />
@@ -290,8 +312,8 @@ function SpaceCard({
         )}
 
         {/* Visibility badge */}
-        <div className="absolute top-2 right-2">
+        <div className="absolute top-2 right-2 z-[2]">
-          <span className={`px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider ${
+          <span className={`px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider backdrop-blur-sm ${
             isPublic
               ? 'bg-accent-mint/20 text-accent-mint'
               : 'bg-accent-amber/20 text-accent-amber'
@@ -300,18 +322,28 @@ function SpaceCard({
           </span>
         </div>
 
-        {/* Instance origin */}
+      </div>
-        {originLabel && (
+
-          <div className="absolute bottom-2 left-2">
+      {/* Overlapping icon */}
-            <span className="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded bg-black/40 text-[10px] text-white/80 font-medium backdrop-blur-sm">
+      <div className="relative px-4 -mt-8 z-10">
-              {originLabel}
+        {iconUrl ? (
-            </span>
+          <img
+            src={iconUrl}
+            alt={space.name}
+            className="w-14 h-14 rounded-xl object-cover ring-[3px] ring-surface-channel shadow-lg"
+          />
+        ) : (
+          <div
+            className="w-14 h-14 rounded-xl ring-[3px] ring-surface-channel shadow-lg flex items-center justify-center text-xl font-bold text-white/90"
+            style={{ background: fallbackGradient }}
+          >
+            {space.name.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
           </div>
         )}
       </div>
 
       {/* Content */}
-      <div className="p-4 flex flex-col flex-1">
+      <div className="px-4 pt-2 pb-4 flex flex-col flex-1">
         <h3 className="text-[15px] font-bold text-txt-primary truncate mb-1">{space.name}</h3>
 
         {space.description ? (
@@ -329,6 +361,14 @@ function SpaceCard({
             </svg>
             {space.memberCount} {space.memberCount === 1 ? 'member' : 'members'}
           </span>
+          {originLabel && (
+            <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-txt-tertiary/70">
+              <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor" className="opacity-50">
+                <path d="M12 2C6.48 2 2 6.48 2 12s4.48 10 10 10 10-4.48 10-10S17.52 2 12 2zm-1 17.93c-3.95-.49-7-3.85-7-7.93 0-.62.08-1.21.21-1.79L9 15v1c0 1.1.9 2 2 2v1.93zm6.9-2.54c-.26-.81-1-1.39-1.9-1.39h-1v-3c0-.55-.45-1-1-1H8v-2h2c.55 0 1-.45 1-1V7h2c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2v-.41c2.93 1.19 5 4.06 5 7.41 0 2.08-.8 3.97-2.1 5.39z" />
+              </svg>
+              {originLabel}
+            </span>
+          )}
         </div>
 
         {/* Action area */}

packages/web/src/components/modals/spaceSettingsPanels/OverviewPanel.tsx

@@ -28,11 +28,19 @@ export function OverviewPanel({ spaceId }: OverviewPanelProps) {
   const canManageSpace = hasPermissionBit(myPerms, PermissionBits.MANAGE_SPACE);
 
   const [spaceName, setSpaceName] = useState(space?.name ?? '');
-  // null = no change, '' = remove icon, 'filename.png' = new icon uploaded
+  // null = no change, '' = remove, 'filename.png' = new uploaded
   const [iconFilename, setIconFilename] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [iconPreview, setIconPreview] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [uploadingIcon, setUploadingIcon] = useState(false);
   const [cropSrc, setCropSrc] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  // Banner state (same pattern as icon)
+  const [bannerFilename, setBannerFilename] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [bannerPreview, setBannerPreview] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [uploadingBanner, setUploadingBanner] = useState(false);
+  const [bannerCropSrc, setBannerCropSrc] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const bannerFileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+
   const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false);
   const [saveError, setSaveError] = useState('');
   const [saveSuccess, setSaveSuccess] = useState(false);
@@ -42,25 +50,36 @@ export function OverviewPanel({ spaceId }: OverviewPanelProps) {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (space) {
       setSpaceName(space.name);
-      // Reset icon state when space data changes externally
       setIconFilename(null);
       if (iconPreview) {
         URL.revokeObjectURL(iconPreview);
         setIconPreview(null);
       }
+      setBannerFilename(null);
+      if (bannerPreview) {
+        URL.revokeObjectURL(bannerPreview);
+        setBannerPreview(null);
       }
-  }, [space?.name, space?.icon]);
+    }
+  }, [space?.name, space?.icon, space?.banner]);
 
