diff --git a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/boundary/schema/GatewayEvent.ts b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/boundary/schema/GatewayEvent.ts
index e817544a689..8a82e50a4ee 100644
--- a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/boundary/schema/GatewayEvent.ts
+++ b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/boundary/schema/GatewayEvent.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ const MessageDelta = Schema.Struct({
 const MessageComplete = Schema.Struct({
   type: Schema.Literal('message.complete'),
   session_id: opt(Str),
-  payload: opt(Schema.Struct({ text: opt(Str), rendered: opt(Str) }))
+  // `usage` carries the post-turn token/context totals → refreshes the status bar
+  // (item 14). Kept loose (Record) — the chrome reader narrows what it needs.
+  payload: opt(Schema.Struct({ text: opt(Str), rendered: opt(Str), usage: opt(Schema.Record(Str, Schema.Unknown)) }))
 })
 
 // reasoning / thinking — toTaggedUnion needs ONE literal per member, so the
diff --git a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/entry/main.tsx b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/entry/main.tsx
index 1b4f5463c9a..9d92217d2ec 100644
--- a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/entry/main.tsx
+++ b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/entry/main.tsx
@@ -60,10 +60,14 @@ const resumeInto = (gateway: GatewayServiceShape, store: SessionStore, sid: stri
   Effect.gen(function* () {
     store.beginBuffer()
     const t0 = Date.now()
-    const resumed = yield* gateway.request<{ messages?: unknown }>('session.resume', { cols, session_id: sid })
+    const resumed = yield* gateway.request<{ messages?: unknown; info?: Record<string, unknown> }>('session.resume', {
+      cols,
+      session_id: sid
+    })
     const t1 = Date.now()
     const snapshot = mapResumeHistory(resumed?.messages)
     store.commitSnapshot(snapshot)
+    if (resumed?.info) store.applyInfo(resumed.info)
     getLog().info('bootstrap', 'session resumed', {
       count: snapshot.length,
       hydrate_ms: Date.now() - t1,
@@ -106,12 +110,16 @@ const bootstrapSession = (gateway: GatewayServiceShape, store: SessionStore, inp
       }
       yield* resumeInto(gateway, store, sid, input.cols)
     } else {
-      const created = yield* gateway.request<{ session_id?: string }>('session.create', { cols: input.cols })
+      const created = yield* gateway.request<{ session_id?: string; info?: Record<string, unknown> }>(
+        'session.create',
+        { cols: input.cols }
+      )
       sid = created?.session_id ?? gateway.sessionId()
       if (!sid) {
         log.warn('bootstrap', 'session.create returned no session_id')
         return
       }
+      if (created?.info) store.applyInfo(created.info)
       log.info('bootstrap', 'session created', { sid })
     }
 
diff --git a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/logic/store.ts b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/logic/store.ts
index ade5cd387f2..2f52982e5b0 100644
--- a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/logic/store.ts
+++ b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/logic/store.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,26 @@ export interface SubagentInfo {
   lastTool?: string
 }
 
+/**
+ * Live session chrome (the status bar — item 14). Sourced from the `session.info`
+ * event (and the `session.create`/`resume` result's `info`), refreshed whenever
+ * the gateway's agent/config state changes. `running` is the turn-active flag the
+ * Ctrl-C interrupt (item 11) reads; we also flip it locally on message.start/
+ * complete so the bar reacts instantly even if a `session.info` lags.
+ */
+export interface SessionInfo {
+  model?: string
+  effort?: string
+  fast?: boolean
+  cwd?: string
+  branch?: string
+  running?: boolean
+  contextUsed?: number
+  contextMax?: number
+  contextPercent?: number
+  compressions?: number
+}
+
 export interface StoreState {
   ready: boolean
   messages: Message[]
@@ -126,6 +146,8 @@ export interface StoreState {
   /** Transient busy indicator (the kaomoji face/verb from `thinking.delta`/`status.update`);
    *  shown above the composer WHILE a turn runs, cleared on `message.complete`. NOT transcript. */
   status: string | undefined
+  /** Live session chrome for the status bar (model/effort/cwd/branch/context/running). */
+  info: SessionInfo
 }
 
 const LRU_LIMIT = 1000
@@ -142,6 +164,51 @@ function readNum(payload: { readonly [k: string]: unknown }, key: string): numbe
   return typeof v === 'number' ? v : 0
 }
 
