diff --git a/frontend/src/components/RecipeCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/RecipeCard.tsx
index 401e55a..5a2b7d4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/RecipeCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/RecipeCard.tsx
@@ -1,18 +1,12 @@
-/**
- * RecipeCard - Displays a single recipe in the list view
- */
-
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import type { Recipe, Tag } from '../types/recipe';
+import { colors, radius, shadows } from '../theme';
 
 interface RecipeCardProps {
   recipe: Recipe;
   tags?: Tag[];
 }
 
-/**
- * Format time in minutes to readable string
- */
 function formatTime(minutes?: number): string {
   if (!minutes) return '';
   if (minutes < 60) return `${minutes}m`;
@@ -21,9 +15,6 @@ function formatTime(minutes?: number): string {
   return mins > 0 ? `${hours}h ${mins}m` : `${hours}h`;
 }
 
-/**
- * Format date timestamp to readable string
- */
 function formatDate(timestamp?: number): string {
   if (!timestamp) return '';
   const date = new Date(timestamp * 1000);
@@ -36,29 +27,23 @@ export function RecipeCard({ recipe, tags = [] }: RecipeCardProps) {
   return (
     <Link
       to={`/recipe/${recipe.id}`}
-      className="block bg-white rounded-lg shadow hover:shadow-md transition-shadow border border-gray-200"
+      className="block bg-white border border-gray-200 rounded-xl shadow-card hover:shadow-lg hover:border-blue-300 transition-shadow group outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-blue-600 min-h-[200px]"
+      style={{ boxShadow: shadows.card, borderRadius: radius.lg }}
     >
-      <div className="p-5">
+      <div className="p-5 flex flex-col h-full">
         {/* Title */}
-        <h3 className="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900 mb-2 line-clamp-2">
-          {recipe.title}
-        </h3>
-
+        <h3 className="text-lg font-bold text-gray-900 mb-1 line-clamp-2 group-hover:text-blue-700 transition-colors">{recipe.title}</h3>
         {/* Description */}
-        {recipe.description && (
-          <p className="text-sm text-gray-600 mb-3 line-clamp-2">
-            {recipe.description}
-          </p>
-        )}
+        {recipe.description && <p className="text-xs text-gray-600 mb-2 line-clamp-2">{recipe.description}</p>}
 
         {/* Tags */}
         {tags.length > 0 && (
-          <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5 mb-3">
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1 mb-2">
             {tags.map(tag => (
               <span
                 key={tag.id}
-                className="px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium text-white"
-                style={{ backgroundColor: tag.color || '#3B82F6' }}
+                className="px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs font-semibold text-white shadow"
+                style={{ backgroundColor: tag.color || colors.primary, borderRadius: radius.full }}
               >
                 {tag.name}
               </span>
@@ -67,21 +52,19 @@ export function RecipeCard({ recipe, tags = [] }: RecipeCardProps) {
         )}
 
         {/* Meta information */}
-        <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-3 text-xs text-gray-500">
+        <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-3 text-xs text-gray-500 mb-2">
           {recipe.servings && (
             <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
               <span>🍽️</span>
               <span>{recipe.servings} servings</span>
             </div>
           )}
-          
           {totalTime > 0 && (
             <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
               <span>⏱️</span>
               <span>{formatTime(totalTime)}</span>
             </div>
           )}
-
           {recipe.last_cooked_at && (
             <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
               <span>👨‍🍳</span>
@@ -90,12 +73,9 @@ export function RecipeCard({ recipe, tags = [] }: RecipeCardProps) {
           )}
         </div>
 
-        {/* Footer with ingredient count */}
-        <div className="mt-4 pt-3 border-t border-gray-100">
-          <div className="flex justify-between items-center text-xs text-gray-500">
-            <span>{recipe.ingredients.length} ingredients</span>
-            <span className="text-blue-600 font-medium">View Recipe →</span>
-          </div>
+        <div className="mt-auto pt-3 border-t border-gray-100 flex justify-between items-center text-xs text-gray-500">
+          <span>{recipe.ingredients.length} ingredients</span>
+          <span className="text-blue-600 font-medium group-hover:underline">View Recipe →</span>
         </div>
       </div>
     </Link>
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index 2cf6b8c..c456927 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -3,17 +3,16 @@
 @tailwind utilities;
 
