diff --git a/app/globals.css b/app/globals.css
index 5df163f6d..0f61c3da8 100644
--- a/app/globals.css
+++ b/app/globals.css
@@ -971,6 +971,26 @@ optgroup {
   --mv-search-radius: 8px;
   --mv-popover-w: 352px;
   --mv-popover-radius: 28px;
+  --mv-card-radius: 16px;
+  /* Surfaces, tinted from the theme's primary so any theme keeps the same
+     relationships: a faintly tinted canvas behind the chrome, a plain card
+     for the content, a slightly deeper search field, a selected-row pill and
+     a soft Compose button. */
+  --mv-canvas: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-primary) 4%, var(--color-background));
+  --mv-search-bg: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-primary) 9%, var(--color-background));
+  --mv-nav-hover: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-foreground) 7%, var(--mv-canvas));
+  --mv-nav-selected: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-primary) 18%, var(--color-background));
+  --mv-compose-bg: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-primary) 24%, var(--color-background));
+  --mv-compose-fg: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-primary) 30%, var(--color-foreground));
+  --mv-row-read: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-primary) 3%, var(--color-background));
+}
+
+/* The content card: everything that is not chrome sits on one rounded sheet
+   inset from the canvas. */
+[data-interface-layout="mountain-view"] [data-mv-card] {
+  border-radius: var(--mv-card-radius);
+  background-color: var(--color-background);
+  overflow: hidden;
 }
 
 /* Search: a filled 48px field that lifts onto a card while focused, rather
@@ -979,14 +999,15 @@ optgroup {
   height: var(--mv-search-h);
   border-radius: var(--mv-search-radius);
   border-color: transparent;
-  background-color: var(--color-muted);
+  background-color: var(--mv-search-bg);
   padding-inline-start: 3rem;
   font-size: 1rem;
 }
 
 [data-interface-layout="mountain-view"] .mv-topbar input[data-search-input]:hover {
   border-color: transparent;
-  background-color: var(--color-accent);
+  background-color: var(--mv-search-bg);
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 1px 0 rgb(0 0 0 / 0.08), 0 1px 3px 1px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.04);
 }
 
 [data-interface-layout="mountain-view"] .mv-topbar input[data-search-input]:focus-visible {
diff --git a/components/calendar/calendar-app.tsx b/components/calendar/calendar-app.tsx
index 8edb59548..9d5b6e4e6 100644
--- a/components/calendar/calendar-app.tsx
+++ b/components/calendar/calendar-app.tsx
@@ -1729,7 +1729,7 @@ export function CalendarApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: CalendarAppProps =
   );
 
   return (
-    <div className={cn("flex flex-col bg-background overflow-hidden pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
+    <div className={cn("flex flex-col overflow-hidden pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", mvShell ? "bg-[var(--mv-canvas)]" : "bg-background", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
       <AppTopBannerSlot />
       {refreshIndicator}
       {mvShell && (
@@ -1741,7 +1741,7 @@ export function CalendarApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: CalendarAppProps =
           activeAppId={inlineApp?.id ?? null}
         />
       )}
-      <div className={cn("relative flex flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden", isMobile && "flex-col")}>
+      <div data-mv-card={mvShell ? "" : undefined} className={cn("relative flex flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden", isMobile && "flex-col", mvShell && "mb-4 mx-4")}>
       {/* Left Navigation Rail (hidden when embedded in Pro shell) */}
       {!isMobile && !isEmbedded && !mvShell && (
         <div className="w-14 bg-secondary flex flex-col flex-shrink-0" style={{ borderRight: '1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.3)' }}>
diff --git a/components/contacts/contacts-app.tsx b/components/contacts/contacts-app.tsx
index 1367484b7..b72efc7c1 100644
--- a/components/contacts/contacts-app.tsx
+++ b/components/contacts/contacts-app.tsx
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ function ContactsAppContent({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: ContactsAppProps =
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className={cn("flex flex-col bg-background overflow-hidden pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
+    <div className={cn("flex flex-col overflow-hidden pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", mvShell ? "bg-[var(--mv-canvas)]" : "bg-background", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
       <AppTopBannerSlot />
       {refreshIndicator}
       {mvShell && (
@@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ function ContactsAppContent({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: ContactsAppProps =
           activeAppId={inlineApp?.id ?? null}
         />
       )}
-      <div className={cn("flex flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden", isMobile && "flex-col")}>
+      <div data-mv-card={mvShell ? "" : undefined} className={cn("flex flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden", isMobile && "flex-col", mvShell && "mb-4 mx-4")}>
       {/* Navigation Rail - desktop only (hidden when embedded in Pro shell) */}
       {!isMobile && !isEmbedded && !mvShell && (
         <div className="w-14 bg-secondary flex flex-col flex-shrink-0" style={{ borderRight: '1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.3)' }}>
diff --git a/components/files/files-app.tsx b/components/files/files-app.tsx
index 2cc09a327..f1d7ca70f 100644
--- a/components/files/files-app.tsx
+++ b/components/files/files-app.tsx
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ export function FilesApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: FilesAppProps = {}) {
   if (!isAuthenticated) return null;
 
