diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b99741b07c9..bf6c6e6b542 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@
       "ampersand-state",
       "scout-server",
       "glob",
-      "electron-squirrel-startup"
+      "electron-squirrel-startup",
+      "ipc"
     ]
   },
   "fonts": [
diff --git a/src/app.js b/src/app.js
index c0f490b1436..c37e49c024c 100644
--- a/src/app.js
+++ b/src/app.js
@@ -223,13 +223,6 @@ var Application = View.extend({
       event.preventDefault();
       this.router.history.navigate(pathname);
     }
-  },
-  sendMessage: function(msg) {
-    ipc.send('message', msg);
-  },
-  onMessageReceived: function(msg) {
-    debug('message received from main process:', msg);
-    this.trigger(msg);
   }
 });
 
@@ -262,6 +255,13 @@ app.extend({
   isFeatureEnabled: function(id) {
     return FEATURES[id] === true;
   },
+  sendMessage: function(msg) {
+    ipc.send('message', msg);
+  },
+  onMessageReceived: function(msg) {
+    debug('message received from main process:', msg);
+    this.trigger(msg);
+  },
   init: function() {
     domReady(function() {
       state.render();
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ app.extend({
       });
     });
     // set up ipc
-    ipc.on('message', state.onMessageReceived.bind(this));
+    ipc.on('message', this.onMessageReceived.bind(this));
   },
   navigate: state.navigate.bind(state)
 });
diff --git a/src/collection-stats/index.js b/src/collection-stats/index.js
index 25ec2c9680c..82648358156 100644
--- a/src/collection-stats/index.js
+++ b/src/collection-stats/index.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ var CollectionStatsView = AmpersandView.extend({
   format: function(propertyName) {
     var value = this.model.get(propertyName) || 0;
     var precision = value <= 1000 ? '0' : '0.0';
-    var format = propertyName.indexOf('_size') > -1 ? 'b' : 'a';
+    var format = propertyName.indexOf('_size') > -1 ? ' b' : 'a';
     return numeral(value).format(precision + format);
   },
   derived: {
diff --git a/src/collection-stats/index.less b/src/collection-stats/index.less
index ae54b16c8b3..3e3bc22712d 100644
--- a/src/collection-stats/index.less
+++ b/src/collection-stats/index.less
@@ -4,42 +4,59 @@
   position: absolute;
   right: 20px;
   text-align: right;
-  min-width: 450px;
+  min-width: 520px;
 }
 .collection-stats {
   display: inline-block;
+  position: relative;
   font-weight: 200;
   list-style: none;
-  padding: 0 30px 0 0;
-  margin: 11px 30px 0 0;
-  border-right: 1px solid @gray7;
+  padding: 0 20px 0 0;
+  margin: 0 20px 0 0;
+
+  &::after {
+    content: '';
+    display: block;
+    position: absolute;
+    right: 0;
+    top: 2px;
+    width: 1px;
+    height: 24px;
+    background: @gray7;
+  }
 
   &:last-child {
-    border-right: none;
     padding: 0;
     margin: 11px 0 0 0;
+
+    &::after {
+      display: none;
+    }
   }
 }
 .collection-stats-item {
   display: inline-block;
-  margin-right: 10px;
+  margin-right: 12px;
 
   &:last-child {
     margin-right: 0;
   }
 }
 .collection-stats-primary-label {
+  display: inline-block;
   text-transform: uppercase;
-  letter-spacing: 1px;
   font-size: 12px;
   color: @gray3;
+  margin-right: 5px;
 }
 .collection-stats-primary-value {
-  font-size: 36px;
-  line-height: 36px;
+  display: inline-block;
+  font-size: 24px;
+  line-height: 24px;
 }
 .collection-stats-label {
   font-size: 11px;
+  line-height: 11px;
   color: @gray3;
 }
 .collection-stats-value {
diff --git a/src/electron/config/windows.js b/src/electron/config/windows.js
index 243ddf06418..e00d5e568c2 100644
--- a/src/electron/config/windows.js
+++ b/src/electron/config/windows.js
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 /**
 * The outer dimensions to use for new windows.
 */
-exports.DEFAULT_WIDTH = 1024;
-exports.DEFAULT_HEIGHT = 700;
+exports.DEFAULT_WIDTH = 1280;
+exports.DEFAULT_HEIGHT = 800;
 
