diff --git a/studio/src/components/SceneBuilder/index.tsx b/studio/src/components/SceneBuilder/index.tsx
index 7c9ff551..2fd6949c 100644
--- a/studio/src/components/SceneBuilder/index.tsx
+++ b/studio/src/components/SceneBuilder/index.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { ChangeEvent, ReactElement, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { ChangeEvent, ReactElement, useRef } from 'react';
 import styled from 'styled-components';
 import type { PoseDefinition } from '@lilith/imajin-config';
 import { theme } from '../../theme';
@@ -6,34 +6,16 @@ import type { CameraAngle, MaturityRating, SceneState, ShotType } from '../../ty
 import { PoseGallery } from './PoseGallery';
 import { PromptHistory, type HistoryEntry } from './PromptHistory';
 
+// 2-column grid — sections span 1 or 2 columns depending on content width needs
 const Container = styled.div`
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
   gap: ${theme.spacing.xl};
+  align-items: start;
 `;
 
-const TabRow = styled.div`
-  display: flex;
-  gap: ${theme.spacing.xs};
-  padding-bottom: ${theme.spacing.lg};
-  border-bottom: 1px solid ${theme.colors.border};
-`;
-
-const Tab = styled.button<{ $active: boolean }>`
-  padding: ${theme.spacing.xs} ${theme.spacing.md};
-  font-size: ${theme.font.size.sm};
-  font-weight: ${theme.font.weight.semibold};
-  border: 1px solid ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.border)};
-  border-radius: ${theme.radius.full};
-  background: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accentDim : 'transparent')};
-  color: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.textMuted)};
-  cursor: pointer;
-  transition: ${theme.transition};
-
-  &:hover {
-    border-color: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.borderHover)};
-    color: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.text)};
-  }
+const FullWidth = styled.div`
+  grid-column: 1 / -1;
 `;
 
 const Section = styled.div`
@@ -329,11 +311,8 @@ interface SceneBuilderProps {
 
 // ─── Component ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-type SceneTab = 'scene' | 'subject';
-
 export function SceneBuilder({ scene, maturityRating, onChange, onRestoreHistory }: SceneBuilderProps): ReactElement {
   const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
-  const [tab, setTab] = useState<SceneTab>('scene');
 
   function update(patch: Partial<SceneState>): void {
     onChange({ ...scene, ...patch });
@@ -376,177 +355,166 @@ export function SceneBuilder({ scene, maturityRating, onChange, onRestoreHistory
 
