diff --git a/docs/changes/unreleased/1509-nav-air-row.md b/docs/changes/unreleased/1509-nav-air-row.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6cee10de2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changes/unreleased/1509-nav-air-row.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+kind: changed
+title: tui3 head grows an air row under the top navigation line
+pr: 1509
+surface: [chat]
+invalidates:
+  - "The tui3 page head was four rows under the top navigation line. It is five: a blank air row sits directly under the nav line, then the tab strip, divider, and margin row."
+---
+
+Every page's head pays one extra row for the air row; the welcome screen's
+budget and the tui3 tests were adjusted with it. Visual proof lives at
+`docs/design/spark-header-spacing.png` (live Spark tmux capture).
diff --git a/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-flux.png b/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-flux.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c51b1f21f
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-flux.png differ
diff --git a/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-imagen.png b/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-imagen.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..07399bfec
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-imagen.png differ
diff --git a/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-imagen2.png b/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-imagen2.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..269df1028
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/design/header-spacing-ref-imagen2.png differ
diff --git a/docs/design/header-spacing-reference.png b/docs/design/header-spacing-reference.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6512f838c
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/design/header-spacing-reference.png differ
diff --git a/docs/design/spark-header-spacing.png b/docs/design/spark-header-spacing.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df045abcc
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/design/spark-header-spacing.png differ
diff --git a/docs/design/spark-tmux-live-header.png b/docs/design/spark-tmux-live-header.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5f4654bf9
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/design/spark-tmux-live-header.png differ
diff --git a/internal/tui3/chattabs.go b/internal/tui3/chattabs.go
index 737781a42..0d68769dc 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/chattabs.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/chattabs.go
@@ -487,10 +487,10 @@ func tabsCapped(tabs []chatTab, prev []string) []chatTab {
 // those numbers.
 
 // tabsHeight is what the head costs the body region DOWN TO AND INCLUDING THE
-// STRIP when a conversation is in front: the pulse, and the strip under it
-// ([tabStripRow]). On a place the strip is not drawn, so this is the nav's
-// one row and the page owns the row under it (head.go's [app.stripInHead]).
-//
+// STRIP when a conversation is in front: the pulse, the air row under it, and
+// the strip ([tabStripRow]). On a place the strip is not drawn, so this is the
+// nav and its air row, and the page owns the row under them (head.go's
+// [app.stripInHead]).//
 // IT STANDS DOWN ON THE TWO FLOORS THE CONVERSATION'S BAR STOOD DOWN ON. A frame
 // too narrow for a name and a way out is too narrow for this, and a terminal too
 // short for a blank above the draft has no row to spare for a fact that is true
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ func (a *app) tabsHeight(width int) int {
 		return 0
 	}
 	if !a.stripInHead() {
-		return navRow + 1
+		return navAirRow + 1
 	}
 	return tabStripRow + 1
 }
diff --git a/internal/tui3/head.go b/internal/tui3/head.go
index 436e1a7dc..e4f3a126d 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/head.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/head.go
@@ -3,22 +3,24 @@ package tui3
 // THE HEAD: ONE SET OF ROWS OVER EVERY FRAME.
 //
 //	 >● codeaf   home  teams  chats  sessions  spend  settings   2 want you · $1.20  thu 10:31pm
+//
 //	   ● harbor ▾   ◆ Manager ×   Refactor the rail… ×   +   ▦ All
 //	───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 //
 // The wordmark with the places after it and the machine's pulse on the far
-// end (topnav.go) is row zero on every page, and it never moves. The strip of
-// chats (chattabs.go) is the next row ONLY while a conversation is in front:
-// a chat, a room inside one, the grid of open tabs, the run's work tab. On a
-// place the strip is not drawn, so the head is the nav, the rule and a blank
-// ([placeHeadRows]) and the body starts one row higher. In a chat the strip
-// sits between the nav and the rule ([chatHeadRows]).
