diff --git a/crudkit/core/base.py b/crudkit/core/base.py
index 46874fe..5501e19 100644
--- a/crudkit/core/base.py
+++ b/crudkit/core/base.py
@@ -1,8 +1,21 @@
-from sqlalchemy import Column, Integer, DateTime, Boolean, String, JSON, func
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_mixin, declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy import Column, Integer, DateTime, Boolean, String, JSON, func, inspect
+from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_mixin, declarative_base, NO_VALUE
 
 Base = declarative_base()
 
+def _safe_get_loaded_attr(obj, name):
+    try:
+        st = inspect(obj)
+        attr = st.attrs.get(name)
+        if attr is not None:
+            val = attr.loaded_value
+            return None if val is NO_VALUE else val
+        if name in st.dict:
+            return st.dict.get(name)
+        return None
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+
 @declarative_mixin
 class CRUDMixin:
     id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
diff --git a/crudkit/core/service.py b/crudkit/core/service.py
index c34bc2d..b84ebc6 100644
--- a/crudkit/core/service.py
+++ b/crudkit/core/service.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import and_, func, inspect, or_, text
 from sqlalchemy.engine import Engine, Connection
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Load, Session, raiseload, selectinload, with_polymorphic, Mapper, RelationshipProperty, class_mapper, ColumnProperty
 from sqlalchemy.orm.attributes import InstrumentedAttribute
+from sqlalchemy.orm.base import NO_VALUE
 from sqlalchemy.orm.util import AliasedClass
 from sqlalchemy.sql import operators
 from sqlalchemy.sql.elements import UnaryExpression
@@ -12,6 +13,39 @@ from crudkit.core.spec import CRUDSpec
 from crudkit.core.types import OrderSpec, SeekWindow
 from crudkit.backend import BackendInfo, make_backend_info
 
+def _expand_requires(model_cls, fields):
+    out, seen = [], set()
+    def add(f):
+        if f not in seen:
+            seen.add(f); out.append(f)
+
+    for f in fields:
+        add(f)
+        parts = f.split(".")
+        cur_cls = model_cls
+        prefix = []
+
+        for p in parts[:-1]:
+            rel = getattr(cur_cls.__mapper__.relationships, 'get', lambda _: None)(p)
+            if not rel:
+                cur_cls = None
+                break
+            cur_cls = rel.mapper.class_
+            prefix.append(p)
+
+        if cur_cls is None:
+            continue
+
+        leaf = parts[-1]
+        deps = (getattr(cur_cls, "__crudkit_field_requires__", {}) or {}).get(leaf)
+        if not deps:
+            continue
+
+        pre = ".".join(prefix)
+        for dep in deps:
+            add(f"{pre + '.' if pre else ''}{dep}")
+    return out
+
 def _is_rel(model_cls, name: str) -> bool:
     try:
         prop = model_cls.__mapper__.relationships.get(name)
@@ -232,7 +266,10 @@ class CRUDService(Generic[T]):
           - forward/backward seek via `key` and `backward`
         Returns a SeekWindow with items, first/last keys, order spec, limit, and optional total.
