diff --git a/components/global-search/global-search-palette.tsx b/components/global-search/global-search-palette.tsx
index abb66c1a3..865d09e3d 100644
--- a/components/global-search/global-search-palette.tsx
+++ b/components/global-search/global-search-palette.tsx
@@ -110,8 +110,11 @@ export function GlobalSearchPalette({ proShell = true }: { proShell?: boolean })
     if (hits.length === 0 && status.errors.length === 0 && status.status !== 'loading') return null;
     return (
       <div key={kind} className="py-1">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 pt-2 pb-1 text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wider">
           {t(`scope_${kind}`)}
+          <span className="inline-flex min-w-[18px] h-[18px] items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-muted px-1.5 text-[10px] font-semibold tabular-nums normal-case">
+            {hits.length}
+          </span>
           {status.status === 'loading' && <Loader2 className="w-3 h-3 animate-spin" aria-label={t('searching')} />}
         </div>
         {hits.slice(0, MAX_ROWS_PER_KIND).map((hit) => (
diff --git a/components/global-search/palette-result-row.tsx b/components/global-search/palette-result-row.tsx
index d85b2b61d..04267a484 100644
--- a/components/global-search/palette-result-row.tsx
+++ b/components/global-search/palette-result-row.tsx
@@ -1,19 +1,43 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { BookUser, CalendarDays, FileText, Folder, Mail, Repeat } from "lucide-react";
+import { CalendarDays, FileText, Folder, Repeat } from "lucide-react";
 import { useTranslations } from "next-intl";
+import { Avatar } from "@/components/ui/avatar";
 import { parseSearchSnippet, type SnippetSegment } from "@/lib/search-snippet";
 import type { GlobalSearchHit } from "@/lib/global-search/types";
+import { getContactDisplayName, getContactPhotoUri, getContactPrimaryEmail } from "@/stores/contact-store";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 
-function HitIcon({ hit }: { hit: GlobalSearchHit }) {
-  const className = "w-4 h-4 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground";
-  switch (hit.kind) {
-    case 'mail': return <Mail className={className} />;
-    case 'contacts': return <BookUser className={className} />;
-    case 'calendar': return <CalendarDays className={className} />;
-    case 'files': return hit.isFolder ? <Folder className={className} /> : <FileText className={className} />;
+/**
+ * Leading visual, mirroring the mail list's identity language: real avatars
+ * for people (sender / contact), kind-tinted icon chips for events and files.
+ */
+function LeadingVisual({ hit }: { hit: GlobalSearchHit }) {
+  if (hit.kind === 'mail') {
+    const from = hit.email.from?.[0];
+    return <Avatar name={from?.name || undefined} email={from?.email || undefined} size="sm" className="mt-0.5 shrink-0" />;
   }
+  if (hit.kind === 'contacts') {
+    return (
+      <Avatar
+        name={getContactDisplayName(hit.contact) || undefined}
+        email={getContactPrimaryEmail(hit.contact) || undefined}
+        contactPhotoUri={getContactPhotoUri(hit.contact)}
+        size="sm"
+        className="mt-0.5 shrink-0"
+      />
+    );
+  }
+  const [Icon, tint] = hit.kind === 'calendar'
+    ? [CalendarDays, "bg-violet-500/15 text-violet-600 dark:text-violet-400"]
+    : hit.isFolder
+      ? [Folder, "bg-amber-500/15 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400"]
+      : [FileText, "bg-amber-500/15 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400"];
+  return (
+    <span className={cn("mt-0.5 flex h-7 w-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full", tint)}>
+      <Icon className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+    </span>
+  );
 }
 
 function Snippet({ value }: { value: string }) {
@@ -41,8 +65,9 @@ export interface PaletteResultRowProps {
 }
 
 /**
- * One palette hit: icon, title, account · context subtitle, date; the server
- * snippet with its `<mark>`ed terms when mail search returned one.