 /**
 * The outer window dimensions to use for new dialog
diff --git a/src/electron/index.js b/src/electron/index.js
index 5e15a4a802b..b57945ee1d5 100644
--- a/src/electron/index.js
+++ b/src/electron/index.js
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 // will be created in `/tmp/Compass`
 // (`~\AppData\Local\Temp\Compass` on Windows).
 require('./crash-reporter');
+var debug = require('debug')('electron:index');
 
 if (!require('electron-squirrel-startup')) {
   var app = require('app');
   var serverctl = require('./scout-server-ctl');
-  var debug = require('debug')('scout-electron');
 
   app.on('window-all-closed', function() {
     debug('All windows closed.  Quitting app.');
diff --git a/src/electron/window-manager.js b/src/electron/window-manager.js
index 51c81f649c7..53036db1cb5 100644
--- a/src/electron/window-manager.js
+++ b/src/electron/window-manager.js
@@ -128,3 +128,9 @@ app.on('show connect dialog', function(opts) {
 app.on('ready', function() {
   app.emit('show connect dialog');
 });
+
+var ipc = require('ipc');
+ipc.on('message', function(event, msg) {
+  debug('message received in main process', msg);
+  app.emit(msg);
+});
diff --git a/src/field-list/field.jade b/src/field-list/field.jade
index eff820e8c5d..bae68f47ec9 100644
--- a/src/field-list/field.jade
+++ b/src/field-list/field.jade
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 .schema-field.schema-field-basic
-  hr.field-divider
   .row
     .col-sm-4
       .schema-field-name
@@ -10,3 +9,4 @@
       div(data-hook='minichart-container')
   div(data-hook='fields-subview')
   div(data-hook='arrayfields-subview')
+  hr.field-divider
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/home/collection.jade b/src/home/collection.jade
index 0ada7fc24b2..fe4a41e672d 100644
--- a/src/home/collection.jade
+++ b/src/home/collection.jade
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 .collection-view.clearfix
-  div(data-hook='sampling-message-subview')
   div.modal.fade(tabindex='-1', role='dialog', arialabelledby='Share Schema Confirmation', data-hook='share-schema-confirmation')
     div.modal-dialog.modal-sm
       .modal-content
diff --git a/src/home/collection.js b/src/home/collection.js
index 69cdac8bab6..25bbe6f3166 100644
--- a/src/home/collection.js
+++ b/src/home/collection.js
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ var CollectionStatsView = require('../collection-stats');
 var FieldListView = require('../field-list');
 var DocumentListView = require('../document-list');
 var RefineBarView = require('../refine-view');
-var SamplingMessageView = require('../sampling-message');
 var MongoDBCollection = require('../models/mongodb-collection');
 var SampledSchema = require('../models/sampled-schema');
 var app = require('ampersand-app');
@@ -161,15 +160,6 @@ var MongoDBCollectionView = View.extend({
           collection: this.schema.documents
         });
       }
-    },
-    sampling_message: {
-      hook: 'sampling-message-subview',
-      prepareView: function(el) {
-        return new SamplingMessageView({
-          el: el,
-          parent: this
-        });
-      }
     }
   }
 });
diff --git a/src/home/index.jade b/src/home/index.jade
index ed324f00970..45183279ed9 100644
--- a/src/home/index.jade
+++ b/src/home/index.jade
@@ -4,4 +4,9 @@
     div.report-zero-state(data-hook='report-zero-state')
       img(src='images/zero-state-arrow-collections.png', width="110")
       span Choose a collection to analyze
+    div.no-collections-zero-state(data-hook='no-collections-zero-state')
+      span
+        |The MongoDB instance you are connected to does not contain any collections.&nbsp;
+        a.show-connect-window Connect to another instance
+        |.
   div(data-hook='sidebar')
diff --git a/src/home/index.js b/src/home/index.js
index 4e00d7a9363..c075d48f55c 100644
--- a/src/home/index.js
+++ b/src/home/index.js
@@ -16,18 +16,30 @@ var HomeView = View.extend({
       allowNull: true,
       default: null
     },
-    showZeroState: {
+    showDefaultZeroState: {
       type: 'boolean',
-      default: true
+      default: false
+    },
+    showNoCollectionsZeroState: {
+      type: 'boolean',
+      default: false
     }
   },
   bindings: {
-    showZeroState: {
+    showDefaultZeroState: {
       hook: 'report-zero-state',
       type: 'booleanClass',
       no: 'hidden'
+    },
+    showNoCollectionsZeroState: {
+      hook: 'no-collections-zero-state',
+      type: 'booleanClass',
+      no: 'hidden'
     }
   },
+  events: {
+    'click a.show-connect-window': 'onClickShowConnectWindow'
+  },
   initialize: function() {
     this.listenTo(app.instance, 'sync', this.onInstanceFetched);
     this.listenTo(app.connection, 'change:name', this.updateTitle);
@@ -36,6 +48,11 @@ var HomeView = View.extend({
     app.instance.fetch();
   },
   onInstanceFetched: function() {
+    if (app.instance.collections.length === 0) {
+      this.showNoCollectionsZeroState = true;
+    } else {
+      this.showDefaultZeroState = true;
+    }
     if (!this.ns) {
       app.instance.collections.unselectAll();
     } else {
@@ -58,11 +75,16 @@ var HomeView = View.extend({
 