   if (!space) return null;
 
   const hasNameChange = spaceName.trim() !== space.name;
   const hasIconChange = iconFilename !== null;
-  const hasChanges = hasNameChange || hasIconChange;
+  const hasBannerChange = bannerFilename !== null;
+  const hasChanges = hasNameChange || hasIconChange || hasBannerChange;
 
   const currentIconUrl = space.icon
     ? (space.icon.startsWith('http') ? space.icon : api.uploads.url(space.icon))
     : null;
 
+  const currentBannerUrl = space.banner
+    ? (space.banner.startsWith('http') ? space.banner : api.uploads.url(space.banner))
+    : null;
+
+  // ─── Icon handlers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
   const handleIconSelect = (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
     const file = e.target.files?.[0];
     if (!file) return;
@@ -94,26 +113,73 @@ export function OverviewPanel({ spaceId }: OverviewPanelProps) {
   const handleRemoveIcon = () => {
     if (iconPreview) URL.revokeObjectURL(iconPreview);
     setIconPreview(null);
-    setIconFilename(''); // '' signals removal
+    setIconFilename('');
   };
 
+  // ─── Banner handlers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  const handleBannerSelect = (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
+    const file = e.target.files?.[0];
+    if (!file) return;
+    const reader = new FileReader();
+    reader.onload = () => setBannerCropSrc(reader.result as string);
+    reader.readAsDataURL(file);
+    if (bannerFileInputRef.current) bannerFileInputRef.current.value = '';
+  };
+
+  const handleBannerCropComplete = async (blob: Blob) => {
+    if (bannerPreview) URL.revokeObjectURL(bannerPreview);
+    const previewUrl = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
+    setBannerPreview(previewUrl);
+    setBannerCropSrc(null);
+
+    const file = new File([blob], 'banner.png', { type: 'image/png' });
+    setUploadingBanner(true);
+    try {
+      const spaceApi = getApiForOrigin(space._instanceOrigin);
+      const attachment = await spaceApi.uploads.upload(file);
+      setBannerFilename(attachment.filename);
+    } catch {
+      setSaveError('Failed to upload banner');
+      setBannerPreview(null);
+      URL.revokeObjectURL(previewUrl);
+    } finally {
+      setUploadingBanner(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleRemoveBanner = () => {
+    if (bannerPreview) URL.revokeObjectURL(bannerPreview);
+    setBannerPreview(null);
+    setBannerFilename('');
+  };
+
+  // ─── Save / Discard / Delete ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
   const handleSave = async () => {
     setSaving(true);
     setSaveError('');
     setSaveSuccess(false);
     try {
-      const updates: { name?: string; icon?: string } = {};
+      const updates: { name?: string; icon?: string; banner?: string } = {};
       if (hasNameChange) updates.name = spaceName.trim();
       if (hasIconChange) {
-        // Empty string signals icon removal to the backend (sets to null)
         updates.icon = iconFilename === '' ? '' : iconFilename!;
       }
+      if (hasBannerChange) {
+        updates.banner = bannerFilename === '' ? '' : bannerFilename!;
+      }
       await updateSpace(spaceId, updates);
       setIconFilename(null);
       if (iconPreview) {
         URL.revokeObjectURL(iconPreview);
         setIconPreview(null);
       }
+      setBannerFilename(null);
+      if (bannerPreview) {
+        URL.revokeObjectURL(bannerPreview);
+        setBannerPreview(null);
+      }
       setSaveSuccess(true);
       setTimeout(() => setSaveSuccess(false), 2000);
     } catch (err) {
@@ -130,6 +196,11 @@ export function OverviewPanel({ spaceId }: OverviewPanelProps) {
       URL.revokeObjectURL(iconPreview);
       setIconPreview(null);
     }
+    setBannerFilename(null);
+    if (bannerPreview) {
+      URL.revokeObjectURL(bannerPreview);
+      setBannerPreview(null);
+    }
     setSaveError('');
   };
 