+ * One search hit: avatar/icon, title with the date right-aligned, account ·
+ * context subtitle, and the server snippet with its `<mark>`ed terms when
+ * mail search returned one. Used by both the palette and the search tab.
  */
 export function PaletteResultRow({ hit, onOpen, className }: PaletteResultRowProps) {
   const t = useTranslations('global_search');
@@ -57,29 +82,31 @@ export function PaletteResultRow({ hit, onOpen, className }: PaletteResultRowPro
       onClick={() => onOpen(hit)}
       data-hit-kind={hit.kind}
       className={cn(
-        "w-full flex items-start gap-2.5 px-3 py-2 text-left rounded-md",
-        "hover:bg-muted focus:bg-muted focus:outline-none",
+        "w-full flex items-start gap-3 px-3 py-2 text-left rounded-md transition-colors duration-150",
+        "hover:bg-muted/50 focus:bg-muted focus:outline-none",
         className,
       )}
     >
-      <span className="mt-0.5"><HitIcon hit={hit} /></span>
+      <LeadingVisual hit={hit} />
       <span className="flex-1 min-w-0">
-        <span className="flex items-center gap-1.5 min-w-0">
-          <span className="truncate text-sm text-foreground">
-            {hit.kind === 'mail' && hit.snippet?.subject ? <Snippet value={hit.snippet.subject} /> : title}
+        <span className="flex items-baseline gap-2 min-w-0">
+          <span className="flex-1 min-w-0 flex items-center gap-1.5">
+            <span className="truncate text-sm font-medium text-foreground">
+              {hit.kind === 'mail' && hit.snippet?.subject ? <Snippet value={hit.snippet.subject} /> : title}
+            </span>
+            {hit.kind === 'calendar' && hit.isRecurring && (
+              <Repeat aria-label={t('recurring')} className="w-3 h-3 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+            )}
           </span>
-          {hit.kind === 'calendar' && hit.isRecurring && (
-            <Repeat aria-label={t('recurring')} className="w-3 h-3 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+          {hit.date && (
+            <span className="shrink-0 text-xs text-muted-foreground tabular-nums">{formatHitDate(hit.date)}</span>
           )}
         </span>
-        <span className="block truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground">{subtitle}</span>
+        <span className="block truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">{subtitle}</span>
         {snippet && (
-          <span className="block truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground"><Snippet value={snippet} /></span>
+          <span className="block truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-0.5"><Snippet value={snippet} /></span>
         )}
       </span>
-      {hit.date && (
-        <span className="shrink-0 text-xs text-muted-foreground tabular-nums mt-0.5">{formatHitDate(hit.date)}</span>
-      )}
     </button>
   );
 }
diff --git a/components/global-search/search-preview.tsx b/components/global-search/search-preview.tsx
index 50fae0f02..9f0ba1169 100644
--- a/components/global-search/search-preview.tsx
+++ b/components/global-search/search-preview.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { BookUser, CalendarDays, ExternalLink, FileText, Folder, Repeat } from "lucide-react";
+import { AlignLeft, Building2, CalendarDays, Clock, ExternalLink, FileText, Folder, HardDrive, Mail, MapPin, Phone, Repeat, Users } from "lucide-react";
 import { useTranslations } from "next-intl";
+import { Avatar } from "@/components/ui/avatar";
 import { ProEmailView } from "@/components/pro/pro-email-tab-body";
 import type { CalendarHit, ContactHit, FileHit, GlobalSearchHit } from "@/lib/global-search/types";
-import { getContactDisplayName } from "@/stores/contact-store";
+import { getContactDisplayName, getContactPhotoUri, getContactPrimaryEmail } from "@/stores/contact-store";
 import { useAuthStore } from "@/stores/auth-store";
-import { formatFileSize } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { cn, formatFileSize } from "@/lib/utils";
 
 function formatDateTime(iso: string | null): string {
   if (!iso) return '';
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ function OpenButton({ hit, onOpen, label }: { hit: GlobalSearchHit; onOpen: (hit
