diff --git a/src/main/resources/static/css/explore.css b/src/main/resources/static/css/explore.css
index 74b51d5..1248058 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/static/css/explore.css
+++ b/src/main/resources/static/css/explore.css
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ body, html {
   top: 50%;
   left: 50%;
   transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
-  font-family: 'Delius Swash Caps', cursive;;
+  font-family: 'Mali', cursive;;
   font-weight: 400;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/main/resources/static/css/view-recipe.css b/src/main/resources/static/css/view-recipe.css
index 34d9afe..4cdb930 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/static/css/view-recipe.css
+++ b/src/main/resources/static/css/view-recipe.css
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ body, html {
   font-family: 'Mali', cursive;
   background-color: var(--pale-yellow);
   overflow-x: hidden;
-  overflow-y: auto;
+  overflow-y: hidden;
 }
 
 /* =========================
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ body, html {
   height: 100%;
 }
 
-.body-left, .body-right {
+.body-left {
   position: sticky;
   flex-grow: 0;
-  width: 400px;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  width: 250px;
 }
 
 /* =========================
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ body, html {
   background-color: var(--peach);
   color: var(--dark);
   padding: 6px;
-  font-size: 1.75em;
+  font-size: 1.8em;
   font-weight: 900;
   letter-spacing: 1.5px;
   display: flex;
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ body, html {
   border: none;
   padding: 0;
   cursor: pointer;
-  height: 100px;
+  height: 85px;
   width: auto;
   border-radius: 8px;
   transition: transform 0.2s ease;
@@ -131,6 +132,8 @@ body, html {
   transform: scale(1.05);
 }
 
+
+
 /* =========================
    Floating Create Icon
 ========================= */
@@ -142,6 +145,28 @@ body, html {
   transition: transform 0.2s ease; 
 }
 
+.create_icon::after {
+  content: "Create a recipe";
+  display: none;
+  position: absolute;
+  left: 50%;
+  bottom: 100%;
+  transform: translateX(-50%);
+  background: var(--dark-yellow);
+  color: var(--dusty-red);
+  font-family: 'Mali', cursive;
+  font-size: 0.85em;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  padding: 4px 10px;
+  border-radius: 10px;
+}
+
+.create_icon:hover::after {
+  display: block;
+}
+
+
 .create_icon:hover {
   transform: scale(1.02);
 }
@@ -152,40 +177,6 @@ body, html {
   border-radius: 10%;
 }
 
-/* =========================
-   Right Sidebar
-========================= */
-.sidebar-right {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  justify-content: space-between;
-  align-items: center;
-  margin: 25px;
-  padding: 5px;
-  height: 75%;
-  border-radius: 20px;
-  z-index: 10;
-  background-color: var(--peach);
-  color: var(--dusty-red);
-  font-size: 1.6em;
-  font-weight: 900;
-  letter-spacing: 1.5px;
-}
-
-.sidebar-right ul {
-  list-style: none;
-  padding: 0;
-}
-
-.sidebar-right li {
-  margin-bottom: 5px;
-}
-
-.sidebar-right a {
-  color: var(--dusty-red);
-  text-decoration: none;
-}
-
 /* =========================
    Main Content Area
 ========================= */
@@ -195,82 +186,203 @@ body, html {
   display: flex;
   justify-content: center;
   align-items: flex-start;
-  overflow: scroll;
   height: 100%;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+  scrollbar-color: var(--dusty-red) transparent;
 }
 
 /* =========================
-   Recipe Cards Layout
+   Recipe Container
 ========================= */
-.recipe-card {
-  margin-top: 35px;
+.recipe-container {
   width: 100%;
+  max-width: 1100px;
+  margin: 35px auto;
   display: flex;
-  flex-wrap: wrap;
-  gap: 35px;
-  justify-content: flex-start;
-  flex-direction: row;
-  height: fit-content;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  justify-content: center;
 }
 