@@ -147,9 +218,9 @@ export function OverviewPanel({ spaceId }: OverviewPanelProps) {
     }
   };
 
-  // Determine what icon to show: preview of pending upload, or current space icon
   const displayIconSrc = iconPreview ?? (iconFilename === '' ? null : currentIconUrl);
   const displayIconName = space.name;
+  const displayBannerSrc = bannerPreview ?? (bannerFilename === '' ? null : currentBannerUrl);
 
   return (
     <>
@@ -215,6 +286,68 @@ export function OverviewPanel({ spaceId }: OverviewPanelProps) {
           </div>
         </div>
 
+        {/* Space Banner */}
+        <div>
+          <label className="block text-xs text-txt-secondary mb-1.5">
+            Space Banner
+          </label>
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              onClick={() => canManageSpace && bannerFileInputRef.current?.click()}
+              disabled={!canManageSpace || uploadingBanner}
+              className={`relative w-full h-24 rounded-lg bg-surface-input border-2 border-dashed border-border-subtle flex items-center justify-center overflow-hidden group ${
+                canManageSpace ? 'hover:border-accent-primary cursor-pointer' : 'cursor-default'
+              } transition-colors`}
+            >
+              {displayBannerSrc ? (
+                <>
+                  <img src={displayBannerSrc} alt="Space banner" className="w-full h-full object-cover" />
+                  {canManageSpace && (
+                    <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-black/50 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity flex items-center justify-center">
+                      <svg className="w-5 h-5 text-white" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
+                        <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M3 9a2 2 0 012-2h.93a2 2 0 001.664-.89l.812-1.22A2 2 0 0110.07 4h3.86a2 2 0 011.664.89l.812 1.22A2 2 0 0018.07 7H19a2 2 0 012 2v9a2 2 0 01-2 2H5a2 2 0 01-2-2V9z" />
+                        <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M15 13a3 3 0 11-6 0 3 3 0 016 0z" />
+                      </svg>
+                    </div>
+                  )}
+                </>
+              ) : (
+                <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-txt-tertiary">
+                  <svg className="w-6 h-6 opacity-40" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={1.5}>
+                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M2.25 15.75l5.159-5.159a2.25 2.25 0 013.182 0l5.159 5.159m-1.5-1.5l1.409-1.409a2.25 2.25 0 013.182 0l2.909 2.909M3.75 21h16.5A2.25 2.25 0 0022.5 18.75V5.25A2.25 2.25 0 0020.25 3H3.75A2.25 2.25 0 001.5 5.25v13.5A2.25 2.25 0 003.75 21z" />
+                  </svg>
+                  <span className="text-[11px]">Upload banner (16:9)</span>
+                </div>
+              )}
+              {uploadingBanner && (
+                <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-black/50 flex items-center justify-center">
+                  <svg className="w-5 h-5 text-white animate-spin" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                    <circle className="opacity-25" cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="4" />
+                    <path className="opacity-75" fill="currentColor" d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4z" />
+                  </svg>
+                </div>
+              )}
+            </button>
+            <input
+              ref={bannerFileInputRef}
+              type="file"
+              accept="image/*"
+              onChange={handleBannerSelect}
+              className="hidden"
+            />
+            {canManageSpace && (displayBannerSrc || space.banner) && bannerFilename !== '' && (
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onClick={handleRemoveBanner}
+                className="text-xs text-txt-tertiary hover:text-txt-danger transition-colors self-start"
+              >
+                Remove banner
+              </button>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
         {/* Space Name */}
         <div>
           <label className="block text-xs text-txt-secondary mb-1.5">
@@ -266,7 +399,7 @@ export function OverviewPanel({ spaceId }: OverviewPanelProps) {
                 </button>
                 <button
                   onClick={handleSave}
-                  disabled={saving || uploadingIcon || !spaceName.trim()}
+                  disabled={saving || uploadingIcon || uploadingBanner || !spaceName.trim()}
                   className="px-3 py-1.5 bg-accent-primary hover:bg-accent-primary/80 text-white text-sm font-medium rounded-full transition-colors disabled:opacity-50"
                 >
                   {saving ? 'Saving...' : 'Save'}
@@ -286,6 +419,16 @@ export function OverviewPanel({ spaceId }: OverviewPanelProps) {
         cropShape="round"
         aspectRatio={1}
       />
+
+      <ImageCropModal
+        isOpen={bannerCropSrc !== null}
+        onClose={() => setBannerCropSrc(null)}
+        imageSrc={bannerCropSrc ?? ''}
+        onCropComplete={handleBannerCropComplete}
+        title="Crop Space Banner"
+        cropShape="rect"
+        aspectRatio={16 / 9}
+      />
     </>
   );
 }