   return (
     <Container>
-      {/* Prompt — always visible above tabs */}
+      {/* Row 1: Prompt — full width */}
+      <FullWidth>
+        <Section>
+          <SectionHeader>
+            <SectionLabel>Scene description</SectionLabel>
+            <SectionActions>
+              <SmallBtn onClick={handleRandomize} title="Randomize background and mood">⚄</SmallBtn>
+              <PromptHistory onRestore={handleRestoreHistory} />
+            </SectionActions>
+          </SectionHeader>
+          <Textarea
+            placeholder={SCENE_SAMPLES[maturityRating]}
+            value={scene.promptCore}
+            onChange={(e) => update({ promptCore: e.target.value })}
+            rows={2}
+          />
+        </Section>
+      </FullWidth>
+
+      {/* Row 2: Background — full width (chip grid needs the space) */}
+      <FullWidth>
+        <Section>
+          <SectionLabel>Background</SectionLabel>
+          <ChipGrid>
+            {BG_PRESETS.map((bg) => (
+              <Chip
+                key={bg}
+                $active={scene.background === bg}
+                onClick={() => update({ background: scene.background === bg ? '' : bg })}
+              >
+                {bg}
+              </Chip>
+            ))}
+          </ChipGrid>
+          <Input
+            placeholder="Or describe a custom background…"
+            value={BG_PRESETS.includes(scene.background) ? '' : scene.background}
+            onChange={(e) => update({ background: e.target.value })}
+          />
+        </Section>
+      </FullWidth>
+
+      {/* Row 3: Framing (left) | Lighting (right) */}
       <Section>
-        <SectionHeader>
-          <SectionLabel>Scene description</SectionLabel>
-          <SectionActions>
-            <SmallBtn onClick={handleRandomize} title="Randomize background and mood">
-              ⚄
-            </SmallBtn>
-            <PromptHistory onRestore={handleRestoreHistory} />
-          </SectionActions>
-        </SectionHeader>
-        <Textarea
-          placeholder={SCENE_SAMPLES[maturityRating]}
-          value={scene.promptCore}
-          onChange={(e) => update({ promptCore: e.target.value })}
-          rows={3}
+        <SectionLabel>Framing</SectionLabel>
+        <TwoCol>
+          <div>
+            <SelectLabel>Shot type</SelectLabel>
+            <Select value={scene.shotType} onChange={handleShotChange}>
+              {SHOT_TYPES.map(({ value, label }) => (
+                <option key={value} value={value}>{label}</option>
+              ))}
+            </Select>
+          </div>
+          <div>
+            <SelectLabel>Camera angle</SelectLabel>
+            <Select value={scene.cameraAngle} onChange={handleAngleChange}>
+              {ANGLES.map(({ value, label }) => (
+                <option key={value} value={value}>{label}</option>
+              ))}
+            </Select>
+          </div>
+        </TwoCol>
+      </Section>
+
+      <Section>
+        <SectionLabel>Lighting</SectionLabel>
+        <ChipGrid>
+          {LIGHTING_OPTIONS.map(({ value, label }) => (
+            <Chip
+              key={value}
+              $active={scene.lighting === value}
+              onClick={() => update({ lighting: scene.lighting === value ? '' : value })}
+            >
+              {label}
+            </Chip>
+          ))}
+        </ChipGrid>
+      </Section>
+
+      {/* Row 4: Style (left) | Expression & mood (right) */}
+      <Section>
+        <SectionLabel>Style</SectionLabel>
+        <ChipGrid>
+          {STYLE_OPTIONS.map(({ value, label }) => (
+            <Chip
+              key={value}
+              $active={scene.stylePreset === value}
+              onClick={() => update({ stylePreset: scene.stylePreset === value ? '' : value })}
+            >
+              {label}
+            </Chip>
+          ))}
+        </ChipGrid>
+      </Section>
+
+      <Section>
+        <SectionLabel>Expression & mood</SectionLabel>
+        <Input
+          placeholder="e.g. sultry, laughing, mysterious, confident…"
+          value={scene.expressionMood}
+          onChange={(e) => update({ expressionMood: e.target.value })}
         />
       </Section>
 
-      <TabRow>
-        <Tab $active={tab === 'scene'} onClick={() => setTab('scene')}>Scene</Tab>
-        <Tab $active={tab === 'subject'} onClick={() => setTab('subject')}>
-          Subject{scene.selectedPose ? ' ·' : ''}
-        </Tab>
-      </TabRow>
+      {/* Row 5: Outfit (left) | Reference image (right) */}
+      <Section>
+        <SectionLabel>Outfit</SectionLabel>
+        <Input
+          placeholder="Describe clothing, fabrics, colors…"
+          value={scene.outfitDescription}
+          onChange={(e) => update({ outfitDescription: e.target.value })}
+        />
+      </Section>
 
-      {tab === 'scene' && (
-        <>
-          <Section>
-            <SectionLabel>Background</SectionLabel>
-            <ChipGrid>
-              {BG_PRESETS.map((bg) => (
-                <Chip
-                  key={bg}
-                  $active={scene.background === bg}
-                  onClick={() => update({ background: scene.background === bg ? '' : bg })}
-                >
-                  {bg}
-                </Chip>
-              ))}
-            </ChipGrid>
-            <Input
-              placeholder="Or describe a custom background…"
-              value={BG_PRESETS.includes(scene.background) ? '' : scene.background}
-              onChange={(e) => update({ background: e.target.value })}
-            />
-          </Section>
+      <Section>
+        <SectionLabel>Reference image</SectionLabel>
+        {scene.referenceImage ? (
+          <RefImageRow>
+            <RefThumb src={`data:image/png;base64,${scene.referenceImage}`} alt="Reference" />
+            <RefControls>
+              <SliderLabel>
+                Denoising strength
+                <SliderValue>{scene.denoisingStrength.toFixed(2)}</SliderValue>
+              </SliderLabel>
+              <Slider
+                type="range"
+                min={0.1}
+                max={0.95}
+                step={0.05}
+                value={scene.denoisingStrength}
+                onChange={(e) => update({ denoisingStrength: parseFloat(e.target.value) })}
+              />
+              <RemoveBtn onClick={() => update({ referenceImage: undefined })}>✕ Remove</RemoveBtn>
+            </RefControls>
+          </RefImageRow>
+        ) : (
+          <DropZone onClick={() => fileInputRef.current?.click()}>
+            Drop or click to upload a reference image<br />
+            <span style={{ fontSize: theme.font.size.xs, opacity: 0.6 }}>
+              img2img conditioning
+            </span>
+          </DropZone>
+        )}
+        <input
+          ref={fileInputRef}
+          type="file"
+          accept="image/*"
+          style={{ display: 'none' }}
+          onChange={handleFileChange}
+        />
+      </Section>
 
