diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/PlanningModeModal.css b/packages/dashboard/app/components/PlanningModeModal.css
index 45ae835216..a30e28049d 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/PlanningModeModal.css
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/PlanningModeModal.css
@@ -1043,16 +1043,21 @@ An empty footer must NOT reserve vertical space or paint its divider band. When
 }
 
 /* Question View */
+/*
+FNXC:PlanningMode 2026-07-21-16:47:
+The interview workspace no longer insets the question/plan panes with outer padding or inter-pane gap.
+That gutter read as dead space around the framed cards; panes now sit flush edge-to-edge with a single column divider, matching Missions split layout and the desktop flush rules below.
+*/
 .planning-workspace {
   position: relative;
   display: grid;
   grid-template-areas: "question plan";
   grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 1.18fr);
-  gap: var(--space-lg);
+  gap: 0;
   flex: 1;
   min-width: 0;
   min-height: 0;
-  padding: var(--space-lg);
+  padding: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
   background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--card) 40%, var(--surface));
 }
@@ -1068,10 +1073,10 @@ An empty footer must NOT reserve vertical space or paint its divider band. When
   min-width: 0;
   min-height: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
-  border: solid var(--btn-border-width) color-mix(in srgb, var(--border) 82%, transparent);
-  border-radius: var(--radius-xl);
+  border: none;
+  border-radius: 0;
   background: var(--surface);
-  box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm);
+  box-shadow: none;
 }
 
 .planning-plan-pane {
@@ -1085,6 +1090,7 @@ An empty footer must NOT reserve vertical space or paint its divider band. When
 
 .planning-question-pane {
   grid-area: question;
+  border-right: solid var(--btn-border-width) color-mix(in srgb, var(--border) 82%, transparent);
 }
 
 .planning-workspace--generating > .planning-plan-pane,
@@ -2206,12 +2212,21 @@ mobile and desktop offer the same View task / Return to sessions choices.
     padding: var(--space-lg);
   }
 
+  /*
+  FNXC:PlanningMode 2026-07-21-16:47:
+  Mobile keeps a compact card inset and rounded panes because only one pane is visible at a time;
+  clear the desktop column divider so a solo question/plan card is not edged by a right border.
+  */
   .planning-workspace {
     grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr);
     gap: var(--space-md);
     padding: var(--space-md);
   }
 
+  .planning-question-pane {
+    border-right: none;
+  }
+
   .planning-workspace--mobile-tab-question,
   .planning-workspace--mobile-tab-plan {
     grid-template-areas:
@@ -2272,7 +2287,9 @@ mobile and desktop offer the same View task / Return to sessions choices.
 
   .planning-plan-pane,
   .planning-question-pane {
+    border: solid var(--btn-border-width) color-mix(in srgb, var(--border) 82%, transparent);
     border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm);
   }
 
   /* FNXC:PlanningMode 2026-06-22-15:30: this legacy full-viewport sheet sizing
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/PlanningModeModal.css.test.ts b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/PlanningModeModal.css.test.ts
index 160299ee5a..67ae999ebe 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/PlanningModeModal.css.test.ts
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/PlanningModeModal.css.test.ts
@@ -74,13 +74,21 @@ describe("PlanningModeModal CSS responsive action contract", () => {
     const css = loadPlanningCss();
     const desktopRule = findRule(css, ".planning-workspace");
     expect(desktopRule).toMatch(/grid-template-areas\s*:\s*"question plan"\s*;/);
+    // FNXC:PlanningMode 2026-07-21-16:47: interview panes sit flush — no outer workspace gutter or inter-pane gap.
+    expect(desktopRule).toMatch(/padding\s*:\s*0\s*;/);
+    expect(desktopRule).toMatch(/gap\s*:\s*0\s*;/);
     expect(findRule(css, ".planning-plan-pane")).toMatch(/grid-area\s*:\s*plan\s*;/);
     expectSomeRule(css, ".planning-question-pane", /grid-area\s*:\s*question\s*;/);
+    expectSomeRule(css, ".planning-question-pane", /border-right\s*:\s*solid var\(--btn-border-width\)/);
+    expect(findRule(css, ".planning-plan-pane,\n.planning-question-pane")).toMatch(/border-radius\s*:\s*0\s*;/);
 
     const mobileCss = getMediaBlocks(css, MOBILE_ACTIONS_QUERY).join("\n");
     expect(findRule(mobileCss, ".planning-workspace--mobile-tab-question,\n  .planning-workspace--mobile-tab-plan")).toMatch(/"tabs"\s*"content"/);
     expect(findRule(mobileCss, ".planning-workspace-tabs")).toMatch(/display\s*:\s*grid\s*;/);
     expect(findRule(mobileCss, ".planning-workspace--mobile-tab-question .planning-plan-pane,\n  .planning-workspace--mobile-tab-plan .planning-question-pane")).toMatch(/display\s*:\s*none\s*;/);
+    // Mobile restores a compact card inset because only one pane is visible at a time.
+    expect(findRule(mobileCss, ".planning-workspace")).toMatch(/padding\s*:\s*var\(--space-md\)\s*;/);
+    expect(findRule(mobileCss, ".planning-question-pane")).toMatch(/border-right\s*:\s*none\s*;/);
   });
 
   it("keeps desktop planning content flush inside both panes with compact aligned action rows", () => {