/* Birch & Elm Consulting — main stylesheet
   Author: in-house / 2026 refresh
   ------------------------------------------------- */

:root{
  --ink:#141c24;
  --ink-2:#1e2932;
  --ink-3:#2b3a46;
  --cream:#f6f2ea;
  --cream-2:#ece5d8;
  --copper:#d9843c;
  --copper-lt:#f0a862;
  --moss:#4f6b57;
  --line:rgba(20,28,36,.12);
  --line-dk:rgba(246,242,234,.14);
  --shadow:0 24px 60px -30px rgba(11,18,24,.45);
  --r:14px;
  --wrap:1180px;
  --ff-d:"Fraunces",Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;
  --ff-b:"Karla",-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,sans-serif;
}

*,*::before,*::after{box-sizing:border-box}
html{-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;scroll-behavior:smooth;scroll-padding-top:90px}
body{
  margin:0;background:var(--cream);color:var(--ink);
  font-family:var(--ff-b);font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;
  -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;overflow-x:hidden;
}
img{max-width:100%;display:block;height:auto}
a{color:inherit}
h1,h2,h3,h4{font-family:var(--ff-d);font-weight:600;line-height:1.12;letter-spacing:-.02em;margin:0 0 .5em}
h1{font-size:clamp(2.4rem,5.4vw,4.2rem)}
h2{font-size:clamp(1.85rem,3.4vw,2.7rem)}
h3{font-size:1.22rem;letter-spacing:-.01em}
p{margin:0 0 1.05em}
.wrap{width:min(var(--wrap),92%);margin-inline:auto}
.narrow{width:min(760px,92%);margin-inline:auto}
section{padding:88px 0;position:relative}
.tight{padding:60px 0}

/* ---------- skip link + a11y ---------- */
.skip{position:absolute;left:-999px;top:0;background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream);padding:12px 18px;z-index:200;border-radius:0 0 10px 0}
.skip:focus{left:0}
:focus-visible{outline:3px solid var(--copper);outline-offset:3px}

/* ---------- top bar ---------- */
.topbar{background:var(--ink);color:rgba(246,242,234,.78);font-size:.82rem;letter-spacing:.02em}
.topbar .wrap{display:flex;gap:20px;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:space-between;padding:9px 0}
.topbar a{text-decoration:none}
.topbar a:hover{color:var(--copper-lt)}
.topbar span+span{position:relative}

/* ---------- nav ---------- */
.nav{position:sticky;top:0;z-index:90;background:rgba(246,242,234,.86);backdrop-filter:saturate(1.4) blur(14px);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);transition:box-shadow .3s,background .3s}
.nav.stuck{box-shadow:0 10px 30px -22px rgba(11,18,24,.6)}
.nav .wrap{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:20px;min-height:74px}
.brand{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:11px;text-decoration:none;font-family:var(--ff-d);font-weight:600;font-size:1.16rem;letter-spacing:-.02em}
.brand img{width:38px;height:38px;border-radius:10px}
.brand small{display:block;font-family:var(--ff-b);font-weight:500;font-size:.6rem;letter-spacing:.22em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-3);opacity:.72;margin-top:2px}
.menu{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}
.menu a{position:relative;text-decoration:none;font-size:.94rem;font-weight:500;padding:9px 12px;border-radius:8px;transition:color .2s,background .2s}
.menu a::after{content:"";position:absolute;left:12px;right:12px;bottom:4px;height:2px;background:var(--copper);transform:scaleX(0);transform-origin:right;transition:transform .3s cubic-bezier(.3,.8,.3,1)}
.menu a:hover::after,.menu a[aria-current="page"]::after{transform:scaleX(1);transform-origin:left}
.menu a[aria-current="page"]{color:var(--ink)}
.btn{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:9px;border:0;cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;font-family:var(--ff-b);font-weight:700;font-size:.93rem;letter-spacing:.01em;padding:13px 22px;border-radius:999px;transition:transform .25s cubic-bezier(.2,.9,.3,1.2),box-shadow .25s,background .25s,color .25s}
.btn-primary{background:var(--copper);color:#1a1109;box-shadow:0 14px 26px -16px rgba(217,132,60,.95)}
.btn-primary:hover{transform:translateY(-2px);background:var(--copper-lt)}
.btn-ghost{background:transparent;color:inherit;border:1.5px solid currentColor}
.btn-ghost:hover{background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream);border-color:var(--ink);transform:translateY(-2px)}
.btn-lt{background:var(--cream);color:var(--ink)}
.btn-lt:hover{transform:translateY(-2px)}
.burger{display:none;background:none;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;width:44px;height:42px;cursor:pointer;align-items:center;justify-content:center}
.burger span{display:block;width:19px;height:2px;background:var(--ink);position:relative;transition:.25s}
.burger span::before,.burger span::after{content:"";position:absolute;left:0;width:19px;height:2px;background:var(--ink);transition:.25s}
.burger span::before{top:-6px}.burger span::after{top:6px}
.burger[aria-expanded="true"] span{background:transparent}
.burger[aria-expanded="true"] span::before{top:0;transform:rotate(45deg)}
.burger[aria-expanded="true"] span::after{top:0;transform:rotate(-45deg)}