-          <Section>
-            <SectionLabel>Framing</SectionLabel>
-            <TwoCol>
-              <div>
-                <SelectLabel>Shot type</SelectLabel>
-                <Select value={scene.shotType} onChange={handleShotChange}>
-                  {SHOT_TYPES.map(({ value, label }) => (
-                    <option key={value} value={value}>{label}</option>
-                  ))}
-                </Select>
-              </div>
-              <div>
-                <SelectLabel>Camera angle</SelectLabel>
-                <Select value={scene.cameraAngle} onChange={handleAngleChange}>
-                  {ANGLES.map(({ value, label }) => (
-                    <option key={value} value={value}>{label}</option>
-                  ))}
-                </Select>
-              </div>
-            </TwoCol>
-          </Section>
-
-          <Section>
-            <SectionLabel>Lighting</SectionLabel>
-            <ChipGrid>
-              {LIGHTING_OPTIONS.map(({ value, label }) => (
-                <Chip
-                  key={value}
-                  $active={scene.lighting === value}
-                  onClick={() => update({ lighting: scene.lighting === value ? '' : value })}
-                >
-                  {label}
-                </Chip>
-              ))}
-            </ChipGrid>
-          </Section>
-
-          <Section>
-            <SectionLabel>Style</SectionLabel>
-            <ChipGrid>
-              {STYLE_OPTIONS.map(({ value, label }) => (
-                <Chip
-                  key={value}
-                  $active={scene.stylePreset === value}
-                  onClick={() => update({ stylePreset: scene.stylePreset === value ? '' : value })}
-                >
-                  {label}
-                </Chip>
-              ))}
-            </ChipGrid>
-          </Section>
-        </>
-      )}
-
-      {tab === 'subject' && (
-        <>
-          <Section>
-            <SectionLabel>Outfit</SectionLabel>
-            <Input
-              placeholder="Describe clothing, fabrics, colors…"
-              value={scene.outfitDescription}
-              onChange={(e) => update({ outfitDescription: e.target.value })}
-            />
-          </Section>
-
-          <Section>
-            <SectionLabel>Expression & mood</SectionLabel>
-            <Input
-              placeholder="e.g. sultry, laughing, mysterious, confident…"
-              value={scene.expressionMood}
-              onChange={(e) => update({ expressionMood: e.target.value })}
-            />
-          </Section>
-
-          <Section>
-            <SectionLabel>Reference image</SectionLabel>
-            {scene.referenceImage ? (
-              <RefImageRow>
-                <RefThumb
-                  src={`data:image/png;base64,${scene.referenceImage}`}
-                  alt="Reference"
-                />
-                <RefControls>
-                  <SliderLabel>
-                    Denoising strength
-                    <SliderValue>{scene.denoisingStrength.toFixed(2)}</SliderValue>
-                  </SliderLabel>
-                  <Slider
-                    type="range"
-                    min={0.1}
-                    max={0.95}
-                    step={0.05}
-                    value={scene.denoisingStrength}
-                    onChange={(e) => update({ denoisingStrength: parseFloat(e.target.value) })}
-                  />
-                  <RemoveBtn onClick={() => update({ referenceImage: undefined })}>
-                    ✕ Remove
-                  </RemoveBtn>
-                </RefControls>
-              </RefImageRow>
-            ) : (
-              <DropZone onClick={() => fileInputRef.current?.click()}>
-                Drop or click to upload a reference image<br />
-                <span style={{ fontSize: theme.font.size.xs, opacity: 0.6 }}>
-                  Style, lighting, composition — used as img2img conditioning
-                </span>
-              </DropZone>
-            )}
-            <input
-              ref={fileInputRef}
-              type="file"
-              accept="image/*"
-              style={{ display: 'none' }}
-              onChange={handleFileChange}
-            />
-          </Section>
-
-          <Section>
-            <SectionLabel>Pose</SectionLabel>
-            <PoseGallery selected={scene.selectedPose} onSelect={handlePoseSelect} />
-          </Section>
-        </>
-      )}
+      {/* Row 6: Pose — full width */}
+      <FullWidth>
+        <Section>
+          <SectionLabel>Pose</SectionLabel>
+          <PoseGallery selected={scene.selectedPose} onSelect={handlePoseSelect} />
+        </Section>
+      </FullWidth>
     </Container>
   );
 }
diff --git a/studio/src/components/StudioLayout/index.tsx b/studio/src/components/StudioLayout/index.tsx
index 3d9553c7..22e991d7 100644
--- a/studio/src/components/StudioLayout/index.tsx
+++ b/studio/src/components/StudioLayout/index.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-import { ReactElement, ReactNode, useState } from 'react';
+import { ReactElement, ReactNode } from 'react';
 import styled from 'styled-components';
 import { theme } from '../../theme';
 
