diff --git a/desktop/index.html b/desktop/index.html
index 9d11436..ff2fb02 100644
--- a/desktop/index.html
+++ b/desktop/index.html
@@ -105,11 +105,16 @@
             </div>
           </div>
           <div id="vd-stats" class="vd-stats"></div>
-          <!-- Video strip: remote (canvas) + local preview (video element) -->
-          <div id="vd-video-strip" class="vd-video-strip hidden">
-            <canvas id="vd-remote-video" class="vd-video-tile" width="320" height="180"></canvas>
-            <video  id="vd-local-video"  class="vd-video-tile" autoplay muted playsinline></video>
+        </div>
+
+        <!-- ═════ Video stage — full-screen overlay above drawer ═════ -->
+        <div id="vd-video-strip" class="vd-video-stage hidden">
+          <canvas id="vd-remote-video" class="vd-remote-stage" width="1280" height="720"></canvas>
+          <div id="vd-remote-placeholder" class="vd-remote-placeholder">
+            <div class="vd-placeholder-text">Waiting for remote video…</div>
+            <div id="vd-remote-counter" class="vd-placeholder-sub">0 frames received</div>
           </div>
+          <video id="vd-local-video" class="vd-local-pip" autoplay muted playsinline></video>
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/desktop/src/main.ts b/desktop/src/main.ts
index d2c8e7c..348da70 100644
--- a/desktop/src/main.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/main.ts
@@ -465,6 +465,9 @@ function leaveVoice() {
   if (statusInterval) { clearInterval(statusInterval); statusInterval = null; }
   stopCamera();
   remoteVideoActive = false;
+  remoteFrameCount = 0;
+  vdRemoteCounter.textContent = "0 frames received";
+  vdRemotePlaceholder.classList.remove("hidden");
   vdVideoStrip.classList.add("hidden");
   remoteCtx.clearRect(0, 0, vdRemoteVideo.width, vdRemoteVideo.height);
 }
@@ -535,6 +538,9 @@ vdCamBtn.addEventListener("click", () => {
 
 // ── Remote video display (Blocker 5) ─────────────────────────────
 const remoteCtx = vdRemoteVideo.getContext("2d")!;
+const vdRemotePlaceholder = document.getElementById("vd-remote-placeholder")!;
+const vdRemoteCounter = document.getElementById("vd-remote-counter")!;
+let remoteFrameCount = 0;
 
 listen("video:frame", (event: any) => {
   const { width, height, jpeg_b64 } = event.payload;
@@ -542,8 +548,11 @@ listen("video:frame", (event: any) => {
 
   remoteVideoActive = true;
   vdVideoStrip.classList.remove("hidden");
+  vdRemotePlaceholder.classList.add("hidden");
   vdRemoteVideo.width = width ?? vdRemoteVideo.width;
   vdRemoteVideo.height = height ?? vdRemoteVideo.height;
+  remoteFrameCount++;
+  if (remoteFrameCount === 1) console.log("first remote video frame:", width, "x", height);
 
   const img = new Image();
   img.onload = () => {
diff --git a/desktop/src/style.css b/desktop/src/style.css
index 8834f6d..47c25ce 100644
--- a/desktop/src/style.css
+++ b/desktop/src/style.css
@@ -316,20 +316,51 @@ body {
   padding: 2px 0 4px; white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;
 }
 
-/* Video strip in voice drawer */
-.vd-video-strip {
-  display: flex;
-  gap: 4px;
-  padding: 4px 0 2px;
-  overflow-x: auto;
-}
-.vd-video-tile {
-  width: 160px;
-  height: 90px;
-  border-radius: 6px;
+/* Full-screen video stage — overlays lobby/main when video is active */
+.vd-video-stage {
+  position: fixed;
+  top: 0;
+  left: 0;
+  right: 0;
+  bottom: 96px; /* leave room for voice drawer */
   background: #000;
+  z-index: 50;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+.vd-remote-stage {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  object-fit: contain;
+  background: #000;
+}
+.vd-remote-placeholder {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  color: #888;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  z-index: 1;
+}
+.vd-remote-placeholder.hidden { display: none; }
+.vd-placeholder-text { font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 8px; }
+.vd-placeholder-sub { font-size: 12px; opacity: 0.7; }
+.vd-local-pip {
+  position: absolute;
+  right: 16px;
+  bottom: 16px;
+  width: 200px;
+  height: 112px;
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  background: #111;
+  border: 2px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
   object-fit: cover;
-  flex-shrink: 0;
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+  z-index: 2;
 }
 
 /* Incoming call banner */