+/** Read an optional number (undefined when absent) — distinguishes "0" from "missing". */
+function readOptNum(payload: { readonly [k: string]: unknown }, key: string): number | undefined {
+  const v = payload[key]
+  return typeof v === 'number' ? v : undefined
+}
+
+/** Read a boolean field (undefined when absent). */
+function readOptBool(payload: { readonly [k: string]: unknown }, key: string): boolean | undefined {
+  const v = payload[key]
+  return typeof v === 'boolean' ? v : undefined
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fold a `session.info` / `session.create.info` / `session.usage` payload into a
+ * partial SessionInfo, reading context/usage fields from either a nested `usage`
+ * object or the top level (the gateway shapes vary by RPC vs event — §gateway map).
+ */
+function readInfoPatch(payload: { readonly [k: string]: unknown }): Partial<SessionInfo> {
+  const usageRaw = payload['usage']
+  const usage: { readonly [k: string]: unknown } =
+    usageRaw && typeof usageRaw === 'object' ? (usageRaw as { readonly [k: string]: unknown }) : {}
+  const patch: Partial<SessionInfo> = {}
+  const model = readStr(payload, 'model')
+  if (model) patch.model = model
+  const effort = readStr(payload, 'reasoning_effort')
+  if (effort) patch.effort = effort
+  const fast = readOptBool(payload, 'fast')
+  if (fast !== undefined) patch.fast = fast
+  const cwd = readStr(payload, 'cwd')
+  if (cwd) patch.cwd = cwd
+  const branch = readStr(payload, 'branch')
+  if (branch) patch.branch = branch
+  const running = readOptBool(payload, 'running')
+  if (running !== undefined) patch.running = running
+  const used = readOptNum(usage, 'context_used') ?? readOptNum(payload, 'context_used')
+  if (used !== undefined) patch.contextUsed = used
+  const max = readOptNum(usage, 'context_max') ?? readOptNum(payload, 'context_max')
+  if (max !== undefined) patch.contextMax = max
+  const pct = readOptNum(usage, 'context_percent') ?? readOptNum(payload, 'context_percent')
+  if (pct !== undefined) patch.contextPercent = pct
+  const comp = readOptNum(usage, 'compressions') ?? readOptNum(payload, 'compressions')
+  if (comp !== undefined) patch.compressions = comp
+  return patch
+}
+
 /** The subagent status implied by an event type (an explicit payload `status` wins). */
 function subagentStatusFor(type: string): string {
   if (type === 'subagent.complete') return 'complete'
@@ -163,7 +230,8 @@ export function createSessionStore() {
     completions: undefined,
     subagents: [],
     dashboard: false,
-    status: undefined
+    status: undefined,
+    info: {}
   })
 
   // Monotonic part id (stable `key` per part so a new tool part below a streaming
@@ -296,6 +364,12 @@ export function createSessionStore() {
     setState('picker', undefined)
   }
 
+  /** Merge a session-info patch into the chrome state (status bar — item 14). */
+  function applyInfo(raw: { readonly [k: string]: unknown }): void {
+    const patch = readInfoPatch(raw)
+    if (Object.keys(patch).length) setState('info', prev => ({ ...prev, ...patch }))
+  }
+
   /** Set / clear the live slash-completion candidates (composer dropdown). */
   function setCompletions(items: CompletionItem[]) {
     setState('completions', items.length ? items : undefined)
@@ -322,8 +396,12 @@ export function createSessionStore() {
       case 'skin.changed':
         setSkin(event.payload)
         break
+      case 'session.info':
+        applyInfo(event.payload)
+        break
       case 'message.start':
         setState('status', undefined)
+        setState('info', prev => ({ ...prev, running: true }))
         setState(
           produce(draft => {
             draft.messages.push({ role: 'assistant', text: '', parts: [], streaming: true })
@@ -355,6 +433,9 @@ export function createSessionStore() {
           })
         )
         setState('status', undefined)
+        setState('info', prev => ({ ...prev, running: false }))
+        // message.complete carries the latest usage/context — refresh the bar.
+        if (event.payload) applyInfo(event.payload)
         break
       // thinking.delta / status.update are the TRANSIENT busy indicator (kaomoji
       // face/verb) — route them to the status line, NOT the transcript (gotcha: Ink
@@ -516,6 +597,7 @@ export function createSessionStore() {
     closePicker,
     setCompletions,
     clearCompletions,
+    applyInfo,
     openDashboard,
     closeDashboard,
     hydrate,
diff --git a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/test/render.test.tsx b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/test/render.test.tsx
index 01a02b1ebe4..0756817c1e7 100644
--- a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/test/render.test.tsx
+++ b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/test/render.test.tsx
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ describe('App render (Phase 1, themed)', () => {
           <App store={store} />
         </ThemeProvider>
       ),
-      { until: 'Approval required', width: 72, height: 18 }
+      { until: 'Approval required', width: 72, height: 24 }
     )
 
     expect(frame).toContain('Approval required')
@@ -177,6 +177,34 @@ describe('App render (Phase 1, themed)', () => {
     expect(frame).toContain('Tab complete') // dropdown hint
   })
 
