diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/projectThreadMissionControl.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/projectThreadMissionControl.test.mjs
index c9f50dca08a..330bd8310d1 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/projectThreadMissionControl.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/projectThreadMissionControl.test.mjs
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ import { describe, it } from "node:test";
 import {
   createProjectThreadPeekFeedSelector,
   deriveProjectThreadPhaseStates,
+  formatProjectThreadPeekText,
   mapProjectThreadPeekFeedItems,
   mergeProjectThreadPeekEvents,
+  previewProjectThreadPeekText,
   resolveProjectThreadPeekMode,
 } from "./projectThreadMissionControl.ts";
 
@@ -175,6 +177,35 @@ describe("project thread transcript peek", () => {
     assert.equal(feed[1].headline, "Run tests · pnpm test");
     assert.equal(feed[1].result, "127 tests passed");
     assert.equal(feed[1].failed, false);
+    assert.equal(feed[1].status, "done");
+  });
+
+  it("marks executing tools as running in the peek feed", () => {
+    const feed = mapProjectThreadPeekFeedItems([
+      {
+        ...tool,
+        id: "tool-running",
+        status: "executing",
+        result: "",
+        completedAt: null,
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    assert.equal(feed[0].kind, "tool");
+    assert.equal(feed[0].status, "running");
+    assert.equal(feed[0].result, null);
+  });
+
+  it("humanizes escaped one-line dumps for peek previews", () => {
+    const escaped =
+      "3-line story:\\n- assigned work\\n- current status\\n- what was omitted";
+    const formatted = formatProjectThreadPeekText(escaped);
+    assert.ok(formatted.includes("\n"));
+    assert.equal(formatted.includes("\\n"), false);
+
+    const preview = previewProjectThreadPeekText(escaped);
+    assert.equal(preview.truncated, true);
+    assert.equal(preview.preview, "3-line story:");
   });
 
   it("sources history mode from archived events scoped to the conversation", () => {
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/projectThreadMissionControl.ts b/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/projectThreadMissionControl.ts
index 57912148fbc..233e5576cff 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/projectThreadMissionControl.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/projectThreadMissionControl.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ export function deriveProjectThreadPhaseStates({
   };
 }
 
+export type ProjectThreadPeekToolStatus = "running" | "done" | "failed";
+
 export type ProjectThreadPeekFeedItem =
   | {
       id: string;
@@ -103,9 +105,12 @@ export type ProjectThreadPeekFeedItem =
       headline: string;
       result: string | null;
       failed: boolean;
+      status: ProjectThreadPeekToolStatus;
     };
 
 const PROJECT_THREAD_PEEK_ITEM_CAP = 50;
+/** Collapsed thinking / result preview before the founder expands. */
+export const PROJECT_THREAD_PEEK_PREVIEW_CHARS = 140;
 
 export function mapProjectThreadPeekFeedItems(
   transcript: readonly TranscriptItem[],
@@ -118,17 +123,78 @@ export function mapProjectThreadPeekFeedItems(
       continue;
     }
     if (item.type !== "tool" || item.renderClass === "suppressed") continue;
+    const failed = item.isError || item.status === "failed";
     feed.push({
       id: item.id,
       kind: "tool",
       headline: getActivityHeadline(item) ?? item.title,
       result: item.result.trim() || null,
-      failed: item.isError || item.status === "failed",
+      failed,
+      status: peekToolStatus(item.status, failed),
     });
   }
   return feed.slice(-PROJECT_THREAD_PEEK_ITEM_CAP);
 }
 