     this.ns = model.getId();
     this.updateTitle(model);
-    this.showZeroState = false;
+    this.showDefaultZeroState = false;
     app.navigate(format('schema/%s', model.getId()), {
       silent: true
     });
   },
+  onClickShowConnectWindow: function() {
+    // code to close current connection window and open connect dialog
+    app.sendMessage('show connect dialog');
+    window.close();
+  },
   template: require('./index.jade'),
   subviews: {
     _collection: {
diff --git a/src/home/index.less b/src/home/index.less
index 83094a2a833..28f122f2940 100644
--- a/src/home/index.less
+++ b/src/home/index.less
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 }
 
 .report-zero-state {
-  margin: 124px 0 0 20px;
+  margin: 190px 0 0 20px;
 
   img {
     margin-bottom: 7px;
@@ -65,13 +65,28 @@
     margin-left: 15px;
   }
 }
+.no-collections-zero-state {
+  text-align: center;
+  margin-top: 200px;
+  padding: 50px 75px;
+  font-size: 18px;
+  color: @gray4;
+  font-weight: 200;
+
+  a {
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+}
 
 .collection-view {
   header {
-    padding: 12px 25px;
+    padding: 12px 25px 0;
     position: relative;
     z-index: 1;
   }
+  h1 {
+    margin-top: 0;
+  }
   .column-container {
     display: flex;
     overflow: hidden;
diff --git a/src/models/sampled-schema.js b/src/models/sampled-schema.js
index d45027c6078..93d84984b76 100644
--- a/src/models/sampled-schema.js
+++ b/src/models/sampled-schema.js
@@ -6,8 +6,24 @@ var filterableMixin = require('ampersand-collection-filterable');
 var SampledDocumentCollection = require('./sampled-document-collection');
 var es = require('event-stream');
 var debug = require('debug')('scout:models:schema');
+var debugMetrics = require('debug')('scout:metrics');
 var app = require('ampersand-app');
 
+// @todo: stub for metrics module. currently just logs debug messages with scout:metrics marker
+var metrics = {
+  track: function(label, err, obj) {
+    if (!obj) {
+      obj = err;
+      err = null;
+    }
+    if (err) {
+      debugMetrics(label, err, obj);
+    } else {
+      debugMetrics(label, obj);
+    }
+  }
+};
+
 /**
  * wrapping mongodb-schema's FieldCollection with a filterable mixin
  */
@@ -25,6 +41,8 @@ module.exports = Schema.extend({
     }
   },
   session: {
+    // total number of documents counted under the given query
+    total: 'number',
     is_fetching: {
       type: 'boolean',
       default: false
@@ -96,43 +114,97 @@ module.exports = Schema.extend({
     var model = this;
     wrapError(this, options);
 
-    var parse = function(doc, cb) {
-      model.parse(doc);
-      cb(null, doc);
+    var success = options.success;
+    options.success = function(resp) {
+      if (success) {
+        success(model, resp, options);
+      }
+      model.trigger('sync');
     };
+    var start = new Date();
+    var timeAtFirstDoc;
+    var erroredOnDocs = [];
 