         """
-        session = self.session
+        fields = list(params.get("fields", []))
+        if fields:
+            fields = _expand_requires(self.model, fields)
+            params = {**params, "fields": fields}
         query, root_alias = self.get_query()
 
         spec = CRUDSpec(self.model, params or {}, root_alias)
diff --git a/crudkit/projection.py b/crudkit/projection.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b34091d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crudkit/projection.py
@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
+# crudkit/projection.py
+from __future__ import annotations
+from typing import Iterable, List, Tuple, Dict, Set
+from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
+from sqlalchemy.orm.attributes import InstrumentedAttribute
+from sqlalchemy.orm.properties import ColumnProperty, RelationshipProperty
+from sqlalchemy import inspect
+
+# ----------------------
+# small utilities
+# ----------------------
+
+def _is_column_attr(a) -> bool:
+    try:
+        return isinstance(a, InstrumentedAttribute) and isinstance(a.property, ColumnProperty)
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+def _is_relationship_attr(a) -> bool:
+    try:
+        return isinstance(a, InstrumentedAttribute) and isinstance(a.property, RelationshipProperty)
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+def _split_path(field: str) -> List[str]:
+    return [p for p in str(field).split(".") if p]
+
+def _model_requires_map(model_cls) -> Dict[str, List[str]]:
+    # apps declare per-model deps, e.g. {"label": ["first_name","last_name","title"]}
+    return getattr(model_cls, "__crudkit_field_requires__", {}) or {}
+
+def _relationships_of(model_cls) -> Dict[str, RelationshipProperty]:
+    try:
+        return dict(model_cls.__mapper__.relationships)
+    except Exception:
+        return {}
+
+def _attr_on(model_cls, name: str):
+    return getattr(model_cls, name, None)
+
+# ----------------------
+# EXPAND: add required deps for leaf attributes at the correct class
+# ----------------------
+
+def _expand_requires_for_field(model_cls, pieces: List[str]) -> List[str]:
+    """
+    Given a dotted path like ["owner","label"], walk relationships to the leaf *container* class,
+    pull its __crudkit_field_requires__ for that leaf attr ("label"), and yield prefixed deps:
+      owner.label -> ["owner.first_name", "owner.last_name", ...] if User requires so.
+    If leaf is a column (or has no requires), returns [].
+    """
+    if not pieces:
+        return []
+
+    # walk relationships to the leaf container (class that owns the leaf attr)
+    container_cls = model_cls
+    prefix_parts: List[str] = []
+    for part in pieces[:-1]:
+        a = _attr_on(container_cls, part)
+        if not _is_relationship_attr(a):
+            return []  # can't descend; invalid or scalar in the middle
+        container_cls = a.property.mapper.class_
+        prefix_parts.append(part)
+
+    leaf = pieces[-1]
+    requires = _model_requires_map(container_cls).get(leaf) or []
+    if not requires:
+        return []
+
+    prefix = ".".join(prefix_parts)
+    out: List[str] = []
+    for dep in requires:
+        # dep may itself be dotted relative to container (e.g. "room_function.description")
+        if prefix:
+            out.append(f"{prefix}.{dep}")
+        else:
+            out.append(dep)
+    return out
+
+def _expand_requires(model_cls, fields: Iterable[str]) -> List[str]:
+    """
+    Dedup + stable expansion of requires for all fields.
+    """
+    seen: Set[str] = set()
+    out: List[str] = []
+
+    def add(f: str):
+        if f not in seen:
+            seen.add(f)
+            out.append(f)
+
+    # first pass: add original
+    queue: List[str] = []
+    for f in fields:
+        f = str(f)
+        if f not in seen:
+            seen.add(f)
+            out.append(f)
+            queue.append(f)
+
+    # BFS-ish: when we add deps, they may trigger further deps downstream
+    while queue:
+        f = queue.pop(0)
+        deps = _expand_requires_for_field(model_cls, _split_path(f))
+        for d in deps:
+            if d not in seen:
+                seen.add(d)
+                out.append(d)
+                queue.append(d)
+
+    return out
+
+# ----------------------
+# BUILD loader options tree with selectinload + load_only on real columns
+# ----------------------
+
+def _insert_leaf(loader_tree: dict, path: List[str]):
+    """
+    Build nested dict structure keyed by relationship names.
+    Each node holds:
+      {
+        "__cols__": set(column_names_to_load_only),
+        "<child_rel>": { ... }
+      }
+    """
+    node = loader_tree
+    for rel in path[:-1]:  # only relationship hops
+        node = node.setdefault(rel, {"__cols__": set()})
+    # leaf may be a column or a virtual/hybrid; only columns go to __cols__
+    node.setdefault("__cols__", set())
+
+def _attach_column(loader_tree: dict, path: List[str], model_cls):
+    """
+    If the leaf is a real column on the target class, record its name into __cols__ at that level.
