diff --git a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/components/page-carousel/PageShell.svelte b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/components/page-carousel/PageShell.svelte
index 2792cde93..20255e349 100644
--- a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/components/page-carousel/PageShell.svelte
+++ b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/components/page-carousel/PageShell.svelte
@@ -235,58 +235,53 @@
 
 <style>
 	/* P5: theme-token migration. The workbench paper card now follows the
-	   active theme variant. */
+	   active theme variant, incl. a per-theme paper-grain texture applied
+	   via background-blend-mode (more robust than a ::before overlay +
+	   mix-blend-mode + opacity combo, which had invisibility issues in
+	   dark mode and stacking-context quirks). CSS vars come from
+	   applyThemeToDocument() in @mana/shared-theme — swap one line in
+	   THEME_DEFINITIONS to change the texture for a whole theme. */
 	.page-shell {
 		flex: 0 0 auto;
 		min-height: 60vh;
 		max-width: calc(100vw - 2rem);
-		background: hsl(var(--color-card));
+		background-color: hsl(var(--color-card));
+		background-image: var(--paper-texture, none);
+		background-size: var(--paper-size, 240px 240px);
+		background-repeat: repeat;
+		background-blend-mode: var(--paper-blend-mode, multiply);
+		/* Soft black border — 12% in light mode, bumped to 28% in dark
+		   mode (see :global(.dark) override below) where a low-alpha
+		   black would otherwise vanish into the background. */
+		border: 2px solid hsl(0 0% 0% / 0.12);
 		border-radius: 1.25rem;
 		box-shadow:
-			0 2px 8px hsl(0 0% 0% / 0.08),
-			0 0 0 1px hsl(var(--color-border));
+			0 8px 24px hsl(0 0% 0% / 0.12),
+			0 3px 8px hsl(0 0% 0% / 0.08);
 		display: flex;
 		flex-direction: column;
 		animation: fadeIn 0.25s ease-out;
 		overflow: hidden;
 		position: relative;
-		/* Establish a blend-mode stacking context so the grain overlay
-		   only blends within this card, not through to the workbench
-		   background behind it. */
-		isolation: isolate;
+	}
+	/* Dark-mode border needs more alpha to stay visible against the
+	   dark card background. */
+	:global(.dark) .page-shell {
+		border-color: hsl(0 0% 0% / 0.28);
 	}
 
-	/* Per-theme paper-grain overlay. CSS variables come from
-	   applyThemeToDocument() in @mana/shared-theme — swap one line in
-	   THEME_DEFINITIONS to change the texture for a whole theme. */
-	.page-shell::before {
-		content: '';
-		position: absolute;
-		inset: 0;
-		pointer-events: none;
-		z-index: 0;
-		background-image: var(--paper-texture, none);
-		background-size: var(--paper-size, 240px 240px);
-		background-repeat: repeat;
-		mix-blend-mode: var(--paper-blend-mode, multiply);
-		opacity: var(--paper-opacity, 0);
-		transition: opacity 0.25s ease;
-	}
-	/* Make sure the header, body and resize handle sit above the grain */
-	.page-shell > * {
-		position: relative;
-		z-index: 1;
-	}
-	/* A11y: let users who asked for reduced transparency/contrast opt out */
+	/* A11y: users who asked for reduced transparency/contrast drop the
+	   texture entirely — solid card only. */
 	@media (prefers-contrast: more) {
-		.page-shell::before {
-			opacity: 0;
+		.page-shell {
+			background-image: none;
 		}
 	}
 	.page-shell.resizing {
+		border-color: hsl(var(--color-primary) / 0.55);
 		box-shadow:
-			0 2px 12px hsl(var(--color-primary) / 0.15),
-			0 0 0 2px hsl(var(--color-primary) / 0.3);
+			0 10px 28px hsl(var(--color-primary) / 0.22),
+			0 4px 10px hsl(var(--color-primary) / 0.15);
 	}
 	.page-shell.maximized {
 		position: fixed;
diff --git a/packages/shared-theme/src/constants.ts b/packages/shared-theme/src/constants.ts
index bd09277b6..5b57d0350 100644
--- a/packages/shared-theme/src/constants.ts
+++ b/packages/shared-theme/src/constants.ts
@@ -114,46 +114,49 @@ const natureDark: ThemeColors = {
 	ring: '122 39% 49%',
 };
 
+// Stone: cooled toward a proper blue-slate. Hue shifted 200 → 212
+// (more blue, less cyan) and saturation bumped ~10pts across the
+// palette so the chill actually reads instead of looking like warm grey.