packages/web/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts

@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ function handleEvent(origin: string, event: ServerEvent): void {
       if (!isHome) {
         for (const space of event.spaces) {
           if (space.icon) space.icon = resolveAssetUrl(space.icon, origin) ?? space.icon;
+          if (space.banner) space.banner = resolveAssetUrl(space.banner, origin) ?? space.banner;
           if ((space as any).members) {
             for (const member of (space as any).members) {
               if (member.user) normalizeUserAssets(member.user, origin);
@@ -133,15 +134,20 @@ function handleEvent(origin: string, event: ServerEvent): void {
 
       // Only force-reload the current channel on reconnect; other channels keep their cache
       if (isHome) {
-        const { loadMessages: reloadMessages, currentChannelId, setReadStates } = useChatStore.getState();
+        const { loadMessages: reloadMessages, currentChannelId } = useChatStore.getState();
         if (currentChannelId) {
           reloadMessages(currentChannelId, true);
         }
-        // Initialize unread tracking from ready payload
-        const { channelLastMessageIds } = useSpaceStore.getState();
-        if (event.readStates) {
-          setReadStates(event.readStates, channelLastMessageIds);
       }
+
+      // Initialize/update unread tracking for this origin (home or remote)
+      if (event.readStates) {
+        const { channelLastMessageIds, channelOriginMap } = useSpaceStore.getState();
+        const originChannelIds = new Set<string>();
+        for (const [channelId, chOrigin] of channelOriginMap) {
+          if (chOrigin === origin) originChannelIds.add(channelId);
+        }
+        useChatStore.getState().setReadStates(event.readStates, channelLastMessageIds, originChannelIds);
       }
 
       // Clear voice state for the reconnecting origin before repopulating
@@ -474,6 +480,19 @@ function handleEvent(origin: string, event: ServerEvent): void {
       chPermsMap3.delete(event.channelId);
       ctsMap3.delete(event.channelId);
       coMap3.delete(event.channelId);
+      // Clean up unread and read state for the deleted channel
+      {
+        const { channelLastMessageIds: clmIds } = useSpaceStore.getState();
+        clmIds.delete(event.channelId);
+        const cs = useChatStore.getState();
+        if (cs.unreadChannels.has(event.channelId) || cs.readStates.has(event.channelId)) {
+          const newUnread = new Set(cs.unreadChannels);
+          newUnread.delete(event.channelId);
+          const newRS = new Map(cs.readStates);
+          newRS.delete(event.channelId);
+          useChatStore.setState({ unreadChannels: newUnread, readStates: newRS });
+        }
+      }
       {
         const { currentChannelId } = useChatStore.getState();
         if (currentChannelId === event.channelId) {
@@ -493,6 +512,9 @@ function handleEvent(origin: string, event: ServerEvent): void {
       if (!isHome && event.space.icon) {
         event.space.icon = resolveAssetUrl(event.space.icon, origin) ?? event.space.icon;
       }
+      if (!isHome && event.space.banner) {
+        event.space.banner = resolveAssetUrl(event.space.banner, origin) ?? event.space.banner;
+      }
       const { spaces: currentSpaces, setSpaces } = useSpaceStore.getState();
       setSpaces(currentSpaces.map(s => s.id === event.space.id ? { ...s, ...event.space } : s));
       break;