-    var docs = [];
+    // No results found
+    var onEmpty = function() {
+      model.is_fetching = false;
+      model.documents.reset();
+      model.documents.trigger('sync');
+      options.success({});
+    };
 
+    var docs = [];
     var addToDocuments = function(doc, cb) {
       docs.push(doc);
       cb();
     };
 
+    var parse = function(doc, cb) {
+      if (!timeAtFirstDoc) {
+        timeAtFirstDoc = new Date();
+      }
+      try {
+        model.parse(doc);
+      } catch (err) {
+        erroredOnDocs.push(doc);
+        metrics.track('Schema: Error: Parse', err, {
+          doc: doc,
+          schema: model.serialize()
+        });
+      }
+      cb(null, doc);
+    };
+
     var onEnd = function(err) {
       model.is_fetching = false;
       if (err) {
+        metrics.track('Schema: Error: End', err, {
+          schema: model
+        });
         return options.error(model, err);
       }
       model.documents.reset(docs);
       model.documents.trigger('sync');
-      options.success({});
-    };
 
-    var success = options.success;
-    options.success = function(resp) {
-      if (success) {
-        success(model, resp, options);
-      }
-      model.trigger('sync');
+      // @note (imlucas): Any other metrics?  Feedback on `Schema *`?
+      var totalTime = new Date() - start;
+      var timeToFirstDoc = timeAtFirstDoc - start;
+
+      metrics.track('Schema: Complete', {
+        Duration: totalTime,
+        'Total Document Count': model.total,
+        'Sample Size': model.documents.length,
+        'Errored Document Count': erroredOnDocs.length,
+        'Time to First Doc': timeToFirstDoc,
+        'Average Time Per Doc': (totalTime - timeToFirstDoc) / model.documents.length
+        // 'Schema Height': model.height, // # of top level keys
+        // 'Schema Width': model.width, // max nesting depth
+        // 'Schema Sparsity': model.sparsity // lots of fields missing or consistent
+      });
+      options.success({});
     };
 
     model.trigger('request', {}, {}, options);
 
-    debug('creating sample stream');
-    app.client.sample(model.ns, options)
-      .pipe(es.map(parse))
-      .pipe(es.map(addToDocuments))
-      .pipe(es.wait(onEnd));
+    app.client.count(model.ns, options, function(err, count) {
+      if (err) {
+        metrics.track('Schema: Error: Count', err, {
+          schema: model
+        });
+        return options.error(model, err);
+      }
+      debug('options', options, 'count', count.count);
+      model.total = count.count;
+      if (model.total === 0) {
+        return onEmpty();
+      }
+
+      debug('creating sample stream');
+      app.client.sample(model.ns, options)
+        .pipe(es.map(parse))
+        .pipe(es.map(addToDocuments))
+        .pipe(es.wait(onEnd));
+    });
   },
   serialize: function() {
     var res = this.getAttributes({
diff --git a/src/refine-view/index.jade b/src/refine-view/index.jade
index 84183ca859d..e7a48a0100f 100644
--- a/src/refine-view/index.jade
+++ b/src/refine-view/index.jade
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
-.refine-view-container: .row: .col-md-12
-  form: .input-group(data-hook='refine-input-group')
+.refine-view-container
+  .query-input-container: .row: .col-md-12: form: .input-group(data-hook='refine-input-group')
     input.form-control.input-sm(type='text', data-hook='refine-input')
     span.input-group-btn
       button.btn.btn-info.btn-sm(type='button', data-hook='refine-button') Apply
       button.btn.btn-default.btn-sm(type='button', data-hook='reset-button') Reset
+  div(data-hook='sampling-message-subview')
+
+  //- .sampling-message
+  //-   span Query returned 9867 documents. This report is based on a sample of 1000 documents (10.13%).
diff --git a/src/refine-view/index.js b/src/refine-view/index.js
index e8a0103b6fb..206932b98e4 100644
--- a/src/refine-view/index.js
+++ b/src/refine-view/index.js
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ var EditableQuery = require('../models/editable-query');
 var $ = require('jquery');
 var EJSON = require('mongodb-extended-json');
 var Query = require('mongodb-language-model').Query;
+var SamplingMessageView = require('../sampling-message');
+
 // var debug = require('debug')('scout:refine-view:index');
 
