diff --git a/src/ui/app.rs b/src/ui/app.rs
index 92e10cb..62b0ece 100644
--- a/src/ui/app.rs
+++ b/src/ui/app.rs
@@ -1431,6 +1431,29 @@ impl App {
                 self.rgp_portrait = crate::ui::rgp::load_portrait_glb(&assets);
             }
 
+            // Read the agent's last explicit atmosphere from
+            // system/preferences/visual.md and restore the chrome. The agent
+            // writes this when she uses the atmosphere tool; the TUI reads it
+            // at conversation start so her choice survives restarts.
+            let pref_path = repo.root().join("system").join("preferences").join("visual.md");
+            if let Ok(content) = std::fs::read_to_string(&pref_path) {
+                if let Some(body) = content.strip_prefix("---\n") {
+                    if let Some(end) = body.find("\n---\n") {
+                        for line in body[..end].lines() {
+                            if let Some((key, val)) = line.split_once(':') {
+                                let key = key.trim();
+                                let val = val.trim().trim_matches('"');
+                                if key == "atmosphere" {
+                                    if let Some(atm) = crate::ui::atmosphere::Atmosphere::from_name(val) {
+                                        self.presence.transition_atmosphere(atm);
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             // Read energy balance from the agent's memfs. The file is written
             // by the backend after every turn (write_energy_balance in local.rs).
             // Parse the YAML frontmatter for generative/consumptive counts and
diff --git a/src/ui/atmosphere.rs b/src/ui/atmosphere.rs
index 8108f80..f8dfb6a 100644
--- a/src/ui/atmosphere.rs
+++ b/src/ui/atmosphere.rs
@@ -145,6 +145,29 @@ impl Atmosphere {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Parse an atmosphere from a preset name (case-insensitive, underscore-tolerant).
+    /// Returns `None` for unknown names and empty strings.
+    pub fn from_name(name: &str) -> Option<Self> {
+        let key = name.to_lowercase().replace(' ', "_");
+        match key.as_str() {
+            "" | "default" => Some(Atmosphere::Default),
+            "mint_tea" => Some(Atmosphere::MintTea),
+            "therapeutic_blue" => Some(Atmosphere::TherapeuticBlue),
+            "lavender_calm" => Some(Atmosphere::LavenderCalm),
+            "warm_amber" => Some(Atmosphere::WarmAmber),
+            "peach_sunset" => Some(Atmosphere::PeachSunset),
+            "autumn_browns" => Some(Atmosphere::AutumnBrowns),
+            "neon_glow" => Some(Atmosphere::NeonGlow),
+            "aurora_borealis" => Some(Atmosphere::AuroraBorealis),
+            "cherry_blossom" => Some(Atmosphere::CherryBlossom),
+            "ocean_depths" => Some(Atmosphere::OceanDepths),
+            "midnight_galaxy" => Some(Atmosphere::MidnightGalaxy),
+            "twilight_mist" => Some(Atmosphere::TwilightMist),
+            "forest_greens" => Some(Atmosphere::ForestGreens),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Map a posture to a default atmosphere (when none is explicitly set).
     pub fn from_posture(posture: crate::ui::presence::Posture) -> Self {
         use crate::ui::presence::Posture;