packages/web/src/stores/chatStore.ts

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ interface ChatState {
   clearTyping: (channelId: string, userId: string) => void;
   getMessages: (channelId: string) => MessageWithUser[];
   getTypingUsers: (channelId: string) => TypingUser[];
-  setReadStates: (readStates: ReadState[], channelLastMessageIds: Map<string, string>) => void;
+  setReadStates: (readStates: ReadState[], channelLastMessageIds: Map<string, string>, originChannelIds?: Set<string>) => void;
   markChannelUnread: (channelId: string) => void;
   ackChannel: (channelId: string) => void;
   onChannelAck: (channelId: string, messageId: string) => void;
@@ -473,13 +473,39 @@ export const useChatStore = create<ChatState>((set, get) => ({
     return users.filter(t => now - t.timestamp < 5000);
   },
 
-  setReadStates: (readStates: ReadState[], channelLastMessageIds: Map<string, string>) => {
+  setReadStates: (readStates: ReadState[], channelLastMessageIds: Map<string, string>, originChannelIds?: Set<string>) => {
-    const rsMap = new Map<string, string>();
+    // 1. Merge server read states into existing local state (preserves optimistic acks)
+    const rsMap = new Map(get().readStates);
     for (const rs of readStates) {
+      const local = rsMap.get(rs.channelId);
+      if (!local) {
+        rsMap.set(rs.channelId, rs.lastReadMessageId);
+      } else {
+        try {
+          if (BigInt(rs.lastReadMessageId) > BigInt(local)) {
             rsMap.set(rs.channelId, rs.lastReadMessageId);
           }
+        } catch {
+          rsMap.set(rs.channelId, rs.lastReadMessageId);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // 2. Rebuild unreadChannels ONLY for channels from this origin
+    //    Keep existing unread entries from other origins untouched
+    const currentChannelId = get().currentChannelId;
     const unread = new Set<string>();
-    for (const [channelId, lastMsgId] of channelLastMessageIds) {
+    for (const id of get().unreadChannels) {
+      if (!originChannelIds || !originChannelIds.has(id)) {
+        unread.add(id); // preserve other-origin unreads
+      }
+    }
+
+    const channelsToCheck = originChannelIds ?? new Set(channelLastMessageIds.keys());
+    for (const channelId of channelsToCheck) {
+      if (channelId === currentChannelId) continue; // skip current channel (acked momentarily)
+      const lastMsgId = channelLastMessageIds.get(channelId);
+      if (!lastMsgId) continue; // empty channel
       const lastRead = rsMap.get(channelId);
       if (!lastRead) {
         unread.add(channelId);
@@ -490,10 +516,10 @@ export const useChatStore = create<ChatState>((set, get) => ({
           unread.add(channelId);
         }
       } catch {
-        // Corrupted read state (e.g. temp_ ID) — treat as unread
         unread.add(channelId);
       }
     }
+
     set({ readStates: rsMap, unreadChannels: unread });
   },
 

packages/web/src/stores/exploreStore.ts

@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ export const useExploreStore = create<ExploreState>((set, get) => ({
           if (origin && space.icon) {
             space.icon = resolveAssetUrl(space.icon, origin) ?? space.icon;
           }
+          if (origin && space.banner) {
+            space.banner = resolveAssetUrl(space.banner, origin) ?? space.banner;
+          }
           allSpaces.push({ ...space, _instanceOrigin: origin, joined: space.joined ?? false });
         }
       }