+// end (topnav.go) is row zero on every page, and it never moves. Under it
+// sits an air row ([navAirRow]): the breathing room that keeps the places'
+// words from pressing on the strip and the rule. The strip of chats
+// (chattabs.go) is the next row ONLY while a conversation is in front: a
+// chat, a room inside one, the grid of open tabs, the run's work tab. On a
+// place the strip is not drawn, so the head is the nav, its air row, the rule
+// and a blank ([placeHeadRows]) and the body starts one row higher. In a chat
+// the strip sits between the air row and the rule ([chatHeadRows]).
 //
 // THE STRIP USED TO BE DRAWN ON EVERY PAGE, including places, where it repeated
 // the teams rail and home's sessions and offered a jump from a place to one
 // chat that is not a journey anyone takes. `chats` on row zero, `alt+k` and
-// home's sessions list are the ways between them (owner, 2026-09-25).
-//
+// home's sessions list are the ways between them (owner, 2026-09-25).//
 // THE PLACES AND THE STRIP USED TO SHARE ROW ONE AND TAKE TURNS ON IT. A place
 // drew its bar there and a conversation drew its strip there, so the words a
 // hand was reaching for changed under it on every walk (owner, 2026-09-24).
@@ -35,9 +37,10 @@ package tui3
 // under it, where a place's heading is (PLACES-AUDIT.md, lane K).
 
 // headRows is the head, drawn at `width` in `pal`. While a conversation is in
-// front, `strip` (the frame's [app.tabsRow]) is the second row and the head is
-// [chatHeadRows] rows. On a place `strip` is ignored and the head is
-// [placeHeadRows]: the nav, the rule, a blank. A frame that draws fewer, a
+// front, `strip` (the frame's [app.tabsRow]) is the row under the air row and
+// the head is [chatHeadRows] rows. On a place `strip` is ignored and the head
+// is [placeHeadRows]: the nav, its air row, the rule, a blank. A frame that
+// draws fewer, a
 // terminal under the strip's floors, takes a prefix of it, so the rows a frame
 // draws and the rows it charges are one count.
 //
@@ -69,9 +72,9 @@ func (a *app) headRows(width int, strip string, pal palette) []string {
 	if !a.stripInHead() {
 		a.chatTabHits = nil
 		a.wall.chip, a.wall.door = hudSpan{}, hudSpan{}
-		return []string{nav, line, ""}
+		return []string{nav, "", line, ""}
 	}
-	return []string{nav, strip, line, ""}
+	return []string{nav, "", strip, line, ""}
 }
 
 // stripInHead reports whether this frame draws the chat strip. A conversation
diff --git a/internal/tui3/head_test.go b/internal/tui3/head_test.go
index c88d49564..4bf3ee9c6 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/head_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/head_test.go
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ import (
 // ── THE ONE HEAD ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 //
 // Row zero is the same on a conversation and on every place. A conversation
-// then draws the strip, the rule and a blank ([chatHeadRows]). A place draws
-// the rule and a blank and no strip ([placeHeadRows]), so its body starts one
-// row higher.
-
+// then draws the air row, the strip, the rule and a blank ([chatHeadRows]). A
+// place draws the air row, the rule and a blank and no strip
+// ([placeHeadRows]), so its body starts one row higher.
 // headSizes are the three frames the one head is pinned at: the classic
 // terminal, a tall one, and a wide one.
 var headSizes = []struct{ w, h int }{{80, 24}, {80, 40}, {120, 45}}
@@ -65,11 +64,11 @@ func headPulseWhole() string {
 	return "2 want you · 1 moving · $0.14 / " + railFigure(20) + " · thu 9:49am"
 }
 
-// THE CONVERSATION'S HEAD IS THE NAV, THE STRIP, THE RULE AND A BLANK.
-// The body starts under exactly those four rows. At eighty columns the pulse
-// has given up the clock, the moving count and the words of `2 want you`, whose
-// count stays as `2 ?`, to keep every place on the row (topnav.go's ladder);
-// wider, it says everything.
