diff --git a/src/components/InputPanel.tsx b/src/components/InputPanel.tsx
index c9cd33e..333c60d 100644
--- a/src/components/InputPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/InputPanel.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import {
   Flame,
   Wand2,
 } from "lucide-react";
-import { EqualizerIcon } from "./EqualizerIcon";
 import type { InputValues, Language, Vocals } from "../lib/types";
 import { formatElapsed, useElapsed } from "../lib/useElapsed";
 import { randomStyle } from "../lib/llm";
@@ -123,16 +122,6 @@ export function InputPanel({
 
   return (
     <form onSubmit={submit} className="space-y-6">
-      {/* Brand */}
-      <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5">
-        <EqualizerIcon size={22} className="shrink-0" />
-        <div>
-          <h1 className="text-lg font-semibold tracking-tight gradient-text leading-none">
-            MelodyMuse
-          </h1>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-
       {/* Main textarea */}
       <div>
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2">
@@ -157,7 +146,7 @@ export function InputPanel({
           value={values.idea}
           onChange={(e) => set("idea", e.target.value)}
           onKeyDown={onCmdEnter}
-          rows={4}
+          rows={5}
           placeholder="Describe your music idea…"
           className="textarea text-[15px] leading-relaxed"
           required
diff --git a/src/pages/HomePage.tsx b/src/pages/HomePage.tsx
index 38d617c..ac137ec 100644
--- a/src/pages/HomePage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/HomePage.tsx
@@ -96,18 +96,24 @@ export function HomePage() {
     return () => window.clearTimeout(id);
   }, [input]);
 
-  // Check the server on mount. If unreachable, surface a quiet header hint.
+  // Check the server on mount and re-check periodically so the header
+  // "Server offline" hint stays current without a manual refresh.
   useEffect(() => {
-    const ctrl = new AbortController();
-    (async () => {
+    let cancelled = false;
+    const check = async () => {
       try {
-        const s = await getServerStatus(ctrl.signal);
-        setServerOk(Boolean(s.ok));
+        const s = await getServerStatus();
+        if (!cancelled) setServerOk(Boolean(s.ok));
       } catch {
-        setServerOk(false);
+        if (!cancelled) setServerOk(false);
       }
-    })();
-    return () => ctrl.abort();
+    };
+    check();
+    const id = window.setInterval(check, 30_000);
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+      window.clearInterval(id);
+    };
   }, []);
 
   // Clean up any in-flight request on unmount.