diff --git a/frontend/src/views/ProjectListView.vue b/frontend/src/views/ProjectListView.vue
index edd331e..d21b3f3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/ProjectListView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/ProjectListView.vue
@@ -16,11 +16,15 @@ interface MilestoneSummary {
 
 interface Project {
   id: number;
+  user_id: number;
   title: string;
   description: string | null;
   goal: string | null;
   status: "active" | "completed" | "archived";
   color: string | null;
+  auto_summary: string | null;
+  permission?: string;
+  is_shared?: boolean;
   created_at: string;
   updated_at: string;
   summary?: {
@@ -54,19 +58,8 @@ async function loadProjects() {
   loading.value = true;
   error.value = null;
   try {
-    const data = await apiGet<{ projects: Project[] }>("/api/projects");
+    const data = await apiGet<{ projects: Project[] }>("/api/projects?include_summary=true");
     projects.value = data.projects;
-    // Fetch summaries (including milestone_summary) in parallel
-    await Promise.allSettled(
-      projects.value.map(async (p) => {
-        try {
-          const full = await apiGet<Project>(`/api/projects/${p.id}`);
-          p.summary = full.summary;
-        } catch {
-          // non-fatal
-        }
-      })
-    );
   } catch {
     error.value = "Failed to load projects.";
   } finally {
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/ProjectView.vue b/frontend/src/views/ProjectView.vue
index c8d61c1..299599b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/ProjectView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/ProjectView.vue
@@ -19,11 +19,14 @@ interface Milestone {
 
 interface Project {
   id: number;
+  user_id: number;
   title: string;
   description: string | null;
   goal: string | null;
   status: "active" | "completed" | "archived";
   color: string | null;
+  auto_summary: string | null;
+  permission?: string;
   created_at: string;
   updated_at: string;
   summary?: {
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/models/project.py b/src/fabledassistant/models/project.py
index 213f614..9c61ea8 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/models/project.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/models/project.py
@@ -29,11 +29,13 @@ class Project(Base, TimestampMixin):
     def to_dict(self) -> dict:
         return {
             "id": self.id,
+            "user_id": self.user_id,
             "title": self.title,
             "description": self.description,
             "goal": self.goal,
             "status": self.status,
             "color": self.color,
+            "auto_summary": self.auto_summary,
             "created_at": self.created_at.isoformat(),
             "updated_at": self.updated_at.isoformat(),
         }
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/routes/milestones.py b/src/fabledassistant/routes/milestones.py
index d50ddfe..dfedbc0 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/routes/milestones.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/routes/milestones.py
@@ -5,16 +5,17 @@ from quart import Blueprint, jsonify, request
 
 from fabledassistant.auth import login_required, get_current_user_id
 from fabledassistant.routes.utils import not_found, parse_pagination
+from fabledassistant.services.access import can_write_project
 from fabledassistant.services.milestones import (
     create_milestone,
     delete_milestone,
-    get_milestone,
+    get_milestone_in_project,
     get_milestone_progress,
     list_milestones,
     update_milestone,
 )
 from fabledassistant.services.notes import list_notes
-from fabledassistant.services.projects import get_project
+from fabledassistant.services.projects import get_project_for_user
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -31,22 +32,25 @@ async def _milestone_dict(m) -> dict:
 @login_required
 async def list_milestones_route(project_id: int):
     uid = get_current_user_id()
-    project = await get_project(uid, project_id)
-    if project is None:
+    result = await get_project_for_user(uid, project_id)
+    if result is None:
         return not_found("Project")
+    project, _ = result
+    # List milestones using the project owner's uid so ownership filter matches
+    owner_uid = project.user_id or uid
     status = request.args.get("status")
-    milestones = await list_milestones(uid, project_id, status=status)
-    result = [await _milestone_dict(m) for m in milestones]
-    return jsonify({"milestones": result})
+    milestones = await list_milestones(owner_uid, project_id, status=status)
+    return jsonify({"milestones": [await _milestone_dict(m) for m in milestones]})
 
 
 @milestones_bp.route("/<int:project_id>/milestones", methods=["POST"])
 @login_required
 async def create_milestone_route(project_id: int):
     uid = get_current_user_id()
-    project = await get_project(uid, project_id)
-    if project is None:
+    if await get_project_for_user(uid, project_id) is None:
         return not_found("Project")
+    if not await can_write_project(uid, project_id):
+        return jsonify({"error": "Permission denied"}), 403
     data = await request.get_json()
     if not data.get("title"):
         return jsonify({"error": "title is required"}), 400
@@ -68,8 +72,10 @@ async def create_milestone_route(project_id: int):
 @login_required
 async def get_milestone_route(project_id: int, milestone_id: int):
     uid = get_current_user_id()
-    milestone = await get_milestone(uid, milestone_id)
-    if milestone is None or milestone.project_id != project_id:
+    if await get_project_for_user(uid, project_id) is None:
+        return not_found("Project")
+    milestone = await get_milestone_in_project(project_id, milestone_id)
+    if milestone is None:
         return not_found("Milestone")
     return jsonify(await _milestone_dict(milestone))
 