+// THE CONVERSATION'S HEAD IS THE NAV, THE AIR ROW, THE STRIP, THE RULE AND A
+// BLANK. The body starts under exactly those five rows. At eighty columns the
+// pulse has given up the clock, the moving count and the words of `2 want you`,
+// whose count stays as `2 ?`, to keep every place on the row (topnav.go's
+// ladder); wider, it says everything.
 func TestTheConversationWearsThePlacesHead(t *testing.T) {
 	a := headLab(t)
 	for _, size := range headSizes {
@@ -89,8 +88,8 @@ func TestTheConversationWearsThePlacesHead(t *testing.T) {
 		if strings.Contains(head[tabStripRow], " home ") || !strings.Contains(head[tabStripRow], a.chatDisplayName()) {
 			t.Fatalf("at %dx%d the strip is not under the nav, on its own:\n%q", size.w, size.h, head[tabStripRow])
 		}
-		if head[2] != strings.Repeat("─", size.w) || head[3] != "" {
-			t.Fatalf("at %dx%d the head does not close with a rule and a blank:\n%q\n%q", size.w, size.h, head[2], head[3])
+		if head[tabStripRow+1] != strings.Repeat("─", size.w) || head[tabStripRow+2] != "" {
+			t.Fatalf("at %dx%d the head does not close with a rule and a blank:\n%q\n%q", size.w, size.h, head[tabStripRow+1], head[tabStripRow+2])
 		}
 		if a.headHeight() != chatHeadRows || a.bodyTop() != chatHeadRows+a.stripHeight() {
 			t.Fatalf("at %dx%d the head draws %d rows and is charged %d, body at %d",
@@ -108,10 +107,11 @@ func TestTheConversationWearsThePlacesHead(t *testing.T) {
 // (roompanel.go's [app.roomOrganized]).
 var headFrameSizes = []struct{ w, h int }{{80, 24}, {120, 45}, {180, 45}}
 
-// A TASK ROOM SPENDS THE CONVERSATION'S HEAD ABOVE ITS BODY: the nav, the
-// strip, the rule and a blank, and the room's own trail on the first row under
-// them. A place spends three rows and no strip, so its body starts where the
-// chat's strip is. The room used to lay the trail where the rule stands
+// A TASK ROOM SPENDS THE CONVERSATION'S HEAD ABOVE ITS BODY: the nav, the air
+// row, the strip, the rule and a blank, and the room's own trail on the first
+// row under them. A place spends four rows and no strip, so its body starts
+// one row above a conversation's. The room used to lay the trail where the
+// rule stands
 // (PLACES-AUDIT.md, lane K).
 func TestATaskRoomSpendsThePlacesHeadAboveItsBody(t *testing.T) {
 	room, chat := crumbApp(t), headLab(t)
@@ -127,13 +127,13 @@ func TestATaskRoomSpendsThePlacesHeadAboveItsBody(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			f.a.touch()
 			head := headOf(t, f.a)
-			ruleAt := 2
+			ruleAt := tabStripRow + 1
 			if f.to != pageNone {
-				ruleAt = 1
+				ruleAt = placeHeadRows - 2
 			}
 			if !strings.HasPrefix(head[0], " "+plain(f.a.pal.wordmark(f.a.width))) || head[ruleAt] != strings.Repeat("─", size.w) || strings.TrimSpace(head[ruleAt+1]) != "" {
 				t.Fatalf("at %dx%d %s's head is not the nav, then %s:\n%s",
-					size.w, size.h, f.where, map[bool]string{true: "the rule and a blank", false: "the strip, the rule and a blank"}[f.to != pageNone], strings.Join(head, "\n"))
+					size.w, size.h, f.where, map[bool]string{true: "the air row, the rule and a blank", false: "the air row, the strip, the rule and a blank"}[f.to != pageNone], strings.Join(head, "\n"))
 			}
 			if f.to != pageNone {
 				f.a.showPage(pageNone)
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func TestThePulseOverAChatIsThePulseOverAPlace(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(place[navRow], "home") || !strings.Contains(place[navRow], "sessions") {
 		t.Fatalf("the nav is not on the first row: %q", place[navRow])
 	}
-	if strings.Contains(place[tabStripRow], a.chatDisplayName()) || !strings.HasPrefix(place[1], "─") {
+	if strings.Contains(place[tabStripRow], a.chatDisplayName()) || !strings.HasPrefix(place[tabStripRow], "─") {
 		t.Fatalf("the tasks place drew a strip under the nav: %q", place[tabStripRow])
 	}
 	a.showPage(pageNone)
diff --git a/internal/tui3/header_home_test.go b/internal/tui3/header_home_test.go
index 927102254..ac1008ef5 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/header_home_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/header_home_test.go
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func TestTheHeadAroundTheStripIsInertAndHomeHasPlainHover(t *testing.T) {
 
 // THE STRIP KEEPS ITS ACTIVE TAB AND THE HEAD KEEPS ITS SHAPE AT EVERY SIZE. The
 // head used to grow a row of air over the strip at thirty-two rows and another
-// under it at thirty-six; it is the places' four rows now wherever the strip is
+// under it at thirty-six; it is the places' five rows now wherever the strip is
 // drawn at all, and nothing below the strip's own floors.
