diff --git a/template/index.html b/template/index.html
index 913f2b0..93a953f 100644
--- a/template/index.html
+++ b/template/index.html
@@ -12,43 +12,43 @@
         <div class="vh-100 overflow-auto border-right flex-shrink-0" style="width: 300px">
             <div class="p-2">
                 <div class="mb-5">
-                    <label class="nav-select">
+                    <label class="selectgroup">
                         <input type="radio" name="filter" value="" v-model="filterSelected">
-                        <div class="menu-item d-flex align-items-center w-100">
+                        <div class="selectgroup-label d-flex align-items-center w-100">
                             <span class="icon mr-2">{% inline "circle-full.svg"  %}</span>
                             <span class="flex-fill text-left text-truncate">All</span>
                             <span class="counter text-right"></span>
                         </div>
                     </label>
-                    <label class="nav-select">
+                    <label class="selectgroup">
                         <input type="radio" name="filter" value="unread" v-model="filterSelected">
-                        <div class="menu-item d-flex align-items-center w-100">
+                        <div class="selectgroup-label d-flex align-items-center w-100">
                             <span class="icon mr-2">{% inline "circle.svg"  %}</span>
                             <span class="flex-fill text-left text-truncate">Unread</span>
                             <span class="counter text-right">{{totalStats.unread || ''}}</span>
                         </div>
                     </label>
-                    <label class="nav-select">
+                    <label class="selectgroup">
                         <input type="radio" name="filter" value="starred" v-model="filterSelected">
-                        <div class="menu-item d-flex align-items-center w-100">
+                        <div class="selectgroup-label d-flex align-items-center w-100">
                             <span class="icon mr-2">{% inline "star.svg"  %}</span>
                             <span class="flex-fill text-left text-truncate">Starred</span>
                             <span class="counter text-right">{{totalStats.starred || ''}}</span>
                         </div>
                     </label>
                 </div>
-                <label class="nav-select">
+                <label class="selectgroup">
                     <input type="radio" name="feed" value="" v-model="feedSelected">
-                    <div class="menu-item d-flex align-items-center w-100">
+                    <div class="selectgroup-label d-flex align-items-center w-100">
                         <span class="icon mr-2">{% inline "layers.svg" %}</span>
                         <span class="flex-fill text-left text-truncate">All Feeds</span>
                         <span class="counter text-right"></span>
                     </div>
                 </label>
                 <div v-for="folder in foldersWithFeeds">
-                    <label class="nav-select mt-1">
+                    <label class="selectgroup mt-1">
                         <input type="radio" name="feed" :value="'folder:'+folder.id" v-model="feedSelected">
-                        <div class="menu-item d-flex align-items-center w-100" v-if="folder.id">
+                        <div class="selectgroup-label d-flex align-items-center w-100" v-if="folder.id">
                             <span class="icon mr-2"
                                   :class="{expanded: folder.is_expanded}"
                                   @click.prevent="toggleFolderExpanded(folder)">
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@
                         </div>
                     </label>
                     <div v-show="!folder.id || folder.is_expanded" class="mt-1" :class="{'pl-3': folder.id}">
-                        <label class="nav-select"
+                        <label class="selectgroup"
                                v-for="feed in folder.feeds">
                             <input type="radio" name="feed" :value="'feed:'+feed.id" v-model="feedSelected">
-                            <div class="menu-item d-flex align-items-center w-100">
+                            <div class="selectgroup-label d-flex align-items-center w-100">
                                 <span class="icon mr-2">{% inline "rss.svg" %}</span>
                                 <span class="flex-fill text-left text-truncate">{{ feed.title }}</span>
                                 <span class="counter text-right">{{filteredFeedStats[feed.id] || ''}}</span>
@@ -73,61 +73,59 @@
             </div>
         </div>
         <div class="vh-100 d-flex flex-column border-right flex-shrink-0" style="width: 300px">
-            <div class="d-flex">
-                <input class="form-control" type="" v-model="itemSearch">
-                <div class="p-2 border-bottom" v-if="filterSelected != 'starred'">
-                    <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary p-0" @click="markItemsRead()">
-                        <span class="icon">{% inline "layers.svg" %}</span>
-                    </button>
-                </div>
+            <div class="px-2 toolbar d-flex align-items-center">
+                <button class="toolbar-item">
+                    <span class="icon">{% inline "search.svg" %}</span>
+                </button>
+                <input class="d-block toolbar-search" type="" v-model="itemSearch">
+                <div class="flex-grow-1">&nbsp;</div>
+                <button class="toolbar-item" @click="markItemsRead()" v-if="filterSelected != 'starred'">
+                    <span class="icon">{% inline "check.svg" %}</span>
+                </button>
             </div>
-            <div class="p-2 overflow-auto" v-scroll="loadMoreItems">
+            <div class="p-2 overflow-auto border-top" v-scroll="loadMoreItems">
                 <label v-for="item in items" :key="item.id"
-                       class="nav-select"
+                       class="selectgroup"
                        :class="{'text-muted'  : filterSelected=='all' && item.status=='read',
                                 'text-primary': filterSelected=='all' && item.status=='starred'}">
                     <input type="radio" name="item" :value="item.id" v-model="itemSelected">
-                    <div class="menu-item p-2">