packages/web/src/stores/spaceStore.ts

@@ -203,10 +203,13 @@ export const useSpaceStore = create<SpaceState>((set, get) => ({
     const origin = space?._instanceOrigin ?? '';
     const client = getApiForOrigin(origin);
     const updated = await client.spaces.update(spaceId, data);
-    // Normalize remote asset URL so the icon displays correctly in-app
+    // Normalize remote asset URLs so the icon/banner display correctly in-app
     if (origin && updated.icon) {
       updated.icon = resolveAssetUrl(updated.icon, origin) ?? updated.icon;
     }
+    if (origin && updated.banner) {
+      updated.banner = resolveAssetUrl(updated.banner, origin) ?? updated.banner;
+    }
     set((state) => ({
       spaces: state.spaces.map(s => s.id === spaceId ? { ...s, ...updated } : s),
     }));
@@ -321,6 +324,7 @@ export const useSpaceStore = create<SpaceState>((set, get) => ({
       id: s.id,
       name: s.name,
       icon: s.icon,
+      banner: s.banner ?? null,
       ownerId: s.ownerId,
       inviteCode: s.inviteCode,
       visibility: s.visibility ?? 'private' as const,
@@ -435,6 +439,7 @@ export const useSpaceStore = create<SpaceState>((set, get) => ({
       id: space.id,
       name: space.name,
       icon: space.icon,
+      banner: space.banner ?? null,
       ownerId: space.ownerId,
       inviteCode: space.inviteCode,
       visibility: space.visibility,