 const stoneLight: ThemeColors = {
-	primary: '200 18% 46%', // #607D8B - Blue gray
+	primary: '212 32% 44%', // #4A6B8C - Deeper slate-blue
 	primaryForeground: '0 0% 100%',
-	secondary: '200 15% 62%', // #90A4AE - Light slate
+	secondary: '212 26% 60%', // #7E9CB8 - Cool slate
 	secondaryForeground: '0 0% 0%',
-	background: '210 17% 97%', // #F5F7F9 - Very light blue gray
-	foreground: '200 19% 18%', // #263238 - Dark slate
-	surface: '0 0% 100%',
-	surfaceHover: '200 10% 94%', // #ECEFF1
-	surfaceElevated: '0 0% 100%',
-	muted: '200 10% 94%', // #ECEFF1
-	mutedForeground: '200 10% 45%',
-	border: '200 10% 88%', // #CFD8DC
-	borderStrong: '200 12% 75%', // #B0BEC5
-	error: '4 90% 63%', // #EF5350
+	background: '214 30% 96%', // #EEF2F7 - Icy blue-white
+	foreground: '215 32% 16%', // #1B2835 - Deep slate
+	surface: '210 40% 99%',
+	surfaceHover: '212 24% 92%', // #E0E7EF
+	surfaceElevated: '210 40% 99%',
+	muted: '212 22% 92%', // #DFE6EE
+	mutedForeground: '212 18% 42%',
+	border: '212 22% 84%', // #C4D0DE
+	borderStrong: '212 24% 70%', // #9FB2C6
+	error: '4 90% 63%',
 	success: '145 63% 42%',
 	warning: '36 100% 50%',
-	input: '0 0% 100%',
-	ring: '200 18% 46%',
+	input: '210 40% 99%',
+	ring: '212 32% 44%',
 };
 
 const stoneDark: ThemeColors = {
-	primary: '200 15% 52%', // #78909C - Lighter in dark mode
+	primary: '212 28% 56%', // #6F8DAC - Brighter slate-blue for dark
 	primaryForeground: '0 0% 0%',
-	secondary: '200 12% 35%',
+	secondary: '212 20% 38%',
 	secondaryForeground: '0 0% 100%',
-	background: '210 15% 8%', // Very dark with blue-gray tint
-	foreground: '0 0% 100%',
-	surface: '200 12% 12%',
-	surfaceHover: '200 12% 16%',
-	surfaceElevated: '200 12% 14%',
-	muted: '200 10% 20%',
-	mutedForeground: '200 10% 60%',
-	border: '200 10% 25%',
-	borderStrong: '200 10% 35%',
+	background: '215 30% 8%', // Very dark with clear blue cast
+	foreground: '210 20% 96%',
+	surface: '214 24% 12%',
+	surfaceHover: '214 22% 17%',
+	surfaceElevated: '214 22% 15%',
+	muted: '212 18% 22%',
+	mutedForeground: '212 18% 62%',
+	border: '212 18% 28%',
+	borderStrong: '212 18% 40%',
 	error: '4 90% 58%',
 	success: '145 63% 49%',
 	warning: '48 100% 50%',
-	input: '200 10% 14%',
-	ring: '200 15% 52%',
+	input: '214 22% 15%',
+	ring: '212 28% 56%',
 };
 
 const oceanLight: ThemeColors = {
@@ -388,11 +391,14 @@ export const THEME_DEFINITIONS: Record<ThemeVariant, ThemeVariantDefinition> = {
 		hue: 47,
 		light: lumeLight,
 		dark: lumeDark,
+		// Lume wants a stronger, more contrasty grain — paper-004 has
+		// the heaviest fiber detail in the set, multiply makes it bite.