@@ -78,13 +84,19 @@ async def get_milestone_route(project_id: int, milestone_id: int):
 @login_required
 async def update_milestone_route(project_id: int, milestone_id: int):
     uid = get_current_user_id()
-    milestone = await get_milestone(uid, milestone_id)
-    if milestone is None or milestone.project_id != project_id:
+    if await get_project_for_user(uid, project_id) is None:
+        return not_found("Project")
+    if not await can_write_project(uid, project_id):
+        return jsonify({"error": "Permission denied"}), 403
+    milestone = await get_milestone_in_project(project_id, milestone_id)
+    if milestone is None:
         return not_found("Milestone")
     data = await request.get_json()
     allowed = {"title", "description", "status", "order_index"}
     fields = {k: v for k, v in data.items() if k in allowed}
-    updated = await update_milestone(uid, milestone_id, **fields)
+    if "status" in fields and fields["status"] not in ("active", "done"):
+        return jsonify({"error": "status must be 'active' or 'done'"}), 400
+    updated = await update_milestone(milestone.user_id, milestone_id, **fields)
     if updated is None:
         return not_found("Milestone")
     return jsonify(await _milestone_dict(updated))
@@ -94,10 +106,14 @@ async def update_milestone_route(project_id: int, milestone_id: int):
 @login_required
 async def delete_milestone_route(project_id: int, milestone_id: int):
     uid = get_current_user_id()
-    milestone = await get_milestone(uid, milestone_id)
-    if milestone is None or milestone.project_id != project_id:
+    if await get_project_for_user(uid, project_id) is None:
+        return not_found("Project")
+    if not await can_write_project(uid, project_id):
+        return jsonify({"error": "Permission denied"}), 403
+    milestone = await get_milestone_in_project(project_id, milestone_id)
+    if milestone is None:
         return not_found("Milestone")
-    deleted = await delete_milestone(uid, milestone_id)
+    deleted = await delete_milestone(milestone.user_id, milestone_id)
     if not deleted:
         return not_found("Milestone")
     return "", 204
@@ -107,13 +123,15 @@ async def delete_milestone_route(project_id: int, milestone_id: int):
 @login_required
 async def get_milestone_tasks_route(project_id: int, milestone_id: int):
     uid = get_current_user_id()
-    milestone = await get_milestone(uid, milestone_id)
-    if milestone is None or milestone.project_id != project_id:
+    if await get_project_for_user(uid, project_id) is None:
+        return not_found("Project")
+    milestone = await get_milestone_in_project(project_id, milestone_id)
+    if milestone is None:
         return not_found("Milestone")
     status_filter = request.args.get("status")
     limit, offset = parse_pagination(default_limit=100)
     notes, total = await list_notes(
-        uid,
+        milestone.user_id,
         is_task=True,
         status=status_filter,
         milestone_id=milestone_id,
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/routes/projects.py b/src/fabledassistant/routes/projects.py
index 7bc77e1..37d6e36 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/routes/projects.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/routes/projects.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """Project management routes."""
+import asyncio
 import logging
 
 from quart import Blueprint, jsonify, request
@@ -27,7 +28,19 @@ projects_bp = Blueprint("projects", __name__, url_prefix="/api/projects")
 async def list_projects_route():
     uid = get_current_user_id()
     status = request.args.get("status")
+    include_summary = request.args.get("include_summary", "").lower() in ("1", "true")
     projects = await list_projects_for_user(uid, status=status)
+    if include_summary:
+        # Fetch all summaries in parallel — one backend pass instead of N+1 frontend calls
+        async def _attach(project_dict: dict) -> dict:
+            try:
+                owner_uid = project_dict.get("user_id") or uid  # user_id now in to_dict()
+                summary = await get_project_summary(owner_uid, project_dict["id"])
+                project_dict["summary"] = summary
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+            return project_dict
+        projects = list(await asyncio.gather(*[_attach(p) for p in projects]))
     return jsonify({"projects": projects})
 