 :root {
-  --text: #6b6375;
-  --text-h: #08060d;
+  --text: #374151;
+  --text-h: #1e293b;
   --bg: #fff;
-  --border: #e5e4e7;
+  --bg-alt: #f9fafb;
+  --border: #e5e7eb;
   --code-bg: #f4f3ec;
   --accent: #aa3bff;
-  --accent-bg: rgba(170, 59, 255, 0.1);
-  --accent-border: rgba(170, 59, 255, 0.5);
-  --social-bg: rgba(244, 243, 236, 0.5);
-  --shadow:
-    rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0 10px 15px -3px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05) 0 4px 6px -2px;
+  --accent-bg: rgba(170, 59, 255, 0.08);
+  --accent-border: rgba(170, 59, 255, 0.35);
+  --card-shadow: 0 2px 8px 0 rgba(28,30,34,0.08);
 
   --sans: system-ui, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif;
   --heading: system-ui, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif;
@@ -27,17 +26,16 @@
 
 @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
   :root {
-    --text: #9ca3af;
+    --text: #d1d5db;
     --text-h: #f3f4f6;
     --bg: #16171d;
+    --bg-alt: #1a1b20;
     --border: #2e303a;
     --code-bg: #1f2028;
     --accent: #c084fc;
-    --accent-bg: rgba(192, 132, 252, 0.15);
-    --accent-border: rgba(192, 132, 252, 0.5);
-    --social-bg: rgba(47, 48, 58, 0.5);
-    --shadow:
-      rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4) 0 10px 15px -3px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25) 0 4px 6px -2px;
+    --accent-bg: rgba(192, 132, 252, 0.11);
+    --accent-border: rgba(192, 132, 252, 0.33);
+    --card-shadow: 0 3px 14px 0 rgba(32,34,40,0.21);
   }
 }
 
@@ -45,25 +43,27 @@ body {
   margin: 0;
   font-family: var(--sans);
   color: var(--text);
-  background: var(--bg);
+  background: var(--bg-alt);
 }
 
 #root {
   min-height: 100vh;
+  background: var(--bg-alt);
+}
+
+input, button, textarea, select {
+  font-family: inherit;
+}
+
+.shadow-card {
+  box-shadow: var(--card-shadow) !important;
 }
 
 /* Toast animation */
 @keyframes slide-in {
-  from {
-    transform: translateX(100%);
-    opacity: 0;
-  }
-  to {
-    transform: translateX(0);
-    opacity: 1;
-  }
+  from { transform: translateX(100%); opacity: 0; }
+  to { transform: translateX(0); opacity: 1; }
 }
-
 .animate-slide-in {
   animation: slide-in 0.3s ease-out;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/RecipeListPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/RecipeListPage.tsx
index f95176d..1d71e57 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/RecipeListPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/RecipeListPage.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
-/**
- * RecipeListPage - Displays a list of all recipes with search and filtering
- */
-
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { useRecipes } from '../hooks/useRecipes';
 import { useTags } from '../hooks/useTags';
 import { RecipeCard } from '../components/RecipeCard';
 import { MissionControlPanel } from '../components/MissionControlPanel';
+import type { HarnessStatus } from '../types/recipe';
+import { radius } from '../theme';
+
+const emptyStatus: HarnessStatus = {
+  running: false,
+  version: '-',
+  uptime: 0,
+};
 
 export function RecipeListPage() {
   const [searchTerm, setSearchTerm] = useState('');
@@ -42,166 +46,143 @@ export function RecipeListPage() {
   const hasActiveFilters = searchQuery || selectedTagId !== null;
 