+  test('the status bar renders model · context% · cwd (item 14)', async () => {
+    const store = createSessionStore()
+    store.apply({ type: 'gateway.ready' })
+    store.apply({
+      type: 'session.info',
+      payload: {
+        model: 'anthropic/claude-opus-4-8',
+        cwd: '/tmp/proj',
+        branch: 'main',
+        usage: { context_percent: 42 }
+      }
+    })
+
+    const frame = await captureFrame(
+      () => (
+        <ThemeProvider theme={() => store.state.theme}>
+          <App store={store} />
+        </ThemeProvider>
+      ),
+      { until: 'claude-opus', width: 72, height: 18 }
+    )
+
+    expect(frame).toContain('claude-opus-4-8') // model (provider prefix trimmed)
+    expect(frame).toContain('42%') // context usage percent
+    expect(frame).toContain('/tmp/proj') // cwd
+    expect(frame).toContain('main') // branch
+  })
+
   test('the agents dashboard renders the subagent tree and replaces the transcript', async () => {
     const store = createSessionStore()
     store.apply({ type: 'gateway.ready' })
diff --git a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/test/store.test.ts b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/test/store.test.ts
index 89f16375d5a..583ff099eb3 100644
--- a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/test/store.test.ts
+++ b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/test/store.test.ts
@@ -199,6 +199,49 @@ describe('session store — subagents (Phase 5e agents dashboard)', () => {
   })
 })
 
+describe('session store — session chrome / status bar (item 14)', () => {
+  test('session.info populates model/effort/cwd/branch and nested usage context', () => {
+    const store = createSessionStore()
+    store.apply({
+      type: 'session.info',
+      payload: {
+        model: 'anthropic/claude-opus-4-8',
+        reasoning_effort: 'high',
+        fast: true,
+        cwd: '/home/x/proj',
+        branch: 'main',
+        running: false,
+        usage: { context_used: 42000, context_max: 200000, context_percent: 21 }
+      }
+    })
+    const info = store.state.info
+    expect(info.model).toBe('anthropic/claude-opus-4-8')
+    expect(info.effort).toBe('high')
+    expect(info.fast).toBe(true)
+    expect(info.cwd).toBe('/home/x/proj')
+    expect(info.branch).toBe('main')
+    expect(info.contextPercent).toBe(21)
+    expect(info.contextMax).toBe(200000)
+  })
+
+  test('message.start sets running, message.complete clears it + refreshes usage', () => {
+    const store = createSessionStore()
+    store.apply({ type: 'message.start' })
+    expect(store.state.info.running).toBe(true)
+    store.apply({ type: 'message.delta', payload: { text: 'hi' } })
+    store.apply({ type: 'message.complete', payload: { usage: { context_percent: 33 } } })
+    expect(store.state.info.running).toBe(false)
+    expect(store.state.info.contextPercent).toBe(33)
+  })
+
+  test('applyInfo merges a session.create info patch without clobbering prior fields', () => {
+    const store = createSessionStore()
+    store.applyInfo({ model: 'gpt-5.4', cwd: '/tmp' })
+    store.applyInfo({ branch: 'dev' }) // partial patch — model/cwd must survive
+    expect(store.state.info).toMatchObject({ model: 'gpt-5.4', cwd: '/tmp', branch: 'dev' })
+  })
+})
+
 describe('session store — resume hydrate (Phase 4b)', () => {
   test('beginBuffer + commitSnapshot replaces history then replays events buffered across the resume', () => {
     const store = createSessionStore()
diff --git a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/view/App.tsx b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/view/App.tsx
index 4dd4468b97d..eda0cb44539 100644
--- a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/view/App.tsx
+++ b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/view/App.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ import { Pager } from './overlays/pager.tsx'
 import { Picker } from './overlays/picker.tsx'
 import { SessionSwitcher } from './overlays/sessionSwitcher.tsx'
 import { PromptOverlay } from './prompts/promptOverlay.tsx'
+import { StatusBar } from './statusBar.tsx'
 import { StatusLine } from './statusLine.tsx'
+import { useTheme } from './theme.tsx'
 import { Transcript } from './transcript.tsx'
 
 export interface AppProps {
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@ const NOOP_RESUME = () => {}
 const NO_SESSION = () => undefined
 