   return (
-    <div className={cn("flex flex-col bg-background overflow-hidden pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
+    <div className={cn("flex flex-col overflow-hidden pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", mvShell ? "bg-[var(--mv-canvas)]" : "bg-background", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
       <AppTopBannerSlot />
       {refreshIndicator}
       {mvShell && (
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ export function FilesApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: FilesAppProps = {}) {
           activeAppId={inlineApp?.id ?? null}
         />
       )}
-      <div className="flex flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
+      <div data-mv-card={mvShell ? "" : undefined} className={cn("flex flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden", mvShell && "mb-4 mx-4")}>
       {!isMobile && !isEmbedded && !mvShell && (
         <div className="w-14 bg-secondary flex flex-col flex-shrink-0" style={{ borderRight: '1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.3)' }}>
           <NavigationRail
diff --git a/components/layout/mv-top-bar.tsx b/components/layout/mv-top-bar.tsx
index 383ac5e74..909b7b36a 100644
--- a/components/layout/mv-top-bar.tsx
+++ b/components/layout/mv-top-bar.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import {
   BookUser,
   Calendar,
-  Filter,
   Grid3x3,
   HardDrive,
   Keyboard,
@@ -12,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   Menu,
   Settings,
   Shield,
+  SlidersHorizontal,
   iconForName,
 } from "@/components/icons";
 import type { AppIcon as AppIconType } from "@/components/icons";
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ export function MvTopBar({
 
   return (
     <header
-      className="mv-topbar flex items-center h-16 gap-2 ps-1 pe-4 shrink-0 bg-background"
+      className="mv-topbar flex items-center h-16 gap-2 ps-1 pe-4 shrink-0 bg-[var(--mv-canvas)]"
       data-mv-topbar=""
     >
       {/* Brand block: occupies the sidebar's own column width */}
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ export function MvTopBar({
             onClear={search.onClear}
             onSelectContact={search.onSelectContact}
             disabled={search.disabled}
+            placeholder={t("search_placeholder")}
           />
           <button
             type="button"
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ export function MvTopBar({
             title={tSearch("toggle_filters")}
             aria-label={tSearch("toggle_filters")}
           >
-            <Filter className="w-5 h-5" />
+            <SlidersHorizontal className="w-5 h-5" />
             {!search.filtersOpen && search.activeFilterCount > 0 && (
               <span className="absolute top-1.5 end-1.5 grid place-items-center w-4 h-4 text-[10px] font-bold rounded-full bg-primary text-primary-foreground">
                 {search.activeFilterCount}
diff --git a/components/layout/sidebar.tsx b/components/layout/sidebar.tsx
index 0693c4ad9..fc959c1e6 100644
--- a/components/layout/sidebar.tsx
+++ b/components/layout/sidebar.tsx
@@ -1256,7 +1256,9 @@ export function Sidebar({
       data-mv-rail-peek={hoverExpanded ? "" : undefined}
       className={cn(
         "relative flex flex-col h-full border-e transition-all duration-300 overflow-hidden",
-        "bg-secondary border-border",
+        // Mountain View's navigation sits on the canvas, with no rule between
+        // it and the content card.
+        mvShell ? "bg-[var(--mv-canvas)] border-transparent" : "bg-secondary border-border",
         "max-lg:w-full",
         // Mountain View's collapsed column is 72px (--mv-rail-w), wide enough
         // for its round compose button; the default layout's rail is 48px.
diff --git a/components/mail/mail-app.tsx b/components/mail/mail-app.tsx
index 51eb2882c..13224001b 100644
--- a/components/mail/mail-app.tsx
+++ b/components/mail/mail-app.tsx
@@ -3862,7 +3862,7 @@ export function MailApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: MailAppProps = {}) {
 
   return (
     <DragDropProvider>
-      <div ref={appRootRef} className={cn("flex flex-col bg-background overflow-hidden pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
+      <div ref={appRootRef} className={cn("flex flex-col overflow-hidden pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", mvShell ? "bg-[var(--mv-canvas)]" : "bg-background", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
         <AppTopBannerSlot />
         {refreshIndicator}
         {isRateLimited && rateLimitSecondsLeft !== null && (
@@ -4030,8 +4030,9 @@ export function MailApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: MailAppProps = {}) {
           </ErrorBoundary>
         </div>
 