@media(max-width:940px){
  .burger{display:flex}
  .menu{position:fixed;inset:74px 0 auto 0;flex-direction:column;align-items:stretch;background:var(--cream);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);padding:14px 5% 26px;gap:2px;transform:translateY(-14px);opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:.28s;max-height:calc(100vh - 74px);overflow:auto}
  .menu.open{transform:none;opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}
  .menu a{padding:13px 4px;font-size:1.05rem;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
  .menu .btn{margin-top:14px;justify-content:center}
}

/* ---------- hero ---------- */
.hero{position:relative;color:var(--cream);padding:0;overflow:hidden;isolation:isolate}
.hero-bg{position:absolute;inset:0;z-index:-2}
.hero-bg img{width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;transform:scale(1.06);animation:slowzoom 22s ease-out forwards}
@keyframes slowzoom{to{transform:scale(1)}}
.hero::after{content:"";position:absolute;inset:0;z-index:-1;background:linear-gradient(105deg,rgba(12,18,24,.94) 0%,rgba(12,18,24,.82) 42%,rgba(12,18,24,.42) 100%)}
.hero-in{padding:120px 0 104px;max-width:760px}
.eyebrow{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;font-size:.74rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.22em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--copper-lt);margin-bottom:22px}
.eyebrow::before{content:"";width:34px;height:1px;background:var(--copper)}
.hero h1 em{font-style:italic;color:var(--copper-lt)}
.hero p.lead{font-size:1.16rem;color:rgba(246,242,234,.82);max-width:60ch}
.hero-cta{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:14px;margin-top:30px}
.hero .btn-ghost{color:var(--cream)}
.hero .btn-ghost:hover{background:var(--cream);color:var(--ink);border-color:var(--cream)}
.hero-facts{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:14px 40px;margin-top:46px;padding-top:26px;border-top:1px solid var(--line-dk);font-size:.87rem;color:rgba(246,242,234,.72)}
.hero-facts b{display:block;font-family:var(--ff-d);font-size:1.75rem;color:var(--cream);font-weight:600}

/* ---------- ticker ---------- */
.ticker{background:var(--ink-2);color:rgba(246,242,234,.62);overflow:hidden;border-top:1px solid var(--line-dk);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line-dk)}
.ticker-track{display:flex;gap:56px;white-space:nowrap;padding:15px 0;width:max-content;animation:marq 34s linear infinite;font-size:.78rem;letter-spacing:.2em;text-transform:uppercase}
.ticker:hover .ticker-track{animation-play-state:paused}
@keyframes marq{to{transform:translateX(-50%)}}