+		// Larger tile so the grain pattern reads as big paper fibers
+		// instead of fine noise.
 		paper: {
-			url: '/textures/paper/paper-001.jpg',
+			url: '/textures/paper/paper-004.jpg',
 			blendMode: 'multiply',
-			opacityLight: 0.4,
-			opacityDark: 0.18,
+			size: '480px 480px',
 		},
 	},
 	nature: {
@@ -406,8 +412,6 @@ export const THEME_DEFINITIONS: Record<ThemeVariant, ThemeVariantDefinition> = {
 		paper: {
 			url: '/textures/paper/cardboard-001.jpg',
 			blendMode: 'multiply',
-			opacityLight: 0.32,
-			opacityDark: 0.14,
 		},
 	},
 	stone: {
@@ -415,14 +419,14 @@ export const THEME_DEFINITIONS: Record<ThemeVariant, ThemeVariantDefinition> = {
 		label: 'Stone',
 		emoji: '🪨',
 		icon: 'hexagon',
-		hue: 200,
+		hue: 212,
 		light: stoneLight,
 		dark: stoneDark,
+		// Stone gets the linen-like cardboard texture — more tactile
+		// fiber pattern than the old paper-005 (which felt too smooth).
 		paper: {
-			url: '/textures/paper/paper-005.jpg',
+			url: '/textures/paper/cardboard-002.jpg',
 			blendMode: 'multiply',
-			opacityLight: 0.35,
-			opacityDark: 0.15,
 		},
 	},
 	ocean: {
@@ -436,8 +440,6 @@ export const THEME_DEFINITIONS: Record<ThemeVariant, ThemeVariantDefinition> = {
 		paper: {
 			url: '/textures/paper/paper-003.jpg',
 			blendMode: 'multiply',
-			opacityLight: 0.3,
-			opacityDark: 0.12,
 		},
 	},
 	// Extended themes (not in PillNav by default, can be pinned)
@@ -452,8 +454,6 @@ export const THEME_DEFINITIONS: Record<ThemeVariant, ThemeVariantDefinition> = {
 		paper: {
 			url: '/textures/paper/paper-006.jpg',
 			blendMode: 'multiply',
-			opacityLight: 0.38,
-			opacityDark: 0.16,
 		},
 	},
 	midnight: {
@@ -467,8 +467,6 @@ export const THEME_DEFINITIONS: Record<ThemeVariant, ThemeVariantDefinition> = {
 		paper: {
 			url: '/textures/paper/paper-004.jpg',
 			blendMode: 'overlay',
-			opacityLight: 0.35,
-			opacityDark: 0.22,
 		},
 	},
 	rose: {
@@ -482,8 +480,6 @@ export const THEME_DEFINITIONS: Record<ThemeVariant, ThemeVariantDefinition> = {
 		paper: {
 			url: '/textures/paper/paper-002.jpg',
 			blendMode: 'multiply',
-			opacityLight: 0.32,
-			opacityDark: 0.14,
 		},
 	},
 	lavender: {
@@ -494,11 +490,11 @@ export const THEME_DEFINITIONS: Record<ThemeVariant, ThemeVariantDefinition> = {
 		hue: 270,
 		light: lavenderLight,
 		dark: lavenderDark,
+		// Freed up after Stone claimed cardboard-002 — paper-001 gives
+		// lavender a softer, smoother fiber than the rough cardboard.