-                        <div class="d-flex flex-column">
-                            <div style="line-height: 1.2; opacity: .6;" class="d-flex">
-                                <small class="flex-fill text-truncate mr-1">{{feedsById[item.feed_id].title}}</small>
-                                <small class="flex-shrink-0"><relative-time :val="item.date"/></small>
-                            </div>
-                            <span>{{item.title}}</span>
+                    <div class="selectgroup-label d-flex flex-column">
+                        <div style="line-height: 1.2; opacity: .6;" class="d-flex">
+                            <small class="flex-fill text-truncate mr-1">{{feedsById[item.feed_id].title}}</small>
+                            <small class="flex-shrink-0"><relative-time :val="item.date"/></small>
                         </div>
+                        <span>{{item.title}}</span>
                     </div>
                 </label>
                 <button class="btn btn-link btn-block loading my-3" v-if="itemsPage.cur < itemsPage.num"></button>
             </div>
         </div>
         <div class="vh-100 d-flex flex-column w-100">
-            <div class="p-2 d-flex">
-                <div class="flex-grow-1">
-                    <div v-if="itemSelected">
-                        <button class="btn btn-link p-0" style="line-height: 1" @click="toggleItemStarred(itemSelectedDetails)">
-                            <span class="icon" v-if="itemSelectedDetails.status=='starred'" >{% inline "star-full.svg" %}</span>
-                            <span class="icon" v-else-if="itemSelectedDetails.status!='starred'" >{% inline "star.svg" %}</span>
-                        </button>
-                        <button class="btn btn-link p-0"
-                                style="line-height: 1"
-                                :disabled="itemSelectedDetails.status=='starred'"
-                                @click="toggleItemRead(itemSelectedDetails)">
-                            <span class="icon" v-if="itemSelectedDetails.status=='unread'">{% inline "circle-full.svg" %}</span>
-                            <span class="icon" v-if="itemSelectedDetails.status!='unread'">{% inline "circle.svg" %}</span>
-                        </button>
-                        <a class="btn btn-link p-0" :href="itemSelectedDetails.link" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1">
-                            <span class="icon">{% inline "external-link.svg" %}</span>
-                        </a>
-                        <button class="btn btn-link p-0" @click="getReadable(itemSelectedDetails)">
-                            <span class="icon">{% inline "book.svg" %}</span>
-                        </button>
-                    </div>
+            <div class="toolbar pl-2 d-flex align-items-center">
+                <div v-if="itemSelected">
+                    <button class="toolbar-item" @click="toggleItemStarred(itemSelectedDetails)">
+                        <span class="icon" v-if="itemSelectedDetails.status=='starred'" >{% inline "star-full.svg" %}</span>
+                        <span class="icon" v-else-if="itemSelectedDetails.status!='starred'" >{% inline "star.svg" %}</span>
+                    </button>
+                    <button class="toolbar-item"
+                            :disabled="itemSelectedDetails.status=='starred'"
+                            @click="toggleItemRead(itemSelectedDetails)">
+                        <span class="icon" v-if="itemSelectedDetails.status=='unread'">{% inline "circle-full.svg" %}</span>
+                        <span class="icon" v-if="itemSelectedDetails.status!='unread'">{% inline "circle.svg" %}</span>
+                    </button>
+                    <a class="toolbar-item" :href="itemSelectedDetails.link" target="_blank">
+                        <span class="icon">{% inline "external-link.svg" %}</span>
+                    </a>
+                    <button class="toolbar-item" @click="getReadable(itemSelectedDetails)">
+                        <span class="icon">{% inline "book-open.svg" %}</span>
+                    </button>
                 </div>
-                <button class="btn btn-link p-0" v-b-modal.settings-modal style="line-height: 1">
+                <div class="flex-grow-1">&nbsp;</div>
+                <button class="toolbar-item" v-b-modal.settings-modal>
                     <span class="icon">{% inline "settings.svg" %}</span>
                 </button>
             </div>
-            <div v-if="itemSelected" class="px-5 pt-3 pb-5 border-top overflow-auto">
+            <div v-if="itemSelected" class="px-4 pt-3 pb-5 border-top overflow-auto">
                 <h3>{{itemSelectedDetails.title}}</h3>
                 <div class="text-muted">
                     <div>{{ feedsById[itemSelectedDetails.feed_id].title }}</div>
diff --git a/template/static/images/book.svg b/template/static/images/book-open.svg
similarity index 55%
rename from template/static/images/book.svg
rename to template/static/images/book-open.svg
index 12ffcbc..5e0ca0a 100644
--- a/template/static/images/book.svg
+++ b/template/static/images/book-open.svg
@@ -1 +1 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="feather feather-book"><path d="M4 19.5A2.5 2.5 0 0 1 6.5 17H20"></path><path d="M6.5 2H20v20H6.5A2.5 2.5 0 0 1 4 19.5v-15A2.5 2.5 0 0 1 6.5 2z"></path></svg>
\ No newline at end of file
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="feather feather-book-open"><path d="M2 3h6a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v14a3 3 0 0 0-3-3H2z"></path><path d="M22 3h-6a4 4 0 0 0-4 4v14a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h7z"></path></svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/static/images/search.svg b/template/static/images/search.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8710306
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/static/images/search.svg
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="feather feather-search"><circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8"></circle><line x1="21" y1="21" x2="16.65" y2="16.65"></line></svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/static/stylesheets/app.css b/template/static/stylesheets/app.css
index ea41327..0c214bd 100644
--- a/template/static/stylesheets/app.css
+++ b/template/static/stylesheets/app.css
@@ -10,6 +10,17 @@ body {
   font-size: 15px !important;
 }
 