 module.exports = AmpersandView.extend({
@@ -55,6 +57,17 @@ module.exports = AmpersandView.extend({
       }
     ]
   },
+  subviews: {
+    sampling_message: {
+      hook: 'sampling-message-subview',
+      prepareView: function(el) {
+        return new SamplingMessageView({
+          el: el,
+          parent: this
+        });
+      }
+    }
+  },
   events: {
     'click [data-hook=refine-button]': 'refineClicked',
     'click [data-hook=reset-button]': 'resetClicked',
diff --git a/src/refine-view/index.less b/src/refine-view/index.less
index 4df03906e44..b8f22def19e 100644
--- a/src/refine-view/index.less
+++ b/src/refine-view/index.less
@@ -1,19 +1,28 @@
 .refine-view-container {
-  background: @gray8;
-  padding: 12px 25px;
   position: relative;
   z-index: 1;
 
-  input[type='text'] {
-    font-family: @font-family-monospace;
-    background: @pw;
-    height: 28px;
-    & + .input-group-btn {
-      padding-left: 10px;
+  .query-input-container {
+    padding: 12px 25px;
+    background: @gray8;
 
-      &:last-child > .btn {
-        margin-left: 2px;
+    input[type='text'] {
+      font-family: @font-family-monospace;
+      background: @pw;
+      height: 28px;
+      & + .input-group-btn {
+        padding-left: 10px;
+
+        &:last-child > .btn {
+          margin-left: 2px;
+        }
       }
     }
   }
+  .sampling-message {
+    font-size: 12px;
+    font-weight: 200;
+    padding: 5px 25px;
+    border-bottom: 2px solid @gray7
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/sampling-message/index.jade b/src/sampling-message/index.jade
index 1f272cae0fa..357290ff3ea 100644
--- a/src/sampling-message/index.jade
+++ b/src/sampling-message/index.jade
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
-.sampling-status
-  span(data-hook='is_sample') This report is based on a sample of&nbsp;
-  span(data-hook='is_query') Your query returned&nbsp;
-  span(data-hook='sample_size_message')
-  |.
+.sampling-message
+  if is_sample
+    | Query returned&nbsp;
+    b #{formatted_total_count}
+    | &nbsp;#{total_count_document}.
+    | This report is based on a sample of&nbsp;
+    b #{formatted_sample_size}
+    | &nbsp;#{sample_size_document}.
+  else
+    | Query returned&nbsp;
+    b #{formatted_sample_size}
+    | &nbsp;#{sample_size_document}.
diff --git a/src/sampling-message/index.js b/src/sampling-message/index.js
index c51a3aeee91..7f2d50c4f46 100644
--- a/src/sampling-message/index.js
+++ b/src/sampling-message/index.js
@@ -2,69 +2,83 @@ var View = require('ampersand-view');
 var pluralize = require('pluralize');
 var format = require('util').format;
 var app = require('ampersand-app');
+var numeral = require('numeral');
+var debug = require('debug')('scout:sampling-message:index');
 