/* ---------- generic blocks ---------- */
.sec-head{max-width:660px;margin-bottom:46px}
.sec-head.center{margin-inline:auto;text-align:center}
.sec-head p{color:var(--ink-3);opacity:.85;margin:0}
.grid{display:grid;gap:22px}
.g2{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)}
.g3{grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr)}
.g4{grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr)}
@media(max-width:900px){.g3,.g4{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)}}
@media(max-width:620px){.g2,.g3,.g4{grid-template-columns:1fr}}

.card{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r);padding:28px;position:relative;overflow:hidden;transition:transform .35s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1),box-shadow .35s,border-color .35s}
.card::before{content:"";position:absolute;left:0;top:0;height:3px;width:0;background:var(--copper);transition:width .45s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1)}
.card:hover{transform:translateY(-6px);box-shadow:var(--shadow);border-color:rgba(217,132,60,.4)}
.card:hover::before{width:100%}
.card h3{margin-bottom:.45em}
.card p{margin:0;font-size:.96rem;color:var(--ink-3)}
.card .num{font-family:var(--ff-d);font-size:.8rem;letter-spacing:.18em;color:var(--copper);display:block;margin-bottom:14px}
.ico{width:46px;height:46px;border-radius:12px;background:rgba(217,132,60,.14);display:grid;place-items:center;margin-bottom:18px;color:var(--copper);transition:transform .35s}
.card:hover .ico{transform:rotate(-6deg) scale(1.07)}
.ico svg{width:22px;height:22px;stroke:currentColor;fill:none;stroke-width:1.7;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round}

.split{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.05fr .95fr;gap:56px;align-items:center}
@media(max-width:880px){.split{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:34px}}
.figure{position:relative;border-radius:18px;overflow:hidden;box-shadow:var(--shadow)}
.figure img{transition:transform 1.1s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1)}
.figure:hover img{transform:scale(1.05)}
.figure figcaption{position:absolute;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;padding:26px 22px 16px;background:linear-gradient(transparent,rgba(12,18,24,.85));color:var(--cream);font-size:.83rem}

.dark{background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream)}
.dark h2,.dark h3{color:var(--cream)}
.dark p{color:rgba(246,242,234,.76)}
.dark .card{background:var(--ink-2);border-color:var(--line-dk)}
.dark .card p{color:rgba(246,242,234,.72)}
.tint{background:var(--cream-2)}

ul.check{list-style:none;margin:0 0 1.2em;padding:0}
ul.check li{position:relative;padding-left:30px;margin-bottom:11px;font-size:.98rem}
ul.check li::before{content:"";position:absolute;left:6px;top:.55em;width:9px;height:9px;border-radius:3px;background:var(--copper);transform:rotate(45deg)}

.stat{padding:26px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line)}
.stat b{display:block;font-family:var(--ff-d);font-size:2.6rem;line-height:1;color:var(--copper)}
.stat span{font-size:.88rem;color:var(--ink-3)}
.dark .stat{border-color:var(--line-dk)}
.dark .stat span{color:rgba(246,242,234,.7)}

/* quote */
.quote{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-left:4px solid var(--copper);border-radius:0 var(--r) var(--r) 0;padding:30px 30px 26px;font-size:1.02rem}
.quote p{font-family:var(--ff-d);font-size:1.12rem;font-style:italic;color:var(--ink-2)}
.quote footer{font-size:.85rem;color:var(--ink-3);font-style:normal}
.dark .quote{background:var(--ink-2);border-color:var(--line-dk);border-left-color:var(--copper)}
.dark .quote p{color:var(--cream)}