   return (
-    <div>
-      <MissionControlPanel />
-      {/* Header */}
-      <div className="mb-6">
-        <div className="flex justify-between items-center mb-4">
+    <div className="max-w-6xl mx-auto pb-8">
+      <MissionControlPanel status={emptyStatus} />
+
+      <div className="bg-white border rounded-xl shadow-card px-6 py-7 mt-8 mb-10 flex flex-col gap-4" style={{borderRadius: radius.lg, boxShadow: '0 2px 8px 0 rgba(28,30,34,0.07)'}}>
+        <div className="flex flex-col md:flex-row md:items-end justify-between gap-4">
           <div>
-            <h2 className="text-2xl font-bold text-gray-900">My Recipes</h2>
-            <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-500">
-              Browse and search your recipe collection
-            </p>
+            <h2 className="text-2xl font-extrabold text-gray-900 mb-0">My Recipes</h2>
+            <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-500">Browse and search your recipe collection</p>
           </div>
           <Link
             to="/recipe/new"
-            className="bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded-lg font-medium transition-colors"
+            className="bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded-lg font-semibold transition-colors shadow focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-blue-500"
+            style={{borderRadius: radius.md}}
           >
             + New Recipe
           </Link>
         </div>
-        {/* Search Bar */}
-        <form onSubmit={handleSearch} className="flex gap-2">
+
+        {/* Search/Tag Filter Row */}
+        <form onSubmit={handleSearch} className="flex flex-col md:flex-row items-stretch gap-3 mt-3 md:mt-0">
           <div className="flex-1 relative">
             <input
               type="text"
               placeholder="Search recipes by title, ingredients, or tags..."
               value={searchTerm}
-              onChange={(e) => setSearchTerm(e.target.value)}
-              className="w-full px-4 py-2 border border-gray-300 rounded-lg focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:border-transparent"
+              onChange={e => setSearchTerm(e.target.value)}
+              className="w-full px-4 py-2 border border-gray-300 rounded-lg focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:border-transparent text-base"
+              style={{borderRadius: radius.md}}
             />
-            {searchQuery && (
+            {!!searchQuery && (
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={handleClearSearch}
                 className="absolute right-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600"
                 aria-label="Clear search"
-              >
-                ✕
-              </button>
+              >✕</button>
             )}
           </div>
           <button
             type="submit"
-            className="px-6 py-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 rounded-lg font-medium transition-colors"
+            className="px-6 py-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 rounded-lg font-semibold transition-colors border border-gray-200"
+            style={{borderRadius: radius.md}}
           >
             Search
           </button>
         </form>
-        {/* Tag Filter */}
+
         {!tagsLoading && tags.length > 0 && (
-          <div className="mt-4">
-            <label className="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-2">
-              Filter by tag:
-            </label>
-            <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center mt-0 md:mt-2">
+            <span className="text-sm text-gray-700 font-medium mr-1">Filter by tag:</span>
+            <button
+              onClick={() => setSelectedTagId(null)}
+              className={selectedTagId === null
+                ? 'bg-blue-600 text-white px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm font-semibold shadow transition-colors outline-none'
+                : 'bg-gray-100 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-200 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm font-medium transition-colors outline-none'}
+              style={{borderRadius: radius.full}}
+            >
+              All Recipes
+            </button>
+            {tags.map(tag => (
               <button
-                onClick={() => setSelectedTagId(null)}
-                className={
-                  selectedTagId === null
-                    ? 'bg-blue-600 text-white px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm font-medium transition-colors'
-                    : 'bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm font-medium transition-colors'
-                }