     <button
       type="button"
       onClick={() => onOpen(hit)}
-      className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 py-1 rounded-md border border-border text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground cursor-pointer"
+      className="inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 py-1.5 rounded-md border border-border text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground transition-colors cursor-pointer"
     >
       <ExternalLink className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
       {label}
@@ -28,11 +29,45 @@ function OpenButton({ hit, onOpen, label }: { hit: GlobalSearchHit; onOpen: (hit
   );
 }
 
-function Field({ label, children }: { label: string; children: React.ReactNode }) {
+/** Card header shared by the non-mail previews: visual, title, subtitle, Open. */
+function PreviewHeader({ visual, title, badge, subtitle, action }: {
+  visual: React.ReactNode;
+  title: React.ReactNode;
+  badge?: React.ReactNode;
+  subtitle: string;
+  action: React.ReactNode;
+}) {
   return (
-    <div className="text-sm">
-      <dt className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{label}</dt>
-      <dd className="text-foreground break-words">{children}</dd>
+    <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-3">
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
+        {visual}
+        <div className="min-w-0">
+          <h2 className="flex items-center gap-2 text-lg font-semibold text-foreground">
+            <span className="truncate">{title}</span>
+            {badge}
+          </h2>
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground truncate">{subtitle}</p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      {action}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function IconChip({ icon: Icon, tint }: { icon: typeof CalendarDays; tint: string }) {
+  return (
+    <span className={cn("flex h-10 w-10 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-lg", tint)}>
+      <Icon className="h-5 w-5" />
+    </span>
+  );
+}
+
+/** One detail line: muted leading icon, wrapping value. */
+function DetailRow({ icon: Icon, children, pre }: { icon: typeof Clock; children: React.ReactNode; pre?: boolean }) {
+  return (
+    <div className="flex items-start gap-2.5 text-sm">
+      <Icon className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+      <span className={cn("min-w-0 text-foreground break-words", pre && "whitespace-pre-wrap")}>{children}</span>
     </div>
   );
 }
@@ -44,27 +79,24 @@ function ContactPreview({ hit, onOpen, openLabel }: { hit: ContactHit; onOpen: (
   const phones = Object.values(contact.phones ?? {}).map((p) => (p as { number?: string }).number).filter(Boolean);
   const orgs = Object.values(contact.organizations ?? {}).map((o) => (o as { name?: string }).name).filter(Boolean);
   return (
-    <div className="p-4 flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
-          <BookUser className="w-8 h-8 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
-          <div className="min-w-0">
-            <h2 className="text-base font-semibold text-foreground truncate">{name}</h2>
-            <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground truncate">{[hit.accountLabel, hit.subtitle].filter(Boolean).join(' · ')}</p>
-          </div>
-        </div>
-        <OpenButton hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} label={openLabel} />
-      </div>
-      <dl className="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        {emails.map((email) => <Field key={email} label="@">{email}</Field>)}
-        {phones.map((phone) => <Field key={phone} label="#">{phone}</Field>)}
-        {orgs.map((org) => <Field key={org} label="">{org}</Field>)}
+    <div className="p-4 flex flex-col gap-4">
+      <PreviewHeader
+        visual={<Avatar name={name} email={getContactPrimaryEmail(contact) || undefined} contactPhotoUri={getContactPhotoUri(contact)} size="lg" className="shrink-0" />}
+        title={name}
+        subtitle={[hit.accountLabel, hit.subtitle].filter(Boolean).join(' · ')}
+        action={<OpenButton hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} label={openLabel} />}
+      />