 export function App(props: AppProps) {
+  const theme = useTheme()
   const blocked = () => props.store.state.prompt !== undefined
   const pager = () => props.store.state.pager
   const dashboard = () => props.store.state.dashboard
@@ -65,41 +68,51 @@ export function App(props: AppProps) {
         fallback={
           <>
             <Transcript store={props.store} />
+            {/* transient busy face floats at the bottom of the transcript area */}
             <StatusLine store={props.store} />
-            <Switch
-              fallback={
-                <Composer
-                  onSubmit={props.onSubmit ?? NOOP}
-                  onType={props.onType}
-                  completions={() => props.store.state.completions ?? []}
-                  onDismiss={() => props.store.clearCompletions()}
-                />
-              }
+            {/* input region — a top-edge rule separates the status bar + textbox from the
+                transcript above; the status bar sits directly ABOVE the composer (item 14). */}
+            <box
+              border={['top']}
+              borderColor={theme().color.border}
+              style={{ flexShrink: 0, flexDirection: 'column' }}
             >
-              <Match when={blocked()}>
-                <PromptOverlay
-                  store={props.store}
-                  onRespond={props.onRespond ?? NOOP_RESPOND}
-                  sessionId={props.sessionId ?? NO_SESSION}
-                />
-              </Match>
-              <Match when={switcher()}>
-                {sessions => <SessionSwitcher sessions={sessions()} onPick={resume} onClose={closeSwitcher} />}
-              </Match>
-              <Match when={picker()}>
-                {p => (
-                  <Picker
-                    title={p().title}
-                    items={p().items}
-                    onPick={value => {
-                      p().onPick(value)
-                      closePicker()
-                    }}
-                    onClose={closePicker}
+              <StatusBar store={props.store} />
+              <Switch
+                fallback={
+                  <Composer
+                    onSubmit={props.onSubmit ?? NOOP}
+                    onType={props.onType}
+                    completions={() => props.store.state.completions ?? []}
+                    onDismiss={() => props.store.clearCompletions()}
                   />
-                )}
-              </Match>
-            </Switch>
+                }
+              >
+                <Match when={blocked()}>
+                  <PromptOverlay
+                    store={props.store}
+                    onRespond={props.onRespond ?? NOOP_RESPOND}
+                    sessionId={props.sessionId ?? NO_SESSION}
+                  />
+                </Match>
+                <Match when={switcher()}>
+                  {sessions => <SessionSwitcher sessions={sessions()} onPick={resume} onClose={closeSwitcher} />}
+                </Match>
+                <Match when={picker()}>
+                  {p => (
+                    <Picker
+                      title={p().title}
+                      items={p().items}
+                      onPick={value => {
+                        p().onPick(value)
+                        closePicker()
+                      }}
+                      onClose={closePicker}
+                    />
+                  )}
+                </Match>
+              </Switch>
+            </box>
           </>
         }
       >
diff --git a/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/view/statusBar.tsx b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/view/statusBar.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fbdd9c00e5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui-tui-opentui-v2/src/view/statusBar.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+/**
+ * StatusBar — the persistent bottom chrome (spec §3; Ink's `appChrome.tsx`
+ * StatusRule, item 14). One themed row pinned below the input zone:
+ *
+ *   ● model ·effort   ████░░░░ 42%                              ~/dir (branch)
+ *
+ * Fields are sourced from `store.state.info` (the `session.info` event +
+ * session.create/resume result; see store `SessionInfo`). Width-aware (Ink's
+ * `statusRuleWidths` progressive disclosure): the context bar drops on narrow
+ * terminals and the cwd is left-truncated (`…/tail`) so the row NEVER wraps or
+ * clips. Read-only chrome — no input handling here.
+ */
+import { useTerminalDimensions } from '@opentui/solid'
+import { createMemo, Show } from 'solid-js'
+
+import { useTheme } from './theme.tsx'
+import type { SessionStore } from '../logic/store.ts'
+
+const HOME = process.env.HOME ?? ''
+const CTX_BAR_CELLS = 8
+