+                key={tag.id}
+                onClick={() => setSelectedTagId(tag.id)}
+                className={selectedTagId === tag.id
+                  ? 'text-white bg-blue-600 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm font-semibold shadow outline-none'
+                  : 'bg-gray-100 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-200 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm font-medium transition-colors outline-none'}
+                style={{backgroundColor: selectedTagId === tag.id ? tag.color : '', borderRadius: radius.full}}
               >
-                All Recipes
+                {tag.name}
               </button>
-              {tags.map(tag => (
-                <button
-                  key={tag.id}
-                  onClick={() => setSelectedTagId(tag.id)}
-                  className={
-                    selectedTagId === tag.id
-                      ? 'text-white bg-blue-600 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm font-medium transition-colors'
-                      : 'bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm font-medium transition-colors'
-                  }
-                >
-                  {tag.name}
-                </button>
-              ))}
-            </div>
+            ))}
           </div>
         )}
+
+        {/* Active Filters */}
         {hasActiveFilters && (
-          <div className="mt-3 flex items-center gap-3 text-sm">
+          <div className="mt-2 flex items-center gap-3 text-sm">
             <span className="text-gray-600">Active filters:</span>
-            {searchQuery && (
-              <span className="px-2 py-1 bg-blue-50 text-blue-700 rounded">
-                Search: "{searchQuery}"
-              </span>
-            )}
+            {searchQuery && <span className="px-2 py-1 bg-blue-50 text-blue-700 rounded">Search: "{searchQuery}"</span>}
             {selectedTagId !== null && (
-              <span className="px-2 py-1 bg-blue-50 text-blue-700 rounded">
-                Tag: {tags.find(t => t.id === selectedTagId)?.name}
-              </span>
+              <span className="px-2 py-1 bg-blue-50 text-blue-700 rounded">Tag: {tags.find(t => t.id === selectedTagId)?.name}</span>
             )}
-            <button
-              onClick={handleClearFilters}
-              className="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-700 font-medium"
-            >
-              Clear all filters
-            </button>
+            <button onClick={handleClearFilters} className="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-700 font-medium">Clear all filters</button>
           </div>
         )}
       </div>
+
       {/* Error State */}
       {error && (
-        <div className="bg-red-50 border border-red-200 rounded-lg p-4 mb-6">
-          <p className="text-red-800">
-            <strong>Error:</strong> {error}
-          </p>
+        <div className="bg-red-50 border border-red-200 rounded-lg p-4 my-6 text-center">
+          <p className="text-red-800"><strong>Error:</strong> {error}</p>
         </div>
       )}
+
       {/* Loading State */}
       {loading && recipes.length === 0 && (
-        <div className="text-center py-12">
-          <div className="inline-block animate-spin rounded-full h-8 w-8 border-b-2 border-blue-600"></div>
-          <p className="mt-4 text-gray-600">Loading recipes...</p>
+        <div className="text-center py-16">
+          <div className="inline-block animate-spin rounded-full h-10 w-10 border-b-2 border-blue-600"></div>
+          <p className="mt-4 text-gray-700 text-lg font-medium">Loading recipes...</p>
         </div>
       )}
+
       {/* Empty State */}
       {!loading && !error && filteredRecipes.length === 0 && (
-        <div className="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-12 text-center">
-          <div className="text-6xl mb-4">🍳</div>
-          <h3 className="text-xl font-semibold text-gray-900 mb-2">
-            {searchQuery ? 'No recipes found' : 'No recipes yet'}
-          </h3>
-          <p className="text-gray-600 mb-6">
-            {searchQuery
-              ? 'Try a different search term'
-              : 'Get started by adding your first recipe'}
-          </p>
+        <div className="bg-gradient-to-br from-white to-blue-50 rounded-xl shadow-card p-14 text-center flex flex-col items-center gap-2 border border-dashed border-blue-200 mx-auto max-w-xl" style={{borderRadius: radius.lg}}>
+          <div className="text-6xl mb-2">🍳</div>
+          <h3 className="text-xl font-bold text-gray-800 mb-2">{searchQuery ? 'No recipes found' : 'No recipes yet'}</h3>
+          <p className="text-gray-600 mb-4">{searchQuery