/* timeline */
.timeline{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative}
.timeline::before{content:"";position:absolute;left:15px;top:8px;bottom:8px;width:2px;background:linear-gradient(var(--copper),rgba(217,132,60,.12))}
.timeline li{position:relative;padding:0 0 34px 52px}
.timeline li::before{content:"";position:absolute;left:9px;top:6px;width:14px;height:14px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--cream);border:3px solid var(--copper)}
.timeline h3{margin-bottom:.25em}
.timeline p{margin:0;font-size:.96rem;color:var(--ink-3)}
.dark .timeline li::before{background:var(--ink)}

/* accordion */
.acc{border-top:1px solid var(--line)}
.acc details{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
.acc summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;padding:20px 44px 20px 0;font-weight:700;font-size:1.02rem;position:relative;transition:color .2s}
.acc summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}
.acc summary::after{content:"";position:absolute;right:10px;top:26px;width:10px;height:10px;border-right:2px solid var(--copper);border-bottom:2px solid var(--copper);transform:rotate(45deg);transition:transform .3s}
.acc details[open] summary::after{transform:rotate(-135deg)}
.acc summary:hover{color:var(--copper)}
.acc .body{padding:0 30px 22px 0;color:var(--ink-3);font-size:.97rem;animation:fadein .35s ease}
@keyframes fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(-6px)}to{opacity:1;transform:none}}

/* tabs-ish pill list */
.pills{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0}
.pills li{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:999px;padding:8px 16px;font-size:.86rem;background:#fff;transition:.25s}
.pills li:hover{border-color:var(--copper);transform:translateY(-2px)}
.dark .pills li{background:var(--ink-2);border-color:var(--line-dk)}

/* CTA band */
.band{background:linear-gradient(120deg,var(--ink) 0%,var(--ink-3) 100%);color:var(--cream);border-radius:20px;padding:52px;position:relative;overflow:hidden}
.band::after{content:"";position:absolute;right:-90px;top:-90px;width:300px;height:300px;border-radius:50%;background:radial-gradient(circle,rgba(217,132,60,.36),transparent 68%)}
.band h2{margin-bottom:.35em}
.band p{color:rgba(246,242,234,.8);max-width:56ch}
@media(max-width:620px){.band{padding:34px 24px}}

/* forms */
.form{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r);padding:30px}
.field{margin-bottom:18px}
.field label{display:block;font-size:.83rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.04em;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:7px;color:var(--ink-3)}
.field input,.field select,.field textarea{width:100%;font:inherit;font-size:.97rem;padding:12px 14px;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;background:var(--cream);color:var(--ink);transition:border-color .2s,box-shadow .2s,background .2s}
.field input:focus,.field select:focus,.field textarea:focus{outline:none;border-color:var(--copper);background:#fff;box-shadow:0 0 0 4px rgba(217,132,60,.16)}
.field textarea{min-height:130px;resize:vertical}
.consent{display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:flex-start;font-size:.85rem;color:var(--ink-3)}
.consent input{width:auto;margin-top:4px}
.form-note{font-size:.8rem;color:var(--ink-3);margin-top:14px}
.form-ok{display:none;margin-top:16px;padding:14px 16px;border-radius:10px;background:rgba(79,107,87,.13);border:1px solid rgba(79,107,87,.35);color:#33523d;font-size:.9rem}

/* info tiles */
.info{display:flex;gap:16px;align-items:flex-start;padding:20px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
.info .ico{margin:0;flex:0 0 46px}
.info h3{font-size:1rem;margin-bottom:.2em}
.info p,.info a{margin:0;font-size:.95rem;color:var(--ink-3);text-decoration:none}
.info a:hover{color:var(--copper)}
.dark .info{border-color:var(--line-dk)}
.dark .info p,.dark .info a{color:rgba(246,242,234,.76)}