 func TestTheStripKeepsItsActiveTabAndTheHeadItsShapeAtEverySize(t *testing.T) {
 	lab := newStartLab(t)
diff --git a/internal/tui3/margin_test.go b/internal/tui3/margin_test.go
index b158853ac..6f0766bdb 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/margin_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/margin_test.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 func marginApp(t *testing.T, stand ...standing.Item) (*app, *standingPlaceFake) {
 	t.Helper()
 	a, agent := standingPlaceApp(t, stand, nil)
-	a.width, a.height = 140, 24
+	a.width, a.height = 140, 25 // the head's air row costs the frame one row
 	return a, agent
 }
 
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ func TestBareStandingStillOpensThePage(t *testing.T) {
 // chord answers with (standmark.go).
 func TestStandingWithWordsSaysSoWhereNothingCanHoldOne(t *testing.T) {
 	a := newTestApp(&fakeAgent{model: "m"})
-	a.width, a.height = 140, 24
+	a.width, a.height = 140, 25 // the head's air row costs the frame one row
 	typeLine(t, a, "/standing always run the tests")
 	if !strings.Contains(plain(frame(a)), standMarkNowhere) {
 		t.Fatalf("the refusal is not on the frame:\n%s", plain(frame(a)))
diff --git a/internal/tui3/onetopbar_test.go b/internal/tui3/onetopbar_test.go
index d47682dbe..79ad501f6 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/onetopbar_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/onetopbar_test.go
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ func TestOneTopNavOnAChatAndOnAPlace(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("at %d the place drew the strip on row %d", width, py2)
 		}
 		placeRows := strings.Split(plain(frame), "\n")
-		if len(placeRows) <= placeHeadRows || !strings.HasPrefix(placeRows[1], "─") || strings.TrimSpace(placeRows[2]) != "" {
-			t.Fatalf("at %d the place's head is not the nav, the rule and a blank", width)
+		if len(placeRows) <= placeHeadRows || !strings.HasPrefix(placeRows[placeHeadRows-2], "─") || strings.TrimSpace(placeRows[placeHeadRows-1]) != "" {
+			t.Fatalf("at %d the place's head is not the nav, the air row, the rule and a blank", width)
 		}
 		lit := a.pal.onPlaces()
 		if !strings.Contains(frame, lit.bold(lit.accent(tabPad+"spend"+tabPad))) {
diff --git a/internal/tui3/placebodies.go b/internal/tui3/placebodies.go
index 8f8506cb6..cc1df907c 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/placebodies.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/placebodies.go
@@ -37,21 +37,21 @@ import (
 // around them and the keyboard, which is the whole of what that wave claimed.
 
 // placeHeadRows is how many rows every place spends before its body: the nav,
-// the rule, and the blank under it (pages.go's [placeFrame]).
+// the air row under it, the rule, and the blank under that (pages.go's
+// [placeFrame]).
 //
 // THE STRIP IS NOT ONE OF THEM. It is a chat's own row, drawn only while a
 // conversation is in front (head.go), so a place's body starts one row higher
-// than a chat's and a click on that row is the page's.