+            ? 'Try a different search term'
+            : 'Get started by adding your first recipe.'}</p>
           {!searchQuery && (
-            <Link
-              to="/recipe/new"
-              className="inline-block bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white px-6 py-3 rounded-lg font-medium transition-colors"
-            >
-              Add Your First Recipe
-            </Link>
+            <Link to="/recipe/new" className="inline-block bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white px-6 py-3 rounded-lg font-semibold shadow transition-colors" style={{borderRadius: radius.md}}>Add Your First Recipe</Link>
           )}
         </div>
       )}
+
       {/* Recipe Grid */}
       {filteredRecipes.length > 0 && (
         <>
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
+          <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6 mt-8">
             {filteredRecipes.map((recipe) => (
-              <RecipeCard key={recipe.id} recipe={recipe} />
+              <RecipeCard key={recipe.id} recipe={recipe} tags={recipe.tags} />
             ))}
           </div>
-          {/* Load More Button */}
           {hasMore && (
             <div className="mt-8 text-center">
               <button
                 onClick={loadMore}
                 disabled={loading}
-                className="px-6 py-3 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 rounded-lg font-medium transition-colors disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+                className="px-6 py-3 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 rounded-lg font-medium transition-colors disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed border"
+                style={{borderRadius: radius.md}}
               >
                 {loading ? 'Loading...' : 'Load More'}
               </button>
             </div>
           )}
-          {/* Results summary */}
-          <div className="mt-6 text-center text-sm text-gray-500">
+          <div className="mt-7 text-center text-sm text-gray-500">
             Showing {filteredRecipes.length} recipe{filteredRecipes.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''}
           </div>
         </>
diff --git a/frontend/src/theme.ts b/frontend/src/theme.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02c4514
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/theme.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/** theme.ts - Defines visual theme tokens and utility styles across the Recipe Manager frontend */
+
+export const colors = {
+  primary: '#2563eb', // Tailwind blue-600
+  primaryDark: '#1d4ed8',
+  primaryLight: '#eff6ff',
+  accent: '#aa3bff',
+  success: '#16a34a',
+  warning: '#eab308',
+  error: '#dc2626',
+
+  bg: '#fff',
+  bgAlt: '#f9fafb', // Tailwind gray-50
+  surface: '#fcfcff',
+  border: '#e5e7eb', // Tailwind gray-200
+  text: '#374151', // Tailwind gray-700
+  textDim: '#6b7280',
+  textHeading: '#1e293b',
+  cardShadow: '0 2px 8px 0 rgba(28,30,34,0.08)',
+};
+
+export const radius = {
+  xs: '4px',
+  sm: '6px',
+  md: '10px',
+  lg: '16px',
+  full: '999px',
+};
+
+export const spacing = {
+  xs: '4px',
+  sm: '8px',
+  md: '16px',
+  lg: '24px',
+  xl: '40px',
+};
+
+export const shadows = {
+  card: '0 2px 8px 0 rgba(28,30,34,0.08)',
+  hover: '0 4px 20px 0 rgba(28,30,34,0.16)',
+};
+
+export const typography = {
+  fontFamily: {
+    sans: 'system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, sans-serif',
+    heading: 'system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, sans-serif',
+    mono: 'ui-monospace, Consolas, monospace',
+  },
+  fontWeight: {
+    regular: 400,
+    medium: 500,
+    bold: 700,
+  },
+};
diff --git a/frontend/tailwind.config.js b/frontend/tailwind.config.js
index dca8ba0..13e3ded 100644
--- a/frontend/tailwind.config.js
+++ b/frontend/tailwind.config.js
@@ -5,7 +5,31 @@ export default {
     "./src/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}",
   ],
   theme: {
-    extend: {},
+    extend: {
+      borderRadius: {
+        xs: '4px',
+        sm: '6px',
+        md: '10px',
+        lg: '16px',
+        full: '999px',
+      },
+      boxShadow: {
+        card: '0 2px 8px 0 rgba(28,30,34,0.08)',
+        hover: '0 4px 20px 0 rgba(28,30,34,0.16)',
+      },
+      colors: {
+        primary: '#2563eb',
+        accent: '#aa3bff',
+        success: '#16a34a',
+        warning: '#eab308',
+        error: '#dc2626',
+      },
+      fontFamily: {
+        sans: ['system-ui', 'Segoe UI', 'Roboto', 'sans-serif'],
+        heading: ['system-ui', 'Segoe UI', 'Roboto', 'sans-serif'],
+        mono: ['ui-monospace', 'Consolas', 'monospace'],
+      },
+    },
   },
   plugins: [],
 }