diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 13750eb1..5bcaeaa9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 ext_components/
 components.zip
 
+# local tidy runnable copy (see run/ folder)
+run/
+
 # User-specific files
 *.rsuser
 *.suo
diff --git a/src/Translumo/App.xaml b/src/Translumo/App.xaml
index d9db3717..41e86308 100644
--- a/src/Translumo/App.xaml
+++ b/src/Translumo/App.xaml
@@ -9,18 +9,19 @@
                 <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MaterialDesignThemes.Wpf;component/Themes/Generic.xaml" />
                 <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MaterialDesignThemes.Wpf;component/Themes/MaterialDesignTheme.Defaults.xaml" />
                 <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MaterialDesignExtensions;component/Themes/Generic.xaml" />
-                <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MaterialDesignExtensions;component/Themes/MaterialDesignLightTheme.xaml" />
+                <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MaterialDesignExtensions;component/Themes/MaterialDesignDarkTheme.xaml" />
 
                 <!--  primary colors  -->
                 <ResourceDictionary>
                     <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
                         <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MaterialDesignColors;component/Themes/materialdesigncolor.cyan.accent.xaml" />
                     </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueLightBrush" Color="#fbffff" />
+                    <!--  Dark theme: light foreground, teal accents  -->
+                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueLightBrush" Color="#eaf4f0" />
                     <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueLightForegroundBrush" Color="{StaticResource Accent400Foreground}" />
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueMidBrush" Color="#c7f7ff" />
+                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueMidBrush" Color="#2fb98a" />
                     <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueMidForegroundBrush" Color="{StaticResource Accent400Foreground}" />
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueDarkBrush" Color="#95c4cc" />
+                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueDarkBrush" Color="#5dcaa5" />
                     <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryHueDarkForegroundBrush" Color="{StaticResource Accent400Foreground}" />
                 </ResourceDictionary>
 
@@ -29,19 +30,22 @@
                     <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
                         <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MaterialDesignColors;component/Themes/materialdesigncolor.cyan.accent.xaml" />
                     </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueLightBrush" Color="#fbffff" />
+                    <!--  Dark theme: SecondaryHueLight is the main content surface  -->
+                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueLightBrush" Color="#24272e" />
                     <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueLightForegroundBrush" Color="{StaticResource Accent400Foreground}" />
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueMidBrush" Color="#c7ffea" />
+                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueMidBrush" Color="#3a3f48" />
                     <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueMidForegroundBrush" Color="{StaticResource Accent400Foreground}" />
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueDarkBrush" Color="#95ccb8" />
+                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueDarkBrush" Color="#9fe1cb" />
                     <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SecondaryHueDarkForegroundBrush" Color="{StaticResource Accent400Foreground}" />
                 </ResourceDictionary>
 
                 <!--  other colors  -->
                 <ResourceDictionary>
                     <SolidColorBrush x:Key="ErrorBrush" Color="#f03a16" />
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="HoverBackgroundBrush" Color="#ebf5f7" />
+                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="HoverBackgroundBrush" Color="#2e333c" />
                     <SolidColorBrush x:Key="WarningBrush" Color="#ffdad6" />
+                    <!--  Dark chrome surface for the side navigation and dialog headers  -->
+                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="ChromeBackgroundBrush" Color="#1b1d23" />
                 </ResourceDictionary>
 
                 <ResourceDictionary Source="/Themes/Label.xaml" />
diff --git a/src/Translumo/MVVM/Views/SettingsView.xaml b/src/Translumo/MVVM/Views/SettingsView.xaml
index 6b4e3a10..12ceec62 100644
--- a/src/Translumo/MVVM/Views/SettingsView.xaml
+++ b/src/Translumo/MVVM/Views/SettingsView.xaml
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
                     <ColumnDefinition Width="250" />
                     <ColumnDefinition />
                 </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-                <Grid Grid.Column="0" Background="{StaticResource PrimaryHueDarkBrush}">
+                <Grid Grid.Column="0" Background="{StaticResource ChromeBackgroundBrush}">
                     <Grid.RowDefinitions>
                         <RowDefinition Height="68" />
                         <RowDefinition Height="*" />
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@
                             <TextBlock
                                 Margin="12,8,0,0"
                                 FontSize="18"
+                                Foreground="#1b1d23"
                                 Text="{DynamicResource Str.Lookupper.ProjectNote}" />
                             <Image
                                 Height="60"
diff --git a/src/Translumo/MVVM/Views/SimpleDialogView.xaml b/src/Translumo/MVVM/Views/SimpleDialogView.xaml
index be2d21a5..81e71b97 100644
--- a/src/Translumo/MVVM/Views/SimpleDialogView.xaml
+++ b/src/Translumo/MVVM/Views/SimpleDialogView.xaml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
         <BooleanToVisibilityConverter x:Key="BooleanToVisibilityConverter"/>
     </UserControl.Resources>
     <DockPanel>
-        <StackPanel DockPanel.Dock="Top" Height="40" Orientation="Horizontal" Background="{StaticResource PrimaryHueDarkBrush}">
+        <StackPanel DockPanel.Dock="Top" Height="40" Orientation="Horizontal" Background="{StaticResource ChromeBackgroundBrush}">
             <Image Source="{Binding IconSource}"  Height="28" Width="28" Margin="7,0,0,0"></Image>
             <Label VerticalAlignment="Center" Style="{StaticResource HeaderLabel}" Foreground="{StaticResource PrimaryHueLightBrush}" Margin="5,0,0,0" Content="{Binding Caption, Mode=OneWay}"/>
         </StackPanel>
diff --git a/src/Translumo/Themes/Button.xaml b/src/Translumo/Themes/Button.xaml
index 4a1d5c26..7b2da6fe 100644
--- a/src/Translumo/Themes/Button.xaml
+++ b/src/Translumo/Themes/Button.xaml
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@
         <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="0.8" />
         <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource PrimaryHueDarkBrush}" />
         <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource PrimaryHueLightBrush}" />
+        <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="#1b1d23" />
         <Setter Property="Height" Value="35" />
         <Setter Property="Template">
             <Setter.Value>
diff --git a/src/Translumo/Themes/TextBox.xaml b/src/Translumo/Themes/TextBox.xaml
index fba1e96d..953d99f9 100644
--- a/src/Translumo/Themes/TextBox.xaml
+++ b/src/Translumo/Themes/TextBox.xaml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
     <Style TargetType="{x:Type controls:HotkeyInput}">
         <Setter Property="Background" Value="#e5eded"></Setter>
+        <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="#1b1d23"></Setter>
         <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="#868787"></Setter>
         <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"></Setter>
         <Setter Property="FontWeight" Value="Bold"></Setter>