+function peekToolStatus(
+  status: "executing" | "completed" | "failed" | "pending",
+  failed: boolean,
+): ProjectThreadPeekToolStatus {
+  if (failed || status === "failed") return "failed";
+  if (status === "completed") return "done";
+  return "running";
+}
+
+/**
+ * Turn wire dumps into readable peek text: pretty-print JSON, then expand
+ * literal `\n` / `\t` when the blob is still a single escaped line.
+ */
+export function formatProjectThreadPeekText(raw: string): string {
+  const trimmed = raw.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) return raw;
+
+  let text = trimmed;
+  try {
+    text = JSON.stringify(JSON.parse(trimmed), null, 2);
+  } catch {
+    // keep trimmed
+  }
+
+  if (!text.includes("\n") && /\\[ntr]/.test(text)) {
+    text = text.replace(/\\n/g, "\n").replace(/\\t/g, "\t").replace(/\\r/g, "");
+  }
+
+  return text;
+}
+
+/** First line / char-clamped preview for collapsed peek rows. */
+export function previewProjectThreadPeekText(
+  raw: string,
+  maxChars = PROJECT_THREAD_PEEK_PREVIEW_CHARS,
+): { preview: string; truncated: boolean } {
+  const formatted = formatProjectThreadPeekText(raw).trim();
+  if (!formatted) return { preview: "", truncated: false };
+
+  const firstLine =
+    formatted
+      .split("\n")
+      .find((line) => line.trim())
+      ?.trim() ?? "";
+  const hasMoreLines =
+    formatted.includes("\n") && formatted.trim() !== firstLine;
+
+  if (firstLine.length <= maxChars && !hasMoreLines) {
+    return { preview: firstLine, truncated: false };
+  }
+  if (firstLine.length <= maxChars) {
+    return { preview: firstLine, truncated: true };
+  }
+  return {
+    preview: `${firstLine.slice(0, Math.max(0, maxChars - 1)).trimEnd()}…`,
+    truncated: true,
+  };
+}
+
 export function createProjectThreadPeekFeedSelector() {
   let previousTranscript: readonly TranscriptItem[] | null = null;
   let previousFeed: ProjectThreadPeekFeedItem[] = [];
@@ -161,7 +227,8 @@ function projectThreadPeekFeedItemsEqual(
     return (
       left.headline === right.headline &&
       left.result === right.result &&
-      left.failed === right.failed
+      left.failed === right.failed &&
+      left.status === right.status
     );
   }
   return false;
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/ProjectThreadActivityPeek.tsx b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/ProjectThreadActivityPeek.tsx
index 67bc672ab01..2436ed69db7 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/ProjectThreadActivityPeek.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/ProjectThreadActivityPeek.tsx
@@ -11,12 +11,23 @@ import {
 import { cn } from "@/shared/lib/cn";
 import {
   createProjectThreadPeekFeedSelector,
+  formatProjectThreadPeekText,
   getProjectThreadPeekHeadline,
   mergeProjectThreadPeekEvents,
+  previewProjectThreadPeekText,
   resolveProjectThreadPeekMode,
+  type ProjectThreadPeekFeedItem,
+  type ProjectThreadPeekToolStatus,
 } from "../lib/projectThreadMissionControl";
 import type { ProjectThreadWorkspaceModel } from "./useProjectThreadWorkspaceModel";
 
+/**
+ * Live / history activity strip above the thread composer.
+ *
+ * Visual language mirrors Declared Plans (#190): muted uppercase chrome,
+ * soft bordered cards, scannable rows — not a raw ACP dump. Tool output and
+ * long thoughts stay collapsed until the founder opens them.
+ */
 export function ProjectThreadActivityPeek({
   channelId,
   model,
@@ -63,54 +74,34 @@ export function ProjectThreadActivityPeek({
 