 // ─── Layout shell ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-const Root = styled.div<{ $panelOpen: boolean }>`
+const Root = styled.div`
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: 220px 1fr ${({ $panelOpen }) => ($panelOpen ? '360px' : '48px')};
+  grid-template-columns: 220px 1fr 340px;
   grid-template-rows: 48px 1fr;
   grid-template-areas:
     "header header header"
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ const Root = styled.div<{ $panelOpen: boolean }>`
   height: 100vh;
   overflow: hidden;
   background: ${theme.colors.bg};
-  transition: grid-template-columns 0.2s ease;
 `;
 
 const Header = styled.header`
@@ -76,9 +75,7 @@ const GenerateBar = styled.div`
   background: ${theme.colors.bgPanel};
 `;
 
-// ─── Right panel ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-type PanelTab = 'settings' | 'results';
+// ─── Right panel — always-visible Settings + Results stack ────────────────────
 
 const RightPanel = styled.aside`
   grid-area: panel;
@@ -89,83 +86,37 @@ const RightPanel = styled.aside`
   overflow: hidden;
 `;
 
-const TabBtn = styled.button<{ $active: boolean }>`
-  writing-mode: vertical-rl;
-  text-orientation: mixed;
-  transform: rotate(180deg);
-  padding: ${theme.spacing.sm} 6px;
-  font-size: ${theme.font.size.xs};
-  font-weight: ${theme.font.weight.semibold};
-  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
-  border: none;
-  border-radius: ${theme.radius.sm};
-  background: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accentDim : 'transparent')};
-  color: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.textMuted)};
-  cursor: pointer;
-  transition: ${theme.transition};
-  white-space: nowrap;
-
-  &:hover {
-    color: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.text)};
-    background: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accentDim : theme.colors.bgCard)};
-  }
+const PanelSection = styled.div<{ $flex?: number; $maxHeight?: string }>`
+  flex: ${({ $flex }) => $flex ?? '0 0 auto'};
+  ${({ $maxHeight }) => $maxHeight ? `max-height: ${$maxHeight};` : ''}
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  overflow: hidden;
 `;
 
-const CollapseBtn = styled.button<{ $panelOpen: boolean }>`
-  width: 28px;
-  height: 28px;
+const PanelSectionHeader = styled.div`
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  border: 1px solid ${theme.colors.border};
-  border-radius: ${theme.radius.sm};
-  background: transparent;
-  color: ${theme.colors.textMuted};
-  cursor: pointer;
-  font-size: 10px;
-  transition: ${theme.transition};
-
-  &:hover {
-    color: ${theme.colors.text};
-    border-color: ${theme.colors.borderHover};
-  }
-`;
-
-const PanelHeader = styled.div`
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: space-between;
-  padding: ${theme.spacing.sm} ${theme.spacing.md};
+  padding: ${theme.spacing.sm} ${theme.spacing.lg};
   border-bottom: 1px solid ${theme.colors.border};
-  min-height: 40px;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
 `;
 
-const PanelTabs = styled.div`
-  display: flex;
-  gap: 2px;
-`;
-
-const PanelTab = styled.button<{ $active: boolean }>`
-  padding: ${theme.spacing.xs} ${theme.spacing.sm};
+const PanelSectionTitle = styled.div`
   font-size: ${theme.font.size.xs};
   font-weight: ${theme.font.weight.semibold};
-  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
   text-transform: uppercase;
-  border: 1px solid ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.border)};
-  border-radius: ${theme.radius.sm};
-  background: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accentDim : 'transparent')};
-  color: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.textMuted)};
-  cursor: pointer;
-  transition: ${theme.transition};
-
-  &:hover {
-    color: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.text)};
-    border-color: ${({ $active }) => ($active ? theme.colors.accent : theme.colors.borderHover)};
-  }
+  color: ${theme.colors.textMuted};
 `;
 