 
@@ -39,8 +52,8 @@ async def create_project_route():
     if not data.get("title"):
         return jsonify({"error": "title is required"}), 400
     status = data.get("status", "active")
-    if status not in ("active", "archived"):
-        return jsonify({"error": "status must be 'active' or 'archived'"}), 400
+    if status not in ("active", "completed", "archived"):
+        return jsonify({"error": "status must be 'active', 'completed', or 'archived'"}), 400
     project = await create_project(
         uid,
         title=data["title"],
@@ -76,6 +89,8 @@ async def update_project_route(project_id: int):
     data = await request.get_json()
     allowed = {"title", "description", "goal", "status", "color"}
     fields = {k: v for k, v in data.items() if k in allowed}
+    if "status" in fields and fields["status"] not in ("active", "completed", "archived"):
+        return jsonify({"error": "status must be 'active', 'completed', or 'archived'"}), 400
     project = await update_project(uid, project_id, **fields)
     if project is None:
         return not_found("Project")
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/milestones.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/milestones.py
index 59b469c..ba297e3 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/milestones.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/milestones.py
@@ -42,6 +42,19 @@ async def get_milestone(user_id: int, milestone_id: int) -> Milestone | None:
         return result.scalars().first()
 
 
+async def get_milestone_in_project(project_id: int, milestone_id: int) -> Milestone | None:
+    """Fetch a milestone by id within a project, without a user_id ownership check.
+    Callers must verify project access separately before using this."""
+    async with async_session() as session:
+        result = await session.execute(
+            select(Milestone).where(
+                Milestone.id == milestone_id,
+                Milestone.project_id == project_id,
+            )
+        )
+        return result.scalars().first()
+
+
 async def get_milestone_by_title(user_id: int, project_id: int, title: str) -> Milestone | None:
     async with async_session() as session:
         result = await session.execute(
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
index 0b5a504..e5761ba 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
@@ -392,6 +392,7 @@ _CORE_TOOLS = [
                     "title": {"type": "string", "description": "Project title"},
                     "description": {"type": "string", "description": "Brief description"},
                     "goal": {"type": "string", "description": "The goal or desired outcome"},
+                    "color": {"type": "string", "description": "Optional hex color for the project (e.g. '#6366f1')"},
                     "confirmed": {"type": "boolean", "description": "Must be true — only set after the user has explicitly confirmed they want this project created."},
                 },
                 "required": ["title", "confirmed"],
@@ -433,14 +434,16 @@ _CORE_TOOLS = [
         "type": "function",
         "function": {
             "name": "update_project",
-            "description": "Update a project's status, description, or goal.",
+            "description": "Update a project's title, status, description, goal, or color.",
             "parameters": {
                 "type": "object",
                 "properties": {
                     "query": {"type": "string", "description": "Project name to find"},
+                    "title": {"type": "string", "description": "New project title"},
                     "status": {"type": "string", "enum": ["active", "completed", "archived"]},
                     "description": {"type": "string"},
                     "goal": {"type": "string"},
+                    "color": {"type": "string", "description": "Hex color (e.g. '#6366f1'), or empty string to clear"},
                 },
                 "required": ["query"],
             },
@@ -475,7 +478,7 @@ _CORE_TOOLS = [
                     "milestone": {"type": "string", "description": "Current milestone title to look up"},
                     "title": {"type": "string", "description": "New title (omit to keep current)"},
                     "description": {"type": "string", "description": "New description (omit to keep current)"},
-                    "status": {"type": "string", "enum": ["active", "completed", "cancelled"], "description": "New status (omit to keep current)"},
+                    "status": {"type": "string", "enum": ["active", "done"], "description": "New status: 'active' (in progress) or 'done' (completed)"},
                 },
                 "required": ["project", "milestone"],
             },
@@ -1768,6 +1771,7 @@ async def execute_tool(
                 title=proj_title,
                 description=arguments.get("description", ""),
                 goal=arguments.get("goal", ""),
+                color=arguments.get("color") or None,
             )
             return {"success": True, "type": "project", "data": project.to_dict()}
 
@@ -1816,9 +1820,11 @@ async def execute_tool(
             if project is None:
                 return {"success": False, "error": f"No project found matching '{query}'"}
             fields = {}
-            for k in ("status", "description", "goal"):
+            for k in ("title", "status", "description", "goal"):
                 if k in arguments:
                     fields[k] = arguments[k]
+            if "color" in arguments:
+                fields["color"] = arguments["color"] or None  # empty string → None (clear)
             updated = await _up(user_id, project.id, **fields)
             return {"success": True, "type": "project_updated", "data": updated.to_dict()}