diff --git a/server/handlers.go b/server/handlers.go
index e1bc47a..2104413 100644
--- a/server/handlers.go
+++ b/server/handlers.go
@@ -259,6 +259,15 @@ func FeedHandler(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 	}
 }
 
+func findItems(db *storage.Storage, filter storage.ItemFilter) []storage.Item {
+	statusFilter := db.GetSettingsValue("filter")
+	if statusFilter != nil && len(statusFilter.(string)) != 0 {
+		status := storage.StatusValues[statusFilter.(string)]
+		filter.Status = &status
+	}
+	return db.ListItems(filter)	
+}
+
 func FeedItemsHandler(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 	id, err := strconv.ParseInt(Vars(req)["id"], 10, 64)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -266,7 +275,7 @@ func FeedItemsHandler(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 	rw.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
-	items := db(req).ListItems(storage.ItemFilter{FeedID: &id})
+	items := findItems(db(req), storage.ItemFilter{FeedID: &id})
 	writeJSON(rw, items)
 }
 
@@ -303,7 +312,7 @@ func FolderItemsHandler(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 			rw.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
 			return
 		}
-		items := db(req).ListItems(storage.ItemFilter{FolderID: &id})
+		items := findItems(db(req), storage.ItemFilter{FolderID: &id})
 		writeJSON(rw, items)
 	} else {
 		rw.WriteHeader(http.StatusMethodNotAllowed)
@@ -312,7 +321,7 @@ func FolderItemsHandler(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 
 func ItemListHandler(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 	if req.Method == "GET" {
-		items := db(req).ListItems(storage.ItemFilter{})
+		items := findItems(db(req), storage.ItemFilter{})
 		writeJSON(rw, items)
 	} else {
 		rw.WriteHeader(http.StatusMethodNotAllowed)
diff --git a/storage/settings.go b/storage/settings.go
index a3209bd..700b605 100644
--- a/storage/settings.go
+++ b/storage/settings.go
@@ -10,6 +10,21 @@ func settingsDefaults() map[string]interface{} {
 	}
 }
 
+func (s *Storage) GetSettingsValue(key string) interface{} {
+	row := s.db.QueryRow(`select val from settings where key=?`, key)
+	if row == nil {
+		return settingsDefaults()[key]
+	}
+	var val []byte
+	row.Scan(&val)
+	var valDecoded interface{}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(val), &valDecoded); err != nil {
+		s.log.Print(err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return valDecoded
+}
+
 func (s *Storage) GetSettings() map[string]interface{} {
 	result := settingsDefaults()		
 	rows, err := s.db.Query(`select key, val from settings;`)
diff --git a/template/static/javascripts/app.js b/template/static/javascripts/app.js
index 05b8b84..71e4072 100644
--- a/template/static/javascripts/app.js
+++ b/template/static/javascripts/app.js
@@ -3,17 +3,16 @@
 var vm = new Vue({
   el: '#app',
   created: function() {
-    this.refresh()
     var vm = this
     api.settings.get().then(function(data) {
-      console.log(1)
       vm.filterSelected = data.filter
-      console.log(1)
+      vm.refreshItems()
     })
+    this.refreshFeeds()
   },
   data: function() {
     return {
-      'filterSelected': 'all',
+      'filterSelected': null,
       'folders': [],
       'feeds': [],
       'feedSelected': null,
@@ -48,17 +47,40 @@ var vm = new Vue({
     },
   },
   watch: {
-    'filterSelected': function(newVal) {
+    'filterSelected': function(newVal, oldVal) {
+      if (oldVal === null) return  // do nothing, initial setup
+      var vm = this
       api.settings.update({filter: newVal}).then(function() {
-        this.$emit('refresh:items')
-      }.bind(this))
+        vm.refreshItems()
+      })
     },
     'feedSelected': function(newVal, oldVal) {
+      this.refreshItems()
+    },
+    'itemSelected': function(newVal, oldVal) {
+      this.itemSelectedDetails = this.itemsById[newVal]
+      if (this.itemSelectedDetails.status == 'unread') {
+        this.itemSelectedDetails.status = 'read'
+        api.items.update(this.itemSelectedDetails.id, {status: this.itemSelectedDetails.status})
+      }
+    },
+  },
+  methods: {
+    refreshFeeds: function() {
+      var vm = this
+      Promise
+        .all([api.folders.list(), api.feeds.list()])
+        .then(function(values) {
+          vm.folders = values[0]
+          vm.feeds = values[1]
+        })
+    },
+    refreshItems: function() {
       var promise = null
-      if (newVal === null) {
+      if (!this.feedSelected) {
         promise = api.items.list()
       } else {
-        var parts = newVal.split(':', 2)
+        var parts = this.feedSelected.split(':', 2)
         var type = parts[0]
         var guid = parts[1]
         if (type === 'feed') {
@@ -71,24 +93,6 @@ var vm = new Vue({
         vm.items = items
       })
     },
-    'itemSelected': function(newVal, oldVal) {
-      this.itemSelectedDetails = this.itemsById[newVal]
-      if (this.itemSelectedDetails.status == 'unread') {
-        this.itemSelectedDetails.status = 'read'
-        api.items.update(this.itemSelectedDetails.id, {status: this.itemSelectedDetails.status})
-      }
-    },
-  },
-  methods: {
-    refresh: function() {
-      var vm = this
-      Promise
-        .all([api.folders.list(), api.feeds.list()])
-        .then(function(values) {
-          vm.folders = values[0]
-          vm.feeds = values[1]
-        })
-    },
     toggleFolderExpanded: function(folder) {
       folder.is_expanded = !folder.is_expanded
     },