-a {
-  text-decoration: none; 
+.recipe-section {
+  border-radius: 20px;
+  padding: 18px 24px;
+  color: var(--dark);
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: row;
+  gap: 28px;
+  margin-bottom: 30px;
+  font-size: 1.05em;
+}
+
+.recipe-section h1 {
+  margin-top: 0;
+  font-size: 2.8em;
+}
+
+.recipe-section h2 {
+  margin-top: 0;
+}
+
+.left-view, .right-view {
+  flex: 1;
+  max-width: 500px;
+}
+
+/* Author */
+.recipe-author {
+  font-size: 1.4em;
+  margin-bottom: 20px;
+  color: var(--dusty-red); 
+}
+
+.recipe-author a{
+  font-size: 1.1em;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--dusty-red);
+  transition: background-color 0.1s ease;
+}
+
+.recipe-author a:hover{
+  color: var(--dusty-red-hover);
+}
+
+/* Image */
+.recipe-image-wrap {
+  margin-bottom: 36px;
+}
+
+.recipe-image-wrap img {
+  display: block;
+  width: 100%;
+  max-width: 700px;
+  max-height: 420px;
+  object-fit: cover;
+  border-radius: 16px;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+}
+
+.recipe-no-image {
+  margin-bottom: 28px;
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+
+/* Description */
+.recipe-description {
+  margin-bottom: 25px;
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+
+/* Meta row — prep, cook, servings, cost */
+.recipe-meta {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 20px;
+  margin-bottom: 30px;
+  font-size: 1.4em;
+}
+
+.recipe-meta p {
+  margin: 0;
+  color: var(--dusty-red);
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+
+.recipe-meta strong {
+  margin: 0;
   color: var(--dark);
 }
 
-/* =========================
-   Individual Card (Folder Style)
-========================= */
-.card {
-  position: relative; /* needed for tab */
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 10px;
-  flex: 1 1 260px;
-  max-width: 400px;
-  max-height: 200px;
-  padding: 25px 20px 20px; /* extra space for tab */
+/* Ingredients */
+.recipe-ingredients {
+  margin-bottom: 30px;
+  background: var(--dark-yellow);
   border-radius: 12px;
-  background: var(--peach);
+  padding: 16px;
 }
 
-/* Folder Tab */
-.card::before {
-  content: "";
-  position: absolute;
-  top: -16px;
-  left: 0px;
-  width: 100px;
-  height: 28px;
-  background: var(--peach);
-  border-radius: 6px 6px 0 0;
+.recipe-ingredients ul {
+  line-height: 1.8;
 }
 
-/* =========================
-   Card Content
-========================= */
-.card .card-text {
-  height: 100%;
-  overflow: hidden; /* the scroll bars were difficult to look at, the user can just view the recipe*/
-  font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif; 
-  color: var(--dark);                
+/* Steps */
+.recipe-steps {
+  font-weight: 500;
+  margin-bottom: 30px;
 }
 
-/* =========================
-   Card Image
-========================= */
-.card img {
+.recipe-steps ol {
+  line-height: 1.9;
+}
+
+/* Tags */
+.recipe-tags {
+  margin-bottom: 25px;
+  background: var(--dark-yellow);
+  border-radius: 12px;
+  padding: 16px;
+  color: var(--dusty-red);
+}
+
+.tag-list {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: 10px;
+}
+
+.tag-list span {
+  background: var(--pale-yellow);
+  padding: 8px 14px;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+}
+
+/* Bottom links */
+.recipe-links {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 20px;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  margin-top: 25px;
+}
+
+.recipe-links a {
+  color: var(--dusty-red);
+}
+
+.save-btn {
+  background: var(--dusty-red);
+  color: var(--dark-yellow);
+  border: none;
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  padding: 8px 18px;
+  margin-bottom: 60px;
+  font-family: 'Mali', cursive;
+  font-size: 1.4em;
+  width: 40%;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: background 0.1s ease;
+  align-self: center;
+}
+
+.save-btn:hover {
+  background: var(--dusty-red-hover);
+}
+
+.save-btn.saved {
+  background: var(--dark);
+  color: var(--pale-yellow);
+}
+
+/* Not found */
+.recipe-not-found {
   width: 100%;
-  height: 100px;
-  object-fit: cover;
-  border-radius: 8px;
+  max-width: 950px;
+  margin: 35px auto;
 }
 
-/* =========================
-   Card Columns
-========================= */
-.card-left,
-.card-right {
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-  width: 50%;
-}
+.recipe-not-found section {
+  background: var(--peach);
+  border-radius: 20px;
+  padding: 28px 32px;
+  color: var(--dark);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/resources/templates/view-recipe.html b/src/main/resources/templates/view-recipe.html
index 3195e67..c8cf433 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/templates/view-recipe.html
+++ b/src/main/resources/templates/view-recipe.html
@@ -39,100 +39,89 @@
 