   return (
     <section
-      className="relative z-10 shrink-0 border-t border-border/50 bg-background"
+      className="relative z-10 shrink-0 border-t border-border/50 bg-background/95"
       data-mode={mode}
       data-testid="project-thread-activity-peek"
     >
       {expanded ? (
         <div
-          className="max-h-56 space-y-2 overflow-y-auto px-3 py-2"
+          className="max-h-56 space-y-1.5 overflow-y-auto px-3 pt-2.5 pb-1"
           data-testid="project-thread-peek-feed"
           ref={feedRef}
           role="log"
         >
-          {feed.map((item) =>
-            item.kind === "thinking" ? (
-              <p
-                className="text-xs italic text-muted-foreground"
-                data-testid="project-thread-peek-thinking"
-                key={item.id}
-              >
-                {item.text}
-              </p>
-            ) : (
-              <div
-                className="rounded-md border border-border/60 bg-muted/20 px-2 py-1.5 font-mono text-xs"
-                data-testid="project-thread-peek-tool"
-                key={item.id}
-              >
-                <p className={cn(item.failed && "text-destructive")}>
-                  {item.headline}
-                </p>
-                {item.result ? (
-                  <p
-                    className={cn(
-                      "mt-1 whitespace-pre-wrap text-2xs text-muted-foreground",
-                      item.failed && "text-destructive/80",
-                    )}
-                    data-testid="project-thread-peek-tool-result"
-                  >
-                    {item.result}
-                  </p>
-                ) : null}
-              </div>
-            ),
-          )}
+          <h2 className="truncate px-0.5 text-2xs font-semibold tracking-wide text-muted-foreground uppercase">
+            {mode === "history" ? "Recent activity" : "Live activity"}
+          </h2>
+          <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-1.5">
+            {feed.map((item) =>
+              item.kind === "thinking" ? (
+                <PeekThinkingRow item={item} key={item.id} />
+              ) : (
+                <PeekToolRow item={item} key={item.id} />
+              ),
+            )}
+          </div>
         </div>
       ) : null}
       <button
         aria-expanded={expanded}
-        className="flex w-full min-w-0 items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-left text-xs text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted/40 hover:text-foreground"
+        className="flex w-full min-w-0 items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-muted/35"
         data-testid="project-thread-peek-toggle"
         onClick={() => setExpanded((current) => !current)}
         type="button"
@@ -121,21 +112,31 @@ export function ProjectThreadActivityPeek({
             className="h-2 w-2 shrink-0 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-blue-500 motion-reduce:animate-none"
           />
         ) : (
-          <Clock3 aria-hidden className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+          <Clock3
+            aria-hidden
+            className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground"
+          />
         )}
-        <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">
+        <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground">
           <span className="font-medium text-foreground">
             {model.activeName}
           </span>
           <span> · {headline}</span>
         </span>
-        <span className="shrink-0 text-2xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide">
+        <span
+          className={cn(
+            "shrink-0 rounded-md px-1.5 py-0.5 text-2xs font-semibold tracking-wide uppercase",
+            mode === "live"
+              ? "bg-blue-500/10 text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400"
+              : "bg-muted/60 text-muted-foreground",
+          )}
+        >
           {mode === "history" ? "History" : "Live"}
         </span>
         <ChevronDown
           aria-hidden
           className={cn(
-            "h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 transition-transform motion-reduce:transition-none",
+            "h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground transition-transform motion-reduce:transition-none",
             expanded && "rotate-180",
           )}
         />
@@ -143,3 +144,174 @@ export function ProjectThreadActivityPeek({
     </section>
   );
 }
+
+function PeekThinkingRow({
+  item,
+}: {
+  item: Extract<ProjectThreadPeekFeedItem, { kind: "thinking" }>;
+}) {
+  const { preview, truncated } = previewProjectThreadPeekText(item.text);
+  const full = formatProjectThreadPeekText(item.text);
+
+  if (!truncated) {
+    return (
+      <p
+        className="rounded-lg border border-border/60 bg-card/50 px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground"
+        data-testid="project-thread-peek-thinking"
+      >
+        <span className="mr-1.5 text-2xs font-semibold tracking-wide text-muted-foreground/80 uppercase">
+          Thinking
+        </span>
+        {preview}
+      </p>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <details