+    """
+    # descend to target class to test column-ness
+    container_cls = model_cls
+    node = loader_tree
+    for rel in path[:-1]:
+        a = _attr_on(container_cls, rel)
+        if not _is_relationship_attr(a):
+            return  # invalid path, ignore
+        container_cls = a.property.mapper.class_
+        node = node.setdefault(rel, {"__cols__": set()})
+
+    leaf = path[-1]
+    a_leaf = _attr_on(container_cls, leaf)
+    node.setdefault("__cols__", set())
+    if _is_column_attr(a_leaf):
+        node["__cols__"].add(leaf)
+
+def _build_loader_tree(model_cls, fields: Iterable[str]) -> dict:
+    """
+    For each dotted field:
+      - walk relationships -> create nodes
+      - if leaf is a column: record it for load_only
+      - if leaf is not a column (hybrid/descriptor): no load_only; still ensure rel hops exist
+    """
+    tree: Dict[str, dict] = {"__cols__": set()}
+    for f in fields:
+        parts = _split_path(f)
+        if not parts:
+            continue
+        # ensure relationship nodes exist
+        _insert_leaf(tree, parts)
+        # attach column if applicable
+        _attach_column(tree, parts, model_cls)
+    return tree
+
+def _loader_options_from_tree(model_cls, tree: dict):
+    """
+    Convert the loader tree into SQLAlchemy loader options:
+      selectinload(<rel>)[.load_only(cols)] recursively
+    """
+    opts = []
+
+    rels = _relationships_of(model_cls)
+    for rel_name, child in tree.items():
+        if rel_name == "__cols__":
+            continue
+        rel_prop = rels.get(rel_name)
+        if not rel_prop:
+            continue
+        rel_attr = getattr(model_cls, rel_name)
+        opt = selectinload(rel_attr)
+
+        # apply load_only on the related class (only real columns recorded at child["__cols__"])
+        cols = list(child.get("__cols__", []))
+        if cols:
+            rel_model = rel_prop.mapper.class_
+            # map column names to attributes
+            col_attrs = []
+            for c in cols:
+                a = getattr(rel_model, c, None)
+                if _is_column_attr(a):
+                    col_attrs.append(a)
+            if col_attrs:
+                opt = opt.load_only(*col_attrs)
+
+        # recurse to grandchildren
+        sub_opts = _loader_options_from_tree(rel_prop.mapper.class_, child)
+        for so in sub_opts:
+            opt = opt.options(so)
+
+        opts.append(opt)
+
+    # root-level columns (rare in our compile; kept for completeness)
+    root_cols = list(tree.get("__cols__", []))
+    if root_cols:
+        # NOTE: call-site can add a root load_only(...) if desired;
+        # we purposely return only relationship options here to keep
+        # the API simple and avoid mixing Load(model_cls) contexts.
+        pass
+
+    return opts
+
+# ----------------------
+# PUBLIC API
+# ----------------------
+
+def compile_projection(model_cls, fields: Iterable[str]) -> Tuple[List[str], List]:
+    """
+    Returns:
+      expanded_fields: List[str]            # original + declared dependencies
+      loader_options: List[Load]            # apply via query = query.options(*loader_options)
+
+    Behavior:
+      - Expands __crudkit_field_requires__ at the leaf container class for every field.
+      - Builds a selectinload tree; load_only only includes real columns (no hybrids).
+      - Safe for nested paths: e.g. "owner.label" pulls owner deps from User.__crudkit_field_requires__.