     <!-- Main Content -->
     <main class="main-content">
-        <div th:if="${recipe != null}" style="width: 100%; max-width: 950px; margin: 35px auto;">
+    	<div th:if="${recipe != null}" class="recipe-container">
+        	<section class="recipe-section">
+        		<div class="left-view">
+            	<h1 th:text="${recipe.title}">Recipe Title</h1>
 
-            <section style="background: var(--peach); border-radius: 20px; padding: 18px 24px; color: var(--dark);">
-                <h1 style="margin-top: 0; font-size: 2.8em;" th:text="${recipe.title}">Recipe Title</h1>
+            	<p th:if="${recipe.userDto != null}" class="recipe-author">
+                	<strong>Author:</strong>
+                	<a th:href="@{/users/{id}(id=${recipe.userDto.id})}"
+                   	th:text="${recipe.userDto.effectiveDisplayName}">Author Name</a>
+            	</p>
+            	
+            	<div class="recipe-description">
+                	<h2>Description</h2>
+                	<p th:text="${recipe.description}">Recipe description</p>
+            	</div>
+            	
+            	<div class="recipe-ingredients">
+                	<h2>Ingredients</h2>
+                	<ul th:if="${recipe.ingredients != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.ingredients)}">
+                    	<li th:each="ingredient : ${recipe.ingredients}">
+                        	<span th:text="${ingredient.quantity}">1</span>
+                        	<span th:text="${ingredient.unit}">cup</span>
+                        	<span th:text="${ingredient.ingredientName}">Ingredient</span>
+                        	<span th:if="${ingredient.notes != null and !#strings.isEmpty(ingredient.notes)}"
+                              th:text="${'(' + ingredient.notes + ')'}">(notes)</span>
+                    	</li>
+                	</ul>
+                	<p th:unless="${recipe.ingredients != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.ingredients)}">No ingredients listed.</p>
+            	</div>
 
-                <p th:if="${recipe.userDto != null}" style="font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 20px;">
-                    <strong>Author:</strong>
-                    <a th:href="@{/users/{id}(id=${recipe.userDto.id})}"
-                       th:text="${recipe.userDto.displayName != null and !#strings.isEmpty(recipe.userDto.displayName) ? recipe.userDto.displayName : recipe.userDto.username}">
-                        Author Name
-                    </a>
-                </p>
+            	<div class="recipe-steps">
+                	<h2>Steps</h2>
+                	<ol th:if="${recipe.steps != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.steps)}">
+                    	<li th:each="step : ${recipe.steps}" th:text="${step.instruction}">Step instruction</li>
+                	</ol>
+                	<p th:unless="${recipe.steps != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.steps)}">No steps listed.</p>
+            	</div>
 
-                <div th:if="${recipe.images != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.images)}" style="margin-bottom: 28px;">
-                    <img th:src="${recipe.images[0].imageUrl}"
-                         alt="Recipe Image"
-                         style="display:block; width:100%; max-width:700px; max-height:420px; object-fit:cover; border-radius:16px; margin:0 auto;">
-                </div>
+            	</div>
+            	
+            	<div class="right-view">
+            	
+            	<div th:if="${recipe.images != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.images)}" class="recipe-image-wrap">
+                	<img th:src="${recipe.images[0].imageUrl}" alt="Recipe Image">
+            	</div>
 
-                <p th:unless="${recipe.images != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.images)}"
-                   style="margin-bottom: 28px; font-style: italic;">
-                    No image uploaded for this recipe.
-                </p>
+            	<p th:unless="${recipe.images != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.images)}" class="recipe-no-image">
+                	No image uploaded for this recipe.
+            	</p>
 
-                <div style="margin-bottom: 25px;">
-                    <h2>Description</h2>
-                    <p th:text="${recipe.description}">Recipe description</p>
-                </div>
+            	<div class="recipe-meta">
+                	<p><strong>Prep Time:</strong> <span th:text="${recipe.prepTimeMinutes}">0</span> minutes</p>
+                	<p><strong>Cook Time:</strong> <span th:text="${recipe.cookTimeMinutes}">0</span> minutes</p>
+                	<p><strong>Servings:</strong> <span th:text="${recipe.servings}">0</span></p>
+                	<p><strong>Cost:</strong> <span th:text="${#strings.repeat('$', recipe.cost)}">$</span></p>
+            	</div>
 