+      className="group rounded-lg border border-border/60 bg-card/50 open:bg-card/70"
+      data-testid="project-thread-peek-thinking"
+    >
+      <summary className="flex cursor-pointer list-none items-start gap-2 px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground [&::-webkit-details-marker]:hidden">
+        <span className="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-2xs font-semibold tracking-wide text-muted-foreground/80 uppercase">
+          Thinking
+        </span>
+        <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate group-open:hidden">
+          {preview}
+        </span>
+        <span className="mt-0.5 hidden min-w-0 flex-1 text-2xs text-muted-foreground/70 group-open:inline">
+          Hide
+        </span>
+        <ChevronDown
+          aria-hidden
+          className="mt-0.5 h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 transition-transform group-open:rotate-180 motion-reduce:transition-none"
+        />
+      </summary>
+      <p className="max-h-28 overflow-y-auto border-t border-border/50 px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs leading-5 whitespace-pre-wrap text-muted-foreground">
+        {full}
+      </p>
+    </details>
+  );
+}
+
+function PeekToolRow({
+  item,
+}: {
+  item: Extract<ProjectThreadPeekFeedItem, { kind: "tool" }>;
+}) {
+  const resultPreview = item.result
+    ? previewProjectThreadPeekText(item.result)
+    : null;
+  const fullResult = item.result
+    ? formatProjectThreadPeekText(item.result)
+    : null;
+  const showResultDisclosure = Boolean(fullResult && resultPreview?.truncated);
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={cn(
+        "rounded-lg border px-2.5 py-1.5",
+        item.failed
+          ? "border-destructive/35 bg-destructive/5"
+          : "border-border/60 bg-card/50",
+      )}
+      data-testid="project-thread-peek-tool"
+    >
+      <div className="flex min-w-0 items-start gap-2">
+        <PeekToolStatusDot status={item.status} />
+        <p
+          className={cn(
+            "min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-xs font-medium leading-5 text-foreground",
+            item.failed && "text-destructive",
+          )}
+        >
+          {item.headline}
+        </p>
+        <span
+          className={cn(
+            "shrink-0 text-2xs font-medium tracking-wide uppercase",
+            item.status === "failed" && "text-destructive",
+            item.status === "running" && "text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400",
+            item.status === "done" && "text-muted-foreground",
+          )}
+        >
+          {peekToolStatusLabel(item.status)}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+      {fullResult && !showResultDisclosure ? (
+        <p
+          className={cn(
+            "mt-1 pl-4 text-2xs leading-4 text-muted-foreground",
+            item.failed && "text-destructive/80",
+          )}
+          data-testid="project-thread-peek-tool-result"
+        >
+          {resultPreview?.preview}
+        </p>
+      ) : null}
+      {fullResult && showResultDisclosure ? (
+        <details className="group/result mt-1 pl-4">
+          <summary
+            className={cn(
+              "flex cursor-pointer list-none items-center gap-1 text-2xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground [&::-webkit-details-marker]:hidden",
+              item.failed && "text-destructive/80 hover:text-destructive",
+            )}
+          >
+            <ChevronDown
+              aria-hidden
+              className="h-3 w-3 shrink-0 transition-transform group-open/result:rotate-180 motion-reduce:transition-none"
+            />
+            <span className="min-w-0 truncate group-open/result:hidden">
+              {resultPreview?.preview || "Show output"}
+            </span>
+            <span className="hidden group-open/result:inline">Hide output</span>
+          </summary>
+          <pre
+            className={cn(
+              "mt-1 max-h-24 overflow-auto rounded-md border border-border/50 bg-muted/30 px-2 py-1.5 font-mono text-2xs leading-4 whitespace-pre-wrap text-muted-foreground",
+              item.failed && "border-destructive/25 text-destructive/90",
+            )}
+            data-testid="project-thread-peek-tool-result"
+          >
+            {fullResult}
+          </pre>
+        </details>
+      ) : null}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function PeekToolStatusDot({
+  status,
+}: {
+  status: ProjectThreadPeekToolStatus;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <span
+      aria-hidden
+      className={cn(
+        "mt-1.5 h-1.5 w-1.5 shrink-0 rounded-full",
+        status === "running" &&
+          "animate-pulse bg-blue-500 motion-reduce:animate-none",
+        status === "done" && "bg-emerald-500/80",
+        status === "failed" && "bg-destructive",
+      )}
+      data-status={status}
+    />
+  );
+}
+
+function peekToolStatusLabel(status: ProjectThreadPeekToolStatus): string {
+  switch (status) {
+    case "running":
+      return "Running";
+    case "done":
+      return "Done";
+    case "failed":
+      return "Failed";
+    default: {
+      const exhaustive: never = status;
+      return exhaustive;
+    }
+  }
+}