+    """
+    fields = list(fields or [])
+    expanded = _expand_requires(model_cls, fields)
+    tree = _build_loader_tree(model_cls, expanded)
+    options = _loader_options_from_tree(model_cls, tree)
+    return expanded, options
diff --git a/crudkit/ui/fragments.py b/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
index a26bf0b..6c62c45 100644
--- a/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
+++ b/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
@@ -19,6 +19,52 @@ _ALLOWED_ATTRS = {
     "id", "name", "value",
 }
 
+_SAFE_CSS_PROPS = {
+    # spacing / sizing
+    "margin","margin-top","margin-right","margin-bottom","margin-left",
+    "padding","padding-top","padding-right","padding-bottom","padding-left",
+    "width","height","min-width","min-height","max-width","max-height", "resize",
+    # layout
+    "display","flex","flex-direction","flex-wrap","justify-content","align-items","gap",
+    # text
+    "font-size","font-weight","line-height","text-align","white-space",
+    # colors / background
+    "color","background-color",
+    # borders / radius
+    "border","border-top","border-right","border-bottom","border-left",
+    "border-width","border-style","border-color","border-radius",
+    # misc (safe-ish)
+    "opacity","overflow","overflow-x","overflow-y",
+}
+
+_num_unit = r"-?\d+(?:\.\d+)?"
+_len_unit = r"(?:px|em|rem|%)"
+P_LEN     = re.compile(rf"^{_num_unit}(?:{_len_unit})?$")              # 12, 12px, 1.2rem, 50%
+P_GAP     = P_LEN
+P_INT     = re.compile(r"^\d+$")
+P_COLOR   = re.compile(
+    r"^(#[0-9a-fA-F]{3,8}|"
+    r"rgb\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*,\s*\d{1,3}\s*,\s*\d{1,3}\s*\)|"
+    r"rgba\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*,\s*\d{1,3}\s*,\s*\d{1,3}\s*,\s*(?:0|1|0?\.\d+)\s*\)|"
+    r"[a-zA-Z]+)$"
+)
+
+_ENUMS = {
+    "display": {"block","inline","inline-block","flex","grid","none"},
+    "flex-direction": {"row","row-reverse","column","column-reverse"},
+    "flex-wrap": {"nowrap","wrap","wrap-reverse"},
+    "justify-content": {"flex-start","flex-end","center","space-between","space-around","space-evenly"},
+    "align-items": {"stretch","flex-start","flex-end","center","baseline"},
+    "text-align": {"left","right","center","justify","start","end"},
+    "white-space": {"normal","nowrap","pre","pre-wrap","pre-line","break-spaces"},
+    "border-style": {"none","solid","dashed","dotted","double","groove","ridge","inset","outset"},
+    "overflow": {"visible","hidden","scroll","auto","clip"},
+    "overflow-x": {"visible","hidden","scroll","auto","clip"},
+    "overflow-y": {"visible","hidden","scroll","auto","clip"},
+    "font-weight": {"normal","bold","bolder","lighter","100","200","300","400","500","600","700","800","900"},
+    "resize": {"none", "both", "horizontal", "vertical"},
+}
+
 def get_env():
     app = current_app
     default_path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'templates')
@@ -28,6 +74,79 @@ def get_env():
         loader=ChoiceLoader([app.jinja_loader, fallback_loader])
     )
 
+def expand_projection(model_cls, fields):
+    req = getattr(model_cls, "__crudkit_field_requires__", {}) or {}
+    out = set(fields)
+    for f in list(fields):
+        for dep in req.get(f, ()):
+            out.add(dep)
+    return list(out)
+
+def _clean_css_value(prop: str, raw: str) -> str | None:
+    v = raw.strip()
+
+    v = v.replace("!important", "")
+    low = v.lower()
+    if any(bad in low for bad in ("url(", "expression(", "javascript:", "var(")):
+        return None
+
+    if prop in {"width","height","min-width","min-height","max-width","max-height",
+                "margin","margin-top","margin-right","margin-bottom","margin-left",
+                "padding","padding-top","padding-right","padding-bottom","padding-left",
+                "border-width","border-top","border-right","border-bottom","border-left","border-radius",
+                "line-height","font-size"}:
+        return v if P_LEN.match(v) else None
+
+    if prop in {"gap"}:
+        parts = [p.strip() for p in v.split()]
+        if 1 <= len(parts) <= 2 and all(P_GAP.match(p) for p in parts):
+            return " ".join(parts)
+        return None