+/** `anthropic/claude-opus-4-8` → `claude-opus-4-8`; trims the provider prefix (Ink shortModelLabel). */
+function shortModel(model: string): string {
+  return model.includes('/') ? (model.split('/').at(-1) ?? model) : model
+}
+
+/** Reasoning effort → a compact suffix; hidden for the default/medium effort. */
+function effortSuffix(effort: string | undefined, fast: boolean | undefined): string {
+  const parts: string[] = []
+  if (effort && effort !== 'medium' && effort !== 'default') parts.push(effort)
+  if (fast) parts.push('fast')
+  return parts.length ? ` ·${parts.join('·')}` : ''
+}
+
+/** Abbreviate cwd with `~` for $HOME, then collapse to the last two path segments
+ *  (`…/lively-thrush/hermes-agent`) so deep worktree paths stay readable (Ink fmtCwdBranch). */
+function shortCwd(cwd: string): string {
+  const home = HOME && (cwd === HOME || cwd.startsWith(HOME + '/')) ? '~' + cwd.slice(HOME.length) : cwd
+  const segs = home.split('/').filter(Boolean)
+  return segs.length <= 3 ? home : '…/' + segs.slice(-2).join('/')
+}
+
+/** Keep the TAIL of a string, prefixing with `…` when it must be clipped. */
+function truncLeft(s: string, max: number): string {
+  if (max <= 1) return s.length > max ? '…' : s
+  return s.length <= max ? s : '…' + s.slice(s.length - max + 1)
+}
+
+/** A unicode meter: `████░░░░` filled to `pct`% over `width` cells (Ink ctxBar). */
+function ctxBar(pct: number, width: number): string {
+  const filled = Math.max(0, Math.min(width, Math.round((pct / 100) * width)))
+  return '█'.repeat(filled) + '░'.repeat(width - filled)
+}
+
+export function StatusBar(props: { store: SessionStore }) {
+  const theme = useTheme()
+  const dims = useTerminalDimensions()
+  const info = () => props.store.state.info
+
+  // Context-bar colour escalates with pressure (Ink ctxBarColor good→warn→bad→critical).
+  const ctxColor = (pct: number) =>
+    pct >= 92
+      ? theme().color.statusCritical
+      : pct >= 80
+        ? theme().color.statusBad
+        : pct >= 60
+          ? theme().color.statusWarn
+          : theme().color.statusGood
+
+  const dot = () => (info().running ? '◐' : props.store.state.ready ? '●' : '○')
+  const dotColor = () =>
+    info().running ? theme().color.statusWarn : props.store.state.ready ? theme().color.statusGood : theme().color.muted
+
+  const model = () => (info().model ? shortModel(info().model!) : '')
+  const effort = () => effortSuffix(info().effort, info().fast)
+  const pct = () => info().contextPercent
+
+  // Progressive disclosure budget (the row is `width - 2` after the box padding).
+  // left = dot+space+model+effort ; the context bar shows only when there's room.
+  const showBar = createMemo(() => pct() !== undefined && dims().width >= 64)
+  const ctxText = () => (showBar() ? `${ctxBar(pct()!, CTX_BAR_CELLS)} ${pct()}%` : '')
+
+  // Right side: cwd (branch), left-truncated to whatever the left side leaves.
+  const cwdFull = createMemo(() => {
+    const c = info().cwd ? shortCwd(info().cwd!) : ''
+    if (!c) return ''
+    return info().branch ? `${c} (${info().branch})` : c
+  })
+  const rightText = createMemo(() => {
+    const leftLen = 2 + model().length + effort().length + (showBar() ? ctxText().length + 3 : 0)
+    const budget = dims().width - 2 - leftLen - 2 // box padding + a 2-col gap
+    return budget > 4 ? truncLeft(cwdFull(), budget) : ''
+  })
+
+  return (
+    <box
+      style={{
+        flexShrink: 0,
+        flexDirection: 'row',
+        backgroundColor: theme().color.statusBg,
+        paddingLeft: 1,
+        paddingRight: 1
+      }}
+    >
+      {/* left: turn/connection dot + model + effort + context bar */}
+      <box style={{ flexShrink: 0, flexDirection: 'row' }}>
+        <text>
+          <span style={{ fg: dotColor() }}>{dot()}</span>
+          <Show when={model()}>
+            <span style={{ fg: theme().color.statusFg }}>{` ${model()}`}</span>
+            <span style={{ fg: theme().color.muted }}>{effort()}</span>
+          </Show>
+          <Show when={showBar()}>
+            <span style={{ fg: theme().color.muted }}>{'   '}</span>
+            <span style={{ fg: ctxColor(pct()!) }}>{ctxBar(pct()!, CTX_BAR_CELLS)}</span>
+            <span style={{ fg: theme().color.statusFg }}>{` ${pct()}%`}</span>
+          </Show>
+        </text>
+      </box>
+
+      {/* spacer pushes the cwd to the right edge */}
+      <box style={{ flexGrow: 1, minWidth: 0 }} />
+
+      {/* right: cwd (branch), pre-truncated so the row never wraps */}
+      <Show when={rightText()}>
+        <box style={{ flexShrink: 0, flexDirection: 'row' }}>
+          <text>
+            <span style={{ fg: theme().color.muted }}>{rightText()}</span>
+          </text>
+        </box>
+      </Show>
+    </box>
+  )
+}