-//
+// than a chat's and a click on that row is the page's.//
 // IT IS A CONSTANT AND THE POINTER DEPENDS ON IT. A press arrives as a row of
 // the terminal and has to become a row of the body, and the only honest way to
 // subtract the head is to have exactly one number for how tall the head is.
 // A head row added or removed is a change to this constant and to nothing else.
-const placeHeadRows = 3
+const placeHeadRows = 4
 
-// chatHeadRows is the head while a conversation is in front: the places' three
-// rows with the strip between the nav and the rule. A room inside a chat wears
-// it too. A place does not.
+// chatHeadRows is the head while a conversation is in front: the places' four
+// rows with the strip between the air row and the rule. A room inside a chat
+// wears it too. A place does not.
 const chatHeadRows = placeHeadRows + 1
 
 // placeNote is the one line a place says about what it is holding, drawn under
diff --git a/internal/tui3/placelaws_test.go b/internal/tui3/placelaws_test.go
index 06a5aa4f2..7989044ba 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/placelaws_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/placelaws_test.go
@@ -322,8 +322,7 @@ func TestEveryPlaceSpendsTheSameHeadAndFoot(t *testing.T) {
 	// doors rather than counted out again here.
 	wantFor := func(id page, size [2]int) edges {
 		height := size[1]
-		got := edges{bar: navRow, headRule: 1, blank: placeHeadRows - 1,
-			footRule: height - placeFootRowsFor(id, height) + 1, box: -1, hint: height - 1}
+		got := edges{bar: navRow, headRule: placeHeadRows - 2, blank: placeHeadRows - 1, footRule: height - placeFootRowsFor(id, height) + 1, box: -1, hint: height - 1}
 		if id == pageHome {
 			got.box = height - 1 - boxFloor(height)
 		}
@@ -339,8 +338,8 @@ func TestEveryPlaceSpendsTheSameHeadAndFoot(t *testing.T) {
 				rows[i] = ansi.Strip(line)
 			}
 			got := edges{bar: a.tabRow, headRule: -1, blank: -1, footRule: -1, box: -1, hint: len(rows) - 1}
-			if len(rows) > 1 && strings.HasPrefix(rows[1], "──") {
-				got.headRule = 1
+			if len(rows) > 2 && strings.HasPrefix(rows[2], "──") {
+				got.headRule = 2
 			}
 			if strings.TrimSpace(rows[placeHeadRows-1]) == "" {
 				got.blank = placeHeadRows - 1
diff --git a/internal/tui3/topnav.go b/internal/tui3/topnav.go
index 7c9337d57..9d1a5c9c1 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/topnav.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/topnav.go
@@ -65,10 +65,14 @@ import (
 // frame with no head at all.
 const navRow = 0
 
-// tabStripRow is the row the chat strip is drawn on: under the nav and over
-// the rule, and only while a conversation is in front (head.go).
-const tabStripRow = 1
+// navAirRow is the row of air under the nav, on every frame that draws a
+// head: the spacing between the places' row and the strip or rule under it
+// (head.go).
+const navAirRow = 1
 
+// tabStripRow is the row the chat strip is drawn on: under the nav's air row
+// and over the rule, and only while a conversation is in front (head.go).
+const tabStripRow = navAirRow + 1
 const (
 	// navInset is the blank cell at each end of the row, the same inset every
 	// row of the head keeps.
diff --git a/internal/tui3/topnav_test.go b/internal/tui3/topnav_test.go
index b61923799..1a08e4c56 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/topnav_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/topnav_test.go
@@ -57,10 +57,11 @@ func headRowsOf(a *app) []string {
 	return rows
 }
 
-// ROW ZERO IS THE SAME ON EVERY PAGE. A chat then draws the strip, the rule
-// and a blank, and the body under those four rows. A place draws the rule and
-// a blank and no strip, and the body starts on the next row.
-func TestTheHeadIsTheSameFourRowsOnEveryPage(t *testing.T) {
+// ROW ZERO IS THE SAME ON EVERY PAGE. A chat then draws the air row, the
+// strip, the rule and a blank, and the body under those five rows. A place
+// draws the air row, the rule and a blank and no strip, and the body starts on
+// the next row.