-        {/* Sidebar resize handle (desktop only, hidden when collapsed) */}
-        {!isMobile && !isTablet && !sidebarCollapsed && !inlineApp && !fullscreenReading && (
+        {/* Sidebar resize handle (desktop only, hidden when collapsed, and
+            absent under Mountain View, whose navigation has a fixed width) */}
+        {!isMobile && !isTablet && !sidebarCollapsed && !inlineApp && !fullscreenReading && !mvShell && (
           <ResizeHandle
             onResizeStart={() => { dragStartWidth.current = sidebarWidth; setIsResizing(true); }}
             onResize={(delta) => setSidebarWidth(dragStartWidth.current + delta)}
@@ -4040,8 +4041,12 @@ export function MailApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: MailAppProps = {}) {
           />
         )}
 
-        {/* Main Content Area */}
-        <div className={cn("flex flex-col flex-1 min-w-0 h-full", inlineApp && "hidden")}>
+        {/* Main Content Area. Under Mountain View it is the rounded card
+            inset from the canvas. */}
+        <div
+          data-mv-card={mvShell ? "" : undefined}
+          className={cn("flex flex-col flex-1 min-w-0", mvShell ? "mb-4 me-4" : "h-full", inlineApp && "hidden")}
+        >
           <div className={cn("relative flex flex-1 min-h-0", isHorizontalMailLayout && "md:flex-col")}>
           {/* Email List - full width on mobile, fixed width/height on tablet/desktop */}
           <div
diff --git a/components/search/search-box.tsx b/components/search/search-box.tsx
index f3d36f7d4..ba223d24f 100644
--- a/components/search/search-box.tsx
+++ b/components/search/search-box.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ interface SearchBoxProps {
   title?: string;
   /** Focus on mount — the mobile search panel opens straight to the keyboard. */
   autoFocus?: boolean;
+  /** Overrides the default placeholder, which carries the `/` shortcut hint. */
+  placeholder?: string;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ interface SearchBoxProps {
  * reuses the composer's contact autocomplete lookup so directory principals,
  * address-book contacts and recent recipients all surface here too.
  */
-export function SearchBox({ value, onChange, onSubmit, onClear, onSelectContact, disabled = false, title, autoFocus }: SearchBoxProps) {
+export function SearchBox({ value, onChange, onSubmit, onClear, onSelectContact, disabled = false, title, autoFocus, placeholder }: SearchBoxProps) {
   const t = useTranslations("sidebar");
   const listId = `search-suggestions-${useId().replace(/:/g, "")}`;
 
@@ -124,7 +126,7 @@ export function SearchBox({ value, onChange, onSubmit, onClear, onSelectContact,
         <Input
           type="search"
           autoFocus={autoFocus}
-          placeholder={t("search_placeholder_hint")}
+          placeholder={placeholder ?? t("search_placeholder_hint")}
           value={value}
           onChange={(e) => {
             onChange(e.target.value);
diff --git a/components/settings/settings-app.tsx b/components/settings/settings-app.tsx
index 5bed3f0ff..659eb5013 100644
--- a/components/settings/settings-app.tsx
+++ b/components/settings/settings-app.tsx
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ export function SettingsApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: SettingsAppProps =
 
   // Desktop layout
   return (
-    <div className={cn("flex flex-col bg-background pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
+    <div className={cn("flex flex-col pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top)]", mvShell ? "bg-[var(--mv-canvas)]" : "bg-background", isEmbedded ? "h-full" : "h-dvh")}>
       <AppTopBannerSlot />
       {mvShell && (
         <MvTopBar
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ export function SettingsApp({ linkSegments: routeSegments }: SettingsAppProps =
           activeAppId={inlineApp?.id ?? null}
         />
       )}
-      <div className="flex flex-1 min-h-0">
+      <div data-mv-card={mvShell ? "" : undefined} className={cn("flex flex-1 min-h-0", mvShell && "mb-4 mx-4")}>
       {!isEmbedded && !mvShell && (
         <div className="w-14 bg-secondary flex flex-col flex-shrink-0" style={{ borderRight: '1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.3)' }}>
           <NavigationRail