 		paper: {
-			url: '/textures/paper/cardboard-002.jpg',
+			url: '/textures/paper/paper-001.jpg',
 			blendMode: 'soft-light',
-			opacityLight: 0.4,
-			opacityDark: 0.18,
 		},
 	},
 };
diff --git a/packages/shared-theme/src/types.ts b/packages/shared-theme/src/types.ts
index 4235d87b1..21d68a6c9 100644
--- a/packages/shared-theme/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/shared-theme/src/types.ts
@@ -105,16 +105,21 @@ export interface ThemeVariantDefinition {
 	light: ThemeColors;
 	dark: ThemeColors;
 	/**
-	 * Optional "paper grain" overlay for workbench page surfaces.
-	 * Each theme can ship its own tileable texture to give pages a
+	 * Optional "paper grain" texture for workbench page surfaces.
+	 * Each theme can ship its own tileable texture applied via
+	 * background-blend-mode on the page-shell card so pages gain a
 	 * distinct tactile character. The consuming app is responsible for
 	 * serving the asset at the given URL (typically under `/textures/`).
-	 * When undefined, no paper overlay is applied for this theme.
+	 * When undefined, no paper texture is applied for this theme.
+	 *
+	 * Note: in dark mode, `multiply` auto-falls-back to `overlay` since
+	 * dark × dark is practically invisible. Other blend modes are kept
+	 * as-is for both modes.
 	 */
 	paper?: {
 		/** URL / absolute path to a seamless tileable texture */
 		url: string;
-		/** CSS blend-mode for the overlay vs. the underlying card bg */
+		/** CSS background-blend-mode against the card color */
 		blendMode?:
 			| 'multiply'
 			| 'overlay'
@@ -124,10 +129,6 @@ export interface ThemeVariantDefinition {
 			| 'darken'
 			| 'lighten'
 			| 'color-burn';
-		/** Opacity of the paper layer in light mode (0..1, default 0.35) */
-		opacityLight?: number;
-		/** Opacity of the paper layer in dark mode (0..1, default 0.15) */
-		opacityDark?: number;
 		/** CSS background-size (default "240px 240px") */
 		size?: string;
 	};
diff --git a/packages/shared-theme/src/utils.ts b/packages/shared-theme/src/utils.ts
index 87b83ea54..b8950aaea 100644
--- a/packages/shared-theme/src/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/shared-theme/src/utils.ts
@@ -113,21 +113,20 @@ export function applyThemeToDocument(
 	});
 
 	// Set per-theme paper-grain CSS variables (consumed by PageShell).
-	// Unset the vars for themes without a paper config so they don't
-	// leak across theme switches.
+	// Dark mode auto-switches multiply → overlay because multiply on a
+	// dark backdrop is practically invisible (dark × dark ≈ dark). Other
+	// blend modes (soft-light/screen/…) are respected as-is.
 	const paper = THEME_DEFINITIONS[variant]?.paper;
 	if (paper) {
+		const configuredBlend = paper.blendMode ?? 'multiply';
+		const effectiveBlend =
+			effectiveMode === 'dark' && configuredBlend === 'multiply' ? 'overlay' : configuredBlend;
 		root.style.setProperty('--paper-texture', `url("${paper.url}")`);
-		root.style.setProperty('--paper-blend-mode', paper.blendMode ?? 'multiply');
-		root.style.setProperty(
-			'--paper-opacity',
-			String(effectiveMode === 'dark' ? (paper.opacityDark ?? 0.15) : (paper.opacityLight ?? 0.35))
-		);
+		root.style.setProperty('--paper-blend-mode', effectiveBlend);
 		root.style.setProperty('--paper-size', paper.size ?? '240px 240px');
 	} else {
 		root.style.removeProperty('--paper-texture');
 		root.style.removeProperty('--paper-blend-mode');
-		root.style.removeProperty('--paper-opacity');
 		root.style.removeProperty('--paper-size');
 	}