+      <div className="border-t border-border" />
+      <dl className="flex flex-col gap-2.5">
+        {emails.map((email) => <DetailRow key={email} icon={Mail}>{email}</DetailRow>)}
+        {phones.map((phone) => <DetailRow key={phone} icon={Phone}>{phone}</DetailRow>)}
+        {orgs.map((org) => <DetailRow key={org} icon={Building2}>{org}</DetailRow>)}
       </dl>
     </div>
   );
 }
 
-function CalendarPreview({ hit, onOpen, openLabel, t }: { hit: CalendarHit; onOpen: (hit: GlobalSearchHit) => void; openLabel: string; t: ReturnType<typeof useTranslations> }) {
+function CalendarPreview({ hit, onOpen, openLabel, recurringLabel }: { hit: CalendarHit; onOpen: (hit: GlobalSearchHit) => void; openLabel: string; recurringLabel: string }) {
   const event = hit.event;
   const locations = Object.values(event.locations ?? {}).map((l) => l?.name).filter(Boolean);
   const participants = Object.values(event.participants ?? {})
@@ -72,47 +104,44 @@ function CalendarPreview({ hit, onOpen, openLabel, t }: { hit: CalendarHit; onOp
     .map((p) => p.name || p.email)
     .filter(Boolean);
   return (
-    <div className="p-4 flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
-          <CalendarDays className="w-8 h-8 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
-          <div className="min-w-0">
-            <h2 className="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-base font-semibold text-foreground">
-              <span className="truncate">{hit.title}</span>
-              {hit.isRecurring && <Repeat aria-label={t('recurring')} className="w-3.5 h-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />}
-            </h2>
-            <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground truncate">{[hit.accountLabel, hit.subtitle].filter(Boolean).join(' · ')}</p>
-          </div>
-        </div>
-        <OpenButton hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} label={openLabel} />
-      </div>
-      <dl className="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <Field label="">{formatDateTime(event.start)}</Field>
-        {locations.map((location) => <Field key={location} label="">{location}</Field>)}
-        {event.description && <Field label="">{event.description}</Field>}
-        {participants.length > 0 && <Field label="">{participants.join(', ')}</Field>}
+    <div className="p-4 flex flex-col gap-4">
+      <PreviewHeader
+        visual={<IconChip icon={CalendarDays} tint="bg-violet-500/15 text-violet-600 dark:text-violet-400" />}
+        title={hit.title}
+        badge={hit.isRecurring ? (
+          <span className="inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-muted px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground">
+            <Repeat className="h-3 w-3" />
+            {recurringLabel}
+          </span>
+        ) : undefined}
+        subtitle={[hit.accountLabel, hit.subtitle].filter(Boolean).join(' · ')}
+        action={<OpenButton hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} label={openLabel} />}
+      />
+      <div className="border-t border-border" />
+      <dl className="flex flex-col gap-2.5">
+        <DetailRow icon={Clock}>{formatDateTime(event.start)}</DetailRow>
+        {locations.map((location) => <DetailRow key={location} icon={MapPin}>{location}</DetailRow>)}
+        {event.description && <DetailRow icon={AlignLeft} pre>{event.description}</DetailRow>}
+        {participants.length > 0 && <DetailRow icon={Users}>{participants.join(', ')}</DetailRow>}
       </dl>
     </div>
   );
 }
 
 function FilePreview({ hit, onOpen, openLabel }: { hit: FileHit; onOpen: (hit: GlobalSearchHit) => void; openLabel: string }) {
-  const Icon = hit.isFolder ? Folder : FileText;
   return (
-    <div className="p-4 flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
-          <Icon className="w-8 h-8 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
-          <div className="min-w-0">
-            <h2 className="text-base font-semibold text-foreground truncate">{hit.title}</h2>
-            <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground truncate">{[hit.accountLabel, hit.folderPath].filter(Boolean).join(' · ')}</p>
-          </div>
-        </div>