+
+    if prop in {"color", "background-color", "border-color"}:
+        return v if P_COLOR.match(v) else None
+
+    if prop in _ENUMS:
+        return v if v.lower() in _ENUMS[prop] else None
+
+    if prop == "flex":
+        toks = v.split()
+        if len(toks) == 1 and (toks[0].isdigit() or toks[0] in {"auto", "none"}):
+            return v
+        if len(toks) == 2 and toks[0].isdigit() and (toks[1].isdigit() or toks[1] == "auto"):
+            return v
+        if len(toks) == 3 and toks[0].isdigit() and toks[1].isdigit() and (P_LEN.match(toks[2]) or toks[2] == "auto"):
+            return " ".join(toks)
+        return None
+
+    if prop == "border":
+        parts = v.split()
+        bw = next((p for p in parts if P_LEN.match(p)), None)
+        bs = next((p for p in parts if p in _ENUMS["border-style"]), None)
+        bc = next((p for p in parts if P_COLOR.match(p)), None)
+        chosen = [x for x in (bw, bs, bc) if x]
+        return " ".join(chosen) if chosen else None
+
+    return None
+
+def _sanitize_style(style: str | None) -> str | None:
+    if not style or not isinstance(style, str):
+        return None
+    safe_decls = []
+    for chunk in style.split(";"):
+        if not chunk.strip():
+            continue
+        if ":" not in chunk:
+            continue
+        prop, val = chunk.split(":", 1)
+        prop = prop.strip().lower()
+        if prop not in _SAFE_CSS_PROPS:
+            continue
+        clean = _clean_css_value(prop, val)
+        if clean is not None and clean != "":
+            safe_decls.append(f"{prop}: {clean}")
+    return "; ".join(safe_decls) if safe_decls else None
+
 def _is_column_attr(attr) -> bool:
     try:
         return isinstance(attr, InstrumentedAttribute) and isinstance(attr.property, ColumnProperty)
@@ -217,6 +336,11 @@ def _sanitize_attrs(attrs: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
         elif isinstance(v, str):
             if len(v) > 512:
                 v = v[:512]
+        if k == "style":
+            sv = _sanitize_style(v)
+            if sv:
+                out["style"] = sv
+            continue
         if k.startswith("data-") or k.startswith("aria-") or k in _ALLOWED_ATTRS:
             if isinstance(v, bool):
                 if v:
diff --git a/inventory/models/user.py b/inventory/models/user.py
index 241cb3d..6ecc432 100644
--- a/inventory/models/user.py
+++ b/inventory/models/user.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class User(Base, CRUDMixin):
     __tablename__ = 'users'
     __crud_label__ = "{label}"
     __crudkit_field_requires__ = {
-        "label": ["first_name", "last_name", "title"]  # whatever the hybrid touches
+        "label": ["first_name", "last_name", "title"]
     }
 
     first_name: Mapped[Optional[str]] = mapped_column(Unicode(255), nullable=True, index=True)
diff --git a/inventory/routes/entry.py b/inventory/routes/entry.py
index dba0426..2285bac 100644
--- a/inventory/routes/entry.py
+++ b/inventory/routes/entry.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def init_entry_routes(app):
                  "wrap": {"class": "h-100 w-100"}},
 
                 {"name": "notes", "type": "textarea", "label": "Notes", "row": "notes", "wrap": {"class": "col"},
-                 "attrs": {"class": "form-control", "rows": 10}, "label_attrs": {"class": "form-label"}},
+                 "attrs": {"class": "form-control", "rows": 10, "style": "resize: none;"}, "label_attrs": {"class": "form-label"}},
             ]
             layout = [
                 {"name": "label", "order": 5},
diff --git a/inventory/templates/base.html b/inventory/templates/base.html
index b910bb1..a498bee 100644
--- a/inventory/templates/base.html
+++ b/inventory/templates/base.html
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@
                 </ul>
                 {% block header %}
                 {% endblock %}
+                <div class="d-flex">
+                    <input type="text" id="search" class="form-control me-3">
+                    <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" disabled>Search</button>
+                </div>
             </div>
         </nav>
     </header>