+.wrapper {
+  max-width: 1368px;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+}
+
+/* bootstrap customizations */
+
+.btn-link {
+  color: inherit;
+}
+
 .form-control {
   box-shadow: inset 0px 1px 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.07);
 }
@@ -32,72 +43,6 @@ select.form-control:not([multiple]):not([size]) {
   box-shadow: none !important;
 }
 
-.wrapper {
-  max-width: 1368px;
-  margin: 0 auto;
-}
-
-.icon {
-  height: 1rem;
-  width: 1rem;
-}
-
-.icon > svg {
-  width: 1rem;
-  height: 1rem;
-  display: block;
-}
-
-.feed-icon {
-  width: 16px;
-  height: 16px;
-  min-width: 16px;
-  margin-left: -18px !important;
-}
-
-.counter {
-  max-width: 100px;
-}
-
-.menu-item {
-  padding: .375rem .5rem;
-}
-
-.menu-item, .feed-item {
-  border-radius: 4px;
-}
-
-.nav-select {
-  position: relative;
-  display: block;
-  margin-bottom: 0;
-}
-
-.nav-select input {
-  opacity: 0;
-  position: absolute;
-  z-index: -1;
-  top: 0; left: 0;
-}
-
-.nav-select + .nav-select {
-  margin-top: .25rem;
-}
-
-.menu-item:hover, .feed-item:hover {
-  background-color: #f8f9fa;
-  cursor: pointer;
-}
-
-.feed-item:active, .nav-select input:checked + .menu-item {
-  background-color: var(--color-primary);
-  color: white;
-}
-
-.expanded {
-  transform: rotate(90deg);
-}
-
 .dropdown-header {
   cursor: default;
 }
@@ -155,6 +100,66 @@ select.form-control:not([multiple]):not([size]) {
   background-color: transparent;
 }
 
+/* custom elements */
+
+.icon {
+  height: 1rem;
+  width: 1rem;
+}
+
+.icon > svg {
+  width: 1rem;
+  height: 1rem;
+  display: block;
+}
+
+.feed-icon {
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  min-width: 16px;
+  margin-left: -18px !important;
+}
+
+.counter {
+  max-width: 100px;
+}
+
+.selectgroup {
+  position: relative;
+  display: block;
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+.selectgroup input {
+  opacity: 0;
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: -1;
+  top: 0; left: 0;
+}
+
+.selectgroup + .selectgroup {
+  margin-top: .25rem;
+}
+
+.selectgroup .selectgroup-label {
+  padding: .375rem .5rem;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+}
+
+.selectgroup > .selectgroup-label:hover {
+  background-color: #f8f9fa;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.selectgroup input:checked + .selectgroup-label {
+  background-color: var(--color-primary);
+  color: white;
+}
+
+.expanded {
+  transform: rotate(90deg);
+}
+
 @keyframes loading {
   0% {
     transform: rotate(0)
@@ -190,10 +195,6 @@ select.form-control:not([multiple]):not([size]) {
   z-index: 1;
 }
 
-.btn-link {
-  color: inherit;
-}
-
 .btn-default {
   border: 1px solid #ced4da;
   border-radius: .25rem;
@@ -206,9 +207,47 @@ select.form-control:not([multiple]):not([size]) {
   box-shadow: none;
 }
 
+.toolbar {
+  height: 2rem !important;
+  min-height: 2rem !important;
+}
+
+.toolbar-item {
+  display: inline-block;
+  background-color: transparent;
+  text-decoration: none;
+  user-select: none;
+  border: 1px solid transparent;
+  padding: .25rem .5rem;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  line-height: 2;
+  border-radius: .25rem;
+  color: inherit;
+
+  text-align: center;
+  vertical-align: middle;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+}
+
+.toolbar-item:hover {
+  background-color: #f3f3f3;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  color: inherit;
+}
+
+.toolbar-item:focus {
+  outline: none;
+}
+
+.toolbar-item:disabled {
+  opacity: 0.4;
+  cursor: not-allowed;
+}
+
+/* content */
+
 .content {
-  font-size: 1.2rem;
-  line-height: 1.6;
+  line-height: 1.5;
 }
 
 .content a:hover {
@@ -219,8 +258,3 @@ select.form-control:not([multiple]):not([size]) {
   border-left: 3px solid #22262a;
   padding-left: 1rem;
 }
-
-.content img {
-  width: 100%;
-  height: auto;
-}