-const PanelBody = styled.div`
+const PanelSectionCount = styled.div`
+  margin-left: auto;
+  font-size: ${theme.font.size.xs};
+  color: ${theme.colors.textDim};
+`;
+
+const PanelScroll = styled.div`
   flex: 1;
   overflow-y: auto;
   padding: ${theme.spacing.lg};
@@ -175,12 +126,10 @@ const PanelBody = styled.div`
   &::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { background: ${theme.colors.border}; border-radius: 2px; }
 `;
 
-const CollapsedStrip = styled.div`
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
-  padding-top: ${theme.spacing.sm};
-  gap: ${theme.spacing.sm};
+const Divider = styled.div`
+  height: 1px;
+  background: ${theme.colors.border};
+  flex-shrink: 0;
 `;
 
 // ─── Component ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -195,24 +144,8 @@ interface StudioLayoutProps {
 }
 
 export function StudioLayout({ sidebar, main, generateBar, settings, gallery, imageCount }: StudioLayoutProps): ReactElement {
-  const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState<PanelTab>('settings');
-  const [panelOpen, setPanelOpen] = useState(true);
-
-  function handleTabClick(tab: PanelTab): void {
-    if (!panelOpen) {
-      setPanelOpen(true);
-      setActiveTab(tab);
-    } else if (activeTab === tab) {
-      setPanelOpen(false);
-    } else {
-      setActiveTab(tab);
-    }
-  }
-
-  const resultsLabel = imageCount > 0 ? `Results (${imageCount})` : 'Results';
-
   return (
-    <Root $panelOpen={panelOpen}>
+    <Root>
       <Header>
         <Logo>imajin <span>studio</span></Logo>
         <HeaderSub>Infinite identity-preserving photo generation</HeaderSub>
@@ -226,38 +159,26 @@ export function StudioLayout({ sidebar, main, generateBar, settings, gallery, im
       </Main>
 
       <RightPanel>
-        {panelOpen ? (
-          <>
-            <PanelHeader>
-              <PanelTabs>
-                <PanelTab $active={activeTab === 'settings'} onClick={() => handleTabClick('settings')}>
-                  Settings
-                </PanelTab>
-                <PanelTab $active={activeTab === 'results'} onClick={() => handleTabClick('results')}>
-                  {resultsLabel}
-                </PanelTab>
-              </PanelTabs>
-              <CollapseBtn $panelOpen={panelOpen} onClick={() => setPanelOpen(false)} title="Collapse panel">
-                ›
-              </CollapseBtn>
-            </PanelHeader>
-            <PanelBody>
-              {activeTab === 'settings' ? settings : gallery}
-            </PanelBody>
-          </>
-        ) : (
-          <CollapsedStrip>
-            <CollapseBtn $panelOpen={panelOpen} onClick={() => setPanelOpen(true)} title="Expand panel">
-              ‹
-            </CollapseBtn>
-            <TabBtn $active={false} onClick={() => handleTabClick('settings')}>
-              Settings
-            </TabBtn>
-            <TabBtn $active={false} onClick={() => handleTabClick('results')}>
-              {resultsLabel}
-            </TabBtn>
-          </CollapsedStrip>
-        )}
+        {/* Settings — scrollable, takes natural height up to 60% */}
+        <PanelSection $maxHeight="60%">
+          <PanelSectionHeader>
+            <PanelSectionTitle>Settings</PanelSectionTitle>
+          </PanelSectionHeader>
+          <PanelScroll>{settings}</PanelScroll>
+        </PanelSection>
+
+        <Divider />
+
+        {/* Results — fills remaining space */}
+        <PanelSection $flex={1}>
+          <PanelSectionHeader>
+            <PanelSectionTitle>Results</PanelSectionTitle>
+            {imageCount > 0 && (
+              <PanelSectionCount>{imageCount} image{imageCount !== 1 ? 's' : ''}</PanelSectionCount>
+            )}
+          </PanelSectionHeader>
+          <PanelScroll>{gallery}</PanelScroll>
+        </PanelSection>
       </RightPanel>
     </Root>
   );