-        <OpenButton hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} label={openLabel} />
-      </div>
-      <dl className="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        {!hit.isFolder && <Field label="">{formatFileSize(hit.node.size)}{hit.node.type ? ` · ${hit.node.type}` : ''}</Field>}
-        {hit.date && <Field label="">{formatDateTime(hit.date)}</Field>}
+    <div className="p-4 flex flex-col gap-4">
+      <PreviewHeader
+        visual={<IconChip icon={hit.isFolder ? Folder : FileText} tint="bg-amber-500/15 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400" />}
+        title={hit.title}
+        subtitle={[hit.accountLabel, hit.folderPath].filter(Boolean).join(' · ')}
+        action={<OpenButton hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} label={openLabel} />}
+      />
+      <div className="border-t border-border" />
+      <dl className="flex flex-col gap-2.5">
+        {!hit.isFolder && <DetailRow icon={HardDrive}>{formatFileSize(hit.node.size)}{hit.node.type ? ` · ${hit.node.type}` : ''}</DetailRow>}
+        {hit.date && <DetailRow icon={Clock}>{formatDateTime(hit.date)}</DetailRow>}
+        <DetailRow icon={Folder}>{hit.folderPath}</DetailRow>
       </dl>
     </div>
   );
@@ -132,7 +161,11 @@ export function SearchPreview({ hit, onOpen, onClose }: SearchPreviewProps) {
   const activeAccountId = useAuthStore((s) => s.activeAccountId);
 
   if (!hit) {
-    return <p className="p-6 text-sm text-muted-foreground text-center">{t('preview_empty')}</p>;
+    return (
+      <div className="flex h-full items-center justify-center p-6">
+        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground text-center">{t('preview_empty')}</p>
+      </div>
+    );
   }
 
   if (hit.kind === 'mail') {
@@ -150,6 +183,6 @@ export function SearchPreview({ hit, onOpen, onClose }: SearchPreviewProps) {
   }
   const openLabel = t('open_full');
   if (hit.kind === 'contacts') return <ContactPreview hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} openLabel={openLabel} />;
-  if (hit.kind === 'calendar') return <CalendarPreview hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} openLabel={openLabel} t={t} />;
+  if (hit.kind === 'calendar') return <CalendarPreview hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} openLabel={openLabel} recurringLabel={t('recurring')} />;
   return <FilePreview hit={hit} onOpen={onOpen} openLabel={openLabel} />;
 }
diff --git a/components/global-search/search-result-list.tsx b/components/global-search/search-result-list.tsx
index 69baf18d4..348e1fd53 100644
--- a/components/global-search/search-result-list.tsx
+++ b/components/global-search/search-result-list.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ function Row({ hit, selected, onSelect, onOpen }: {
 }) {
   return (
     <div onDoubleClick={() => onOpen(hit)}>
-      <PaletteResultRow hit={hit} onOpen={onSelect} className={cn(selected && "bg-muted")} />
+      <PaletteResultRow hit={hit} onOpen={onSelect} className={cn("rounded-none", selected && "bg-accent hover:bg-accent")} />
     </div>
   );
 }
@@ -68,9 +68,11 @@ export function SearchResultList({ outcome, kinds, flat, selectedKey, onSelect,
         if (hits.length === 0 && status.errors.length === 0 && status.status !== 'loading') return null;
         return (
           <section key={kind} className="pb-2">
-            <h3 className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide sticky top-0 bg-background">
+            <h3 className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 pt-3 pb-1.5 text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wider sticky top-0 z-10 bg-background">
               {t(`scope_${kind}`)}
-              <span className="tabular-nums normal-case">{hits.length}{status.hasMore ? '+' : ''}</span>
+              <span className="inline-flex min-w-[18px] h-[18px] items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-muted px-1.5 text-[10px] font-semibold tabular-nums normal-case">
+                {hits.length}{status.hasMore ? '+' : ''}
+              </span>
               {status.status === 'loading' && <Loader2 className="w-3 h-3 animate-spin" aria-label={t('searching')} />}
             </h3>
             {hits.map((hit) => (