+func TestRowZeroIsTheSameOnEveryPage(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, width := range navWidths {
 		a := navChat(t)
 		a.width = width
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ func TestTheHeadIsTheSameFourRowsOnEveryPage(t *testing.T) {
 		if a.tabRow != navRow || a.headHeight() != chatHeadRows {
 			t.Fatalf("at %d the chat's nav is on row %d and its head is %d rows", width, a.tabRow, a.headHeight())
 		}
-		if !strings.Contains(chat[tabStripRow], "harbor") || !strings.HasPrefix(chat[2], "─") || strings.TrimSpace(chat[3]) != "" {
+		if !strings.Contains(chat[tabStripRow], "harbor") || !strings.HasPrefix(chat[tabStripRow+1], "─") || strings.TrimSpace(chat[tabStripRow+2]) != "" {
 			t.Fatalf("at %d the chat's head is not the nav, the strip, the rule and a blank:\n%s", width, strings.Join(chat, "\n"))
 		}
 		for _, to := range []page{pageHome, pageTeams, pageSpend} {
@@ -79,10 +80,10 @@ func TestTheHeadIsTheSameFourRowsOnEveryPage(t *testing.T) {
 			if a.tabRow != navRow || a.headHeight() != placeHeadRows {
 				t.Fatalf("at %d %s drew its nav on row %d and a %d-row head", width, to.word(), a.tabRow, a.headHeight())
 			}
-			if place[navRow] != chat[navRow] {
-				t.Fatalf("at %d %s moved row zero:\nchat %q\nplace %q", width, to.word(), chat[navRow], place[navRow])
+			if place[navRow] != chat[navRow] || place[1] != chat[1] {
+				t.Fatalf("at %d %s moved the nav or the air row under it:\nchat %q\nplace %q", width, to.word(), chat[navRow], place[navRow])
 			}
-			if !strings.HasPrefix(place[1], "─") || strings.TrimSpace(place[2]) != "" || strings.Contains(place[1], "harbor") {
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(place[placeHeadRows-2], "─") || strings.TrimSpace(place[placeHeadRows-1]) != "" || strings.Contains(place[placeHeadRows-2], "harbor") {
 				t.Fatalf("at %d %s drew a strip where the rule belongs:\n%s", width, to.word(), strings.Join(place, "\n"))
 			}
 			if len(a.chatTabHits) != 0 {
@@ -221,9 +222,10 @@ func TestAPressOnEachNavWordOpensThatPlace(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// A PRESS ON ROW 1 OF A PLACE IS THE PAGE'S. The strip is not drawn there, so
-// the row under the nav is the rule, and a click on it does not open a chat.
-// The page's own first row is the next one after the blank.
+// A PRESS ON THE STRIP'S ROW OF A PLACE IS THE PAGE'S. The strip is not drawn
+// on a place, so the row where a conversation would draw it holds the rule,
+// and a click on it does not open a chat. The page's own first row is the one
+// after the head's blank.
 func TestAPressOnRowOneOfAPlaceIsThePages(t *testing.T) {
 	a := navChat(t)
 	a.width = 160
@@ -238,11 +240,11 @@ func TestAPressOnRowOneOfAPlaceIsThePages(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("%s kept strip targets", id.word())
 		}
 		if _, ok := a.tabAt(4, tabStripRow); ok {
-			t.Fatalf("%s still has a tab on row 1", id.word())
+			t.Fatalf("%s still has a tab on the strip's row", id.word())
 		}
 		rows := strings.Split(plain(frame(a)), "\n")
-		if len(rows) <= placeHeadRows || !strings.HasPrefix(rows[1], "─") {
-			t.Fatalf("%s row 1 is not the rule:\n%s", id.word(), strings.Join(rows[:placeHeadRows+1], "\n"))
+		if len(rows) <= placeHeadRows || !strings.HasPrefix(rows[placeHeadRows-2], "─") {
+			t.Fatalf("%s the strip's row is not the rule:\n%s", id.word(), strings.Join(rows[:placeHeadRows+1], "\n"))
 		}
 		drive(t, a, tea.MouseClickMsg{X: 4, Y: tabStripRow, Button: tea.MouseLeft})
 		if !a.at(id) || a.frontTabKey() != front {
diff --git a/internal/tui3/welcome.go b/internal/tui3/welcome.go
index 3f91ffe5e..d616382a9 100644
--- a/internal/tui3/welcome.go
+++ b/internal/tui3/welcome.go
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ const welcomeUnitWidth = 76
 // to type — so a small window simply opens on the prompt, which is what it
 // would have done anyway.