-                <div style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px; font-size: 1.1em;">
-                    <p><strong>Prep Time:</strong> <span th:text="${recipe.prepTimeMinutes}">0</span> minutes</p>
-                    <p><strong>Cook Time:</strong> <span th:text="${recipe.cookTimeMinutes}">0</span> minutes</p>
-                    <p><strong>Servings:</strong> <span th:text="${recipe.servings}">0</span></p>
-                    <p><strong>Cost:</strong> <span th:text="${#strings.repeat('$', recipe.cost)}">$</span></p>
-                </div>
 
-                <div style="margin-bottom: 30px;">
-                    <h2>Ingredients</h2>
-                    <ul th:if="${recipe.ingredients != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.ingredients)}" style="line-height: 1.8;">
-                        <li th:each="ingredient : ${recipe.ingredients}">
-                            <span th:text="${ingredient.quantity}">1</span>
-                            <span th:text="${ingredient.unit}">cup</span>
-                            <span th:text="${ingredient.ingredientName}">Ingredient</span>
-                            <span th:if="${ingredient.notes != null and !#strings.isEmpty(ingredient.notes)}"
-                                  th:text="${'(' + ingredient.notes + ')'}">(notes)</span>
-                        </li>
-                    </ul>
-                    <p th:unless="${recipe.ingredients != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.ingredients)}">No ingredients listed.</p>
-                </div>
+            	<div class="recipe-tags">
+                	<h2>Tags: </h2>
+                	<div th:if="${recipe.tags != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.tags)}" class="tag-list">
+                    	<span th:each="tag : ${recipe.tags}" th:text="${tag.name}">Tag</span>
+                	</div>
+                	<p th:unless="${recipe.tags != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.tags)}">No tags listed.</p>
+            	</div>
 
-                <div style="margin-bottom: 30px;">
-                    <h2>Steps</h2>
-                    <ol th:if="${recipe.steps != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.steps)}" style="line-height: 1.9;">
-                        <li th:each="step : ${recipe.steps}" th:text="${step.instruction}">Step instruction</li>
-                    </ol>
-                    <p th:unless="${recipe.steps != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.steps)}">No steps listed.</p>
-                </div>
+            	<div class="recipe-links">
+                	<a th:if="${recipe.userDto != null}"
+                   	th:href="@{/users/{id}(id=${recipe.userDto.id})}">View author's profile</a>
+            	</div>
+        	</section>
+        	
+        	<button class="save-btn" th:data-recipe-id="${recipe.id}">Save Recipe</button>
+    	</div>
 
-                <div style="margin-bottom: 25px;">
-                    <h2>Tags</h2>
-                    <div th:if="${recipe.tags != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.tags)}" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px;">
-                        <span th:each="tag : ${recipe.tags}"
-                              th:text="${tag.name}"
-                              style="background: var(--pale-yellow); padding: 8px 14px; border-radius: 999px; font-weight: 700;">
-                            Tag
-                        </span>
-                    </div>
-                    <p th:unless="${recipe.tags != null and !#lists.isEmpty(recipe.tags)}">No tags listed.</p>
-                </div>
+    	<div th:unless="${recipe != null}" class="recipe-not-found">
+        	<section>
+            	<h1>Recipe not found</h1>
+        	</section>
+    	</div>
+		</main>
 
-                <div style="display: flex; gap: 20px; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-top: 25px;">
-                    <a th:if="${recipe.userDto != null}"
-                       th:href="@{/users/{id}(id=${recipe.userDto.id})}">
-                        View author's profile
-                    </a>
-                    <a th:href="@{/explore}">Back to Explore</a>
-                </div>
-            </section>
-        </div>
-
-        <div th:unless="${recipe != null}" style="width: 100%; max-width: 950px; margin: 35px auto;">
-            <section style="background: var(--peach); border-radius: 20px; padding: 28px 32px; color: var(--dark);">
-                <h1>Recipe not found</h1>
-                <p><a th:href="@{/explore}">Back to Explore</a></p>
-            </section>
-        </div>
-    </main>
-
-    <!-- Right spacer/sidebar -->
-    <div class="body-right">
-        <div class="sidebar-right"></div>
-    </div>
-
-</div>
+	</div>
 
 </body>
 </html>
\ No newline at end of file