/* footer */
footer.site{background:var(--ink);color:rgba(246,242,234,.72);padding:64px 0 0;font-size:.93rem}
footer.site h4{font-family:var(--ff-b);font-size:.75rem;letter-spacing:.2em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--copper-lt);margin:0 0 16px}
footer.site a{text-decoration:none;color:rgba(246,242,234,.72);transition:color .2s,padding-left .2s}
footer.site a:hover{color:var(--copper-lt);padding-left:4px}
footer.site ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}
footer.site li{margin-bottom:9px}
.f-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.5fr 1fr 1fr 1.2fr;gap:34px}
@media(max-width:880px){.f-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}}
@media(max-width:520px){.f-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}}
.f-brand{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:11px;font-family:var(--ff-d);font-size:1.18rem;color:var(--cream);margin-bottom:14px}
.f-brand img{width:36px;height:36px;border-radius:10px}
.f-bottom{margin-top:52px;border-top:1px solid var(--line-dk);padding:20px 0;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:12px 26px;justify-content:space-between;font-size:.82rem;color:rgba(246,242,234,.55)}

/* breadcrumb */
.crumbs{font-size:.82rem;color:var(--ink-3);padding:18px 0 0}
.crumbs a{text-decoration:none}
.crumbs a:hover{color:var(--copper)}
.pagehead{background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream);padding:56px 0 62px;position:relative;overflow:hidden}
.pagehead::after{content:"";position:absolute;left:-120px;bottom:-140px;width:340px;height:340px;border-radius:50%;background:radial-gradient(circle,rgba(217,132,60,.28),transparent 70%)}
.pagehead .crumbs{color:rgba(246,242,234,.6)}
.pagehead .crumbs a{color:rgba(246,242,234,.6)}
.pagehead h1{font-size:clamp(2.1rem,4.4vw,3.3rem);margin-top:12px}
.pagehead p{color:rgba(246,242,234,.78);max-width:62ch;margin:0}

/* legal typography */
.legal h2{font-size:1.5rem;margin-top:2em}
.legal h3{margin-top:1.6em}
.legal ul{padding-left:22px}
.legal li{margin-bottom:8px}
.legal table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:1.2em 0;font-size:.92rem}
.legal th,.legal td{border:1px solid var(--line);padding:10px 12px;text-align:left;vertical-align:top}
.legal th{background:var(--cream-2)}
.toc{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r);padding:22px 26px;margin-bottom:34px}
.toc ol{margin:0;padding-left:20px;font-size:.94rem}
.toc a{text-decoration:none}
.toc a:hover{color:var(--copper)}

/* progress + to-top */
.progress{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;height:3px;width:0;background:var(--copper);z-index:120;transition:width .1s linear}
.totop{position:fixed;right:20px;bottom:22px;width:46px;height:46px;border-radius:50%;border:0;background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream);cursor:pointer;display:grid;place-items:center;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(12px);transition:.3s;z-index:80;box-shadow:var(--shadow)}
.totop.show{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto;transform:none}
.totop:hover{background:var(--copper);color:#1a1109}

/* cookie banner */
.cookie{position:fixed;left:16px;right:16px;bottom:16px;z-index:140;background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:16px;box-shadow:0 30px 70px -34px rgba(11,18,24,.6);padding:22px 24px;display:none;gap:20px;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;flex-wrap:wrap;max-width:940px;margin-inline:auto;animation:pop .45s cubic-bezier(.2,.9,.3,1.2)}
.cookie.show{display:flex}
@keyframes pop{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(24px)}to{opacity:1;transform:none}}
.cookie p{margin:0;font-size:.9rem;color:var(--ink-3);max-width:58ch}
.cookie strong{color:var(--ink)}
.cookie-actions{display:flex;gap:10px;flex-wrap:wrap}
.cookie .btn{padding:11px 18px;font-size:.86rem}

/* reveal animation */
.rv{opacity:0;transform:translateY(26px);transition:opacity .7s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1),transform .7s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1)}
.rv.in{opacity:1;transform:none}
@media(prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){
  *{animation:none!important;transition:none!important}
  .rv{opacity:1;transform:none}
  html{scroll-behavior:auto}
}