 const (
-	welcomeMinRows = 12
+	welcomeMinRows = 11 // the head's air row is paid out of the greeting's reserve
 	welcomeMinCols = 40
 )
 
diff --git a/scripts/gen-header-ref-imagen2.py b/scripts/gen-header-ref-imagen2.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..930a26a0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/gen-header-ref-imagen2.py
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Generate docs/design/header-spacing-ref-imagen2.png via Google Vertex AI imagen.
+
+Tries model literal name "imagen"; on 400, reads the rejection's accepted model
+values and retries once with the closest same-family model.
+"""
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from google import genai
+
+PROMPT = (
+    'A pixel-sharp screenshot of a dark terminal application, perfectly flat '
+    'solid background color with NO texture, NO gradient, NO photographic noise, '
+    'rendered typography with hard edges like a real terminal screenshot. Four '
+    'header text rows: (1) nav line: codeaf home teams chats sessions spend '
+    'settings, right-aligned status at the edge; (2) one entire empty row of pure '
+    'background, zero characters; (3) chat tab strip: harbor Manager Refactor the '
+    'rail plus plus; (4) a full-width horizontal rule of dash glyphs. The empty '
+    'second row must be a flat clean band separating nav from strip. Below, dim '
+    'gray placeholder prose on the same flat background. Flat vector-like '
+    'precision, screenshot aesthetic.'
+)
+
+OUT = Path("docs/design/header-spacing-ref-imagen2.png")
+
+
+def access_token() -> str:
+    """Vertex needs OAuth; prefer ADC, fall back to gcloud user token."""
+    env = dict(os.environ)
+    env.pop("GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS", None)
+    try:
+        from google.auth import default
+        creds, _ = default()
+        creds.refresh(__import__("google.auth.transport.requests", fromlist=["Request"]).Request())
+        return creds.token
+    except Exception:
+        tok = subprocess.run(
+            ["gcloud", "auth", "application-default", "print-access-token"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True,
+        ).stdout.strip()
+        if tok:
+            return tok
+        tok = subprocess.run(
+            ["gcloud", "auth", "print-access-token"], capture_output=True, text=True,
+        ).stdout.strip()
+        if tok:
+            return tok
+        raise
+
+
+def accepted_models(err) -> list:
+    try:
+        m = re.search(r"[a-z0-9-]*(?:imagen|image)[a-z0-9-]*", str(err), re.I)
+        return [m.group(0)] if m else []
+    except Exception:
+        return []
+
+
+def generate(client, model: str):
+    resp = client.models.generate_images(
+        model=model,
+        prompt=PROMPT,
+        config={"aspect_ratio": "2:1"},
+    )
+    if not resp.generated_images:
+        raise SystemExit(f"model '{model}': no generated images")
+    OUT.write_bytes(resp.generated_images[0].image.image_bytes)
+    print(json.dumps({"model": model, "path": str(OUT), "size": OUT.stat().st_size}))
+
+
+def main():
+    token = access_token()  # OAuth2 token from gcloud user login
+    from google.auth.credentials import Credentials as _BaseCreds
+
+    class _TokenCreds(_BaseCreds):
+        def __init__(self, tok):
+            self.token = tok
+            self.expired = False
+            self.valid = True
+            self.quota_project_id = None
+
+        def refresh(self, request):
+            pass
+
+    creds = _TokenCreds(token)
+    client = genai.Client(
+        vertexai=True,
+        project="model-development-504013",
+        location="us-central1",
+        credentials=creds,
+    )
+
+    first = "imagen"
+    try:
+        generate(client, first)
+        return
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"model '{first}' REJECTED: {type(e).__name__}: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+        if "400" not in str(e):
+            raise
+        models = accepted_models(e)
+        if not models:
+            # one last probe: ask the API for the accepted list and parse it
+            try:
+                body = getattr(getattr(e, "_response", None), "text", "") or str(e)
+                models = re.findall(r"[a-z0-9-]*(?:imagen|image)[a-z0-9-]*", body)
+            except Exception:
+                models = []
+        if not models:
+            raise SystemExit(f"could not parse accepted models from 400: {e}")
+        second = models[-1] if "imagen" in models[-1] else models[0]
+        print(f"retrying once with '{second}'", file=sys.stderr)
+        try:
+            generate(client, second)
+        except Exception as e2:
+            raise SystemExit(f"second model REJECTED: {type(e2).__name__}: {e2}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/gen-header-ref-img.py b/scripts/gen-header-ref-img.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..454c7b803
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/gen-header-ref-img.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Generate docs/design/header-spacing-ref-gpt-image.png via OpenAI images API."""