packages/web/src/utils/colorExtractor.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+/**
+ * Canvas-based dominant color extraction using median-cut quantization.
+ * Zero-dependency, client-side only. Used to derive icon-matched gradients
+ * for space cards on the Explore page.
+ */
+
+// Cache extracted colors by URL to avoid re-processing
+const colorCache = new Map<string, string[]>();
+
+interface RGB {
+  r: number;
+  g: number;
+  b: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Extract 2-3 dominant colors from an image URL.
+ * Returns hex color strings (e.g. ['#a1b2c3', '#d4e5f6', '#778899']).
+ * Results are cached by URL.
+ *
+ * Returns empty array on failure (CORS, broken image, fully transparent).
+ */
+export async function extractDominantColors(imageUrl: string): Promise<string[]> {
+  const cached = colorCache.get(imageUrl);
+  if (cached) return cached;
+
+  try {
+    const img = new Image();
+    img.crossOrigin = 'anonymous';
+
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      img.onload = () => resolve();
+      img.onerror = () => reject(new Error('Failed to load image'));
+      img.src = imageUrl;
+    });
+
+    // Downsample to 32x32 for speed
+    const size = 32;
+    const canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
+    canvas.width = size;
+    canvas.height = size;
+    const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
+    if (!ctx) return [];
+
+    ctx.drawImage(img, 0, 0, size, size);
+    const imageData = ctx.getImageData(0, 0, size, size);
+    const { data } = imageData;
+
+    // Collect non-transparent pixels
+    const pixels: RGB[] = [];
+    for (let i = 0; i < data.length; i += 4) {
+      if (data[i + 3]! >= 128) {
+        pixels.push({ r: data[i]!, g: data[i + 1]!, b: data[i + 2]! });
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (pixels.length === 0) {
+      colorCache.set(imageUrl, []);
+      return [];
+    }
+
+    // Median-cut quantization to 3 buckets
+    const buckets = medianCut(pixels, 3);
+    const colors = buckets.map(bucket => {
+      const avg = averageColor(bucket);
+      return rgbToHex(avg.r, avg.g, avg.b);
+    });
+
+    // Deduplicate very similar colors (within distance 30)
+    const unique = deduplicateColors(colors);
+
+    colorCache.set(imageUrl, unique);
+    return unique;
+  } catch {
+    colorCache.set(imageUrl, []);
+    return [];
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Convert extracted colors to a CSS gradient string (135deg, multi-stop).
+ */
+export function colorsToGradient(colors: string[]): string {
+  if (colors.length === 0) return '';
+  if (colors.length === 1) return colors[0]!;
+  if (colors.length === 2) return `linear-gradient(135deg, ${colors[0]}, ${colors[1]})`;
+  return `linear-gradient(135deg, ${colors[0]}, ${colors[1]}, ${colors[2]})`;
+}
+
+// ─── Internal helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function medianCut(pixels: RGB[], targetBuckets: number): RGB[][] {
+  if (pixels.length === 0) return [];
+
+  let buckets: RGB[][] = [pixels];
+
+  while (buckets.length < targetBuckets) {
+    // Find the bucket with the widest color range
+    let widestIndex = 0;
+    let widestRange = -1;
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < buckets.length; i++) {
+      const bucket = buckets[i]!;
+      if (bucket.length < 2) continue;
+      const range = getWidestChannelRange(bucket);
+      if (range.range > widestRange) {
+        widestRange = range.range;
+        widestIndex = i;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (widestRange <= 0) break;
+
+    const bucket = buckets[widestIndex]!;
+    const { channel } = getWidestChannelRange(bucket);
+
+    // Sort by the widest channel and split at median
+    bucket.sort((a, b) => a[channel] - b[channel]);
+    const mid = Math.floor(bucket.length / 2);
+
+    buckets.splice(widestIndex, 1, bucket.slice(0, mid), bucket.slice(mid));
+  }
+
+  return buckets.filter(b => b.length > 0);
+}
+
+function getWidestChannelRange(pixels: RGB[]): { channel: 'r' | 'g' | 'b'; range: number } {
+  let minR = 255, maxR = 0, minG = 255, maxG = 0, minB = 255, maxB = 0;
+  for (const p of pixels) {
+    if (p.r < minR) minR = p.r;
+    if (p.r > maxR) maxR = p.r;
+    if (p.g < minG) minG = p.g;
+    if (p.g > maxG) maxG = p.g;
+    if (p.b < minB) minB = p.b;
+    if (p.b > maxB) maxB = p.b;
+  }
+  const rRange = maxR - minR;
+  const gRange = maxG - minG;
+  const bRange = maxB - minB;
+
+  if (rRange >= gRange && rRange >= bRange) return { channel: 'r', range: rRange };
+  if (gRange >= bRange) return { channel: 'g', range: gRange };
+  return { channel: 'b', range: bRange };
+}
+
+function averageColor(pixels: RGB[]): RGB {
+  let r = 0, g = 0, b = 0;
+  for (const p of pixels) {
+    r += p.r;
+    g += p.g;
+    b += p.b;
+  }
+  const n = pixels.length;
+  return { r: Math.round(r / n), g: Math.round(g / n), b: Math.round(b / n) };
+}
+
+function rgbToHex(r: number, g: number, b: number): string {
+  return '#' + ((1 << 24) | (r << 16) | (g << 8) | b).toString(16).slice(1);
+}
+
+function colorDistance(hex1: string, hex2: string): number {
+  const r1 = parseInt(hex1.slice(1, 3), 16);
+  const g1 = parseInt(hex1.slice(3, 5), 16);
+  const b1 = parseInt(hex1.slice(5, 7), 16);
+  const r2 = parseInt(hex2.slice(1, 3), 16);
+  const g2 = parseInt(hex2.slice(3, 5), 16);
+  const b2 = parseInt(hex2.slice(5, 7), 16);
+  return Math.sqrt((r1 - r2) ** 2 + (g1 - g2) ** 2 + (b1 - b2) ** 2);
+}
+
+function deduplicateColors(colors: string[]): string[] {
+  const result: string[] = [];
+  for (const c of colors) {
+    if (!result.some(existing => colorDistance(existing, c) < 30)) {
+      result.push(c);
+    }
+  }
+  return result;
+}