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from openai import OpenAI
+
+PROMPT = (
+    'Flat 2D mockup of a dark terminal UI screenshot in crisp monospace type on a '
+    'near-black background. Exactly four header rows at the top: first row a top nav '
+    'reading "● codeaf   home  teams  chats  sessions  spend  settings" with a '
+    'right-aligned status "2 want you · $1.20  thu 10:31pm"; second row COMPLETELY '
+    'BLANK, one full empty text line; third row a chat strip "● harbor ▾   ◆ Manager ×   '
+    'Refactor the rail… ×   +   ▦ All"; fourth row a full-width rule of dash glyphs. '
+    'Beneath the rule, dim gray placeholder prose. Precise, aligned, screenshot-flat, '
+    'no photorealism, no shadows, no garbled glyphs.'
+)
+
+OUT = Path("docs/design/header-spacing-ref-gpt-image.png")
+OUT.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"])
+
+# First attempt with the literal requested model name.
+model = "gpt-image"
+resp = None
+try:
+    resp = client.images.generate(
+        model=model,
+        prompt=PROMPT,
+        size="1792x896",  # ~2:1
+        n=1,
+    )
+    print(f"model '{model}' accepted")
+except Exception as e:
+    print(f"model '{model}' REJECTED: {type(e).__name__}: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+    body = getattr(getattr(e, "response", None), "text", "")
+    print(f"RESPONSE BODY:\n{body}", file=sys.stderr)
+    if "400" not in str(e) and "400" not in str(getattr(getattr(e, "response", None), "status_code", "")):
+        raise SystemExit(1)
+    # 400 error: retry once with closest model of same family per task instructions.
+    model = "gpt-image-1"
+    print(f"retrying once with '{model}'", file=sys.stderr)
+    try:
+        resp = client.images.generate(
+            model=model,
+            prompt=PROMPT,
+            size="1792x896",
+            n=1,
+        )
+        print(f"model '{model}' accepted")
+    except Exception as e2:
+        body2 = getattr(getattr(e2, "response", None), "text", "")
+        print(f"second model REJECTED: {type(e2).__name__}: {e2}\n{body2}", file=sys.stderr)
+        raise SystemExit(1)
+
+if not resp or not resp.data:
+    raise SystemExit("no image data in response")
+
+data = resp.data[0]
+if data.b64_json:
+    import base64
+    OUT.write_bytes(base64.b64decode(data.b64_json))
+    print(f"wrote b64 -> {OUT} ({OUT.stat().st_size} bytes)")
+elif data.url:
+    import urllib.request
+    urllib.request.urlretrieve(data.url, OUT)
+    print(f"downloaded -> {OUT} ({OUT.stat().st_size} bytes)")
+else:
+    raise SystemExit("no b64_json and no url in response")
+print(json.dumps({"model": model, "path": str(OUT), "size": OUT.stat().st_size}))
\ No newline at end of file