 var SamplingMessageView = View.extend({
+  template: require('./index.jade'),
   session: {
     parent: 'state'
   },
-  bindings: {
-    visible: {
-      type: 'booleanClass',
-      no: 'hidden'
-    },
-    sample_size_message: {
-      hook: 'sample_size_message'
-    },
-    is_sample: [
-      {
-        hook: 'is_sample',
-        type: 'booleanClass',
-        no: 'hidden'
-      },
-      {
-        hook: 'is_query',
-        type: 'booleanClass',
-        yes: 'hidden'
-      }
-    ]
-  },
   props: {
-    schema_sample_size: {
+    sample_size: {
+      type: 'number',
+      default: 0
+    },
+    total_count: {
       type: 'number',
       default: 0
     }
   },
   derived: {
     visible: {
-      deps: ['schema_sample_size'],
+      deps: ['sample_size'],
       fn: function() {
-        return this.schema_sample_size > 0;
+        return this.sample_size > 0;
       }
     },
     is_sample: {
-      deps: ['schema_sample_size'],
+      deps: ['sample_size'],
+      fn: function() {
+        return this.sample_size === app.queryOptions.size;
+      }
+    },
+    formatted_total_count: {
+      deps: ['total_count'],
       fn: function() {
-        return this.schema_sample_size === app.queryOptions.size;
+        return numeral(this.total_count).format('0,0');
       }
     },
-    sample_size_message: {
-      deps: ['schema_sample_size'],
+    formatted_sample_size: {
+      deps: ['sample_size'],
       fn: function() {
-        return format('%d %s', this.parent.schema.sample_size,
-          pluralize('document', this.parent.schema.sample_size));
+        return numeral(this.sample_size).format('0,0');
+      }
+    },
+    total_count_document: {
+      deps: ['total_count'],
+      fn: function() {
+        return pluralize('document', this.total_count);
+      }
+    },
+    sample_size_document: {
+      deps: ['sample_size'],
+      fn: function() {
+        return pluralize('document', this.sample_size);
       }
     }
   },
-  template: require('./index.jade'),
+  bindings: {
+    visible: {
+      type: 'booleanClass',
+      no: 'hidden'
+    }
+  },
   initialize: function() {
-    this.listenTo(this.parent.schema, 'request', this.hide.bind(this));
-    this.listenTo(this.parent.schema, 'sync', this.show.bind(this));
+    this.listenTo(this.parent.parent.schema, 'request', this.hide.bind(this));
+    this.listenTo(this.parent.parent.schema, 'sync', this.show.bind(this));
   },
   hide: function() {
-    this.schema_sample_size = 0;
+    this.sample_size = 0;
+    this.total_count = 0;
   },
   show: function() {
-    this.schema_sample_size = this.parent.schema.sample_size;
+    this.sample_size = this.parent.parent.schema.sample_size;
+    this.total_count = this.parent.parent.schema.total;
+    this.render();
+  },
+  render: function() {
+    this.renderWithTemplate(this);
   }
 });
 module.exports = SamplingMessageView;
diff --git a/src/sidebar/index.jade b/src/sidebar/index.jade
index fceda4a02a9..d95e7b07a90 100644
--- a/src/sidebar/index.jade
+++ b/src/sidebar/index.jade
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 div
   .sidebar.panel
     div.compass-logo
+    div(data-hook='instance-properties-subview')
     div(data-hook='collection-filter-subview')
     div(data-hook='collection-list-subview')
diff --git a/src/sidebar/index.js b/src/sidebar/index.js
index 3ba3da2d8ec..c3cdcc3e527 100644
--- a/src/sidebar/index.js
+++ b/src/sidebar/index.js
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 var View = require('ampersand-view');
 var mousetrap = require('mousetrap');
+var InstancePropertiesView = require('./instance-properties');
 var CollectionFilterView = require('./collection-filter');
 var CollectionListView = require('./collection-list');
+var app = require('ampersand-app');
 
 var SidebarView = View.extend({
   props: {
@@ -33,6 +35,16 @@ var SidebarView = View.extend({
   },
   template: require('./index.jade'),
   subviews: {
+    instance_properties: {
+      hook: 'instance-properties-subview',
+      prepareView: function(el) {
+        return new InstancePropertiesView({
+          el: el,
+          parent: this,
+          instance: app.instance
+        });
+      }
+    },
     collections_filter: {
       hook: 'collection-filter-subview',
       prepareView: function(el) {
diff --git a/src/sidebar/instance-properties.jade b/src/sidebar/instance-properties.jade
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..da3e380d234
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sidebar/instance-properties.jade
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+div.instance-properties
+  span.hostname(data-hook='hostname')
+  span.version
+    | version&nbsp;
+    span(data-hook='version')
+  div.db-stats
+    span.num-databases
+      strong(data-hook='num-databases')
+      | &nbsp;DBs
+    span.num-collections
+      strong(data-hook='num-collections')
+      | &nbsp;Collections
+    button.refresh-collections(data-hook='refresh-button')
+      i.fa(data-hook='refresh-icon')
diff --git a/src/sidebar/instance-properties.js b/src/sidebar/instance-properties.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2fb4dbd5ca3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sidebar/instance-properties.js
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+var View = require('ampersand-view');
+var app = require('ampersand-app');
+// var debug = require('debug')('scout:sidebar:instace-properties');
+var _ = require('lodash');
+
+var InstancePropertiesView = module.exports = View.extend({
+  template: require('./instance-properties.jade'),
+  session: {
+    numDatabases: 'number',
+    numCollections: 'number',
+    instance: 'state',
+    is_fetching: {
+      type: 'boolean',
+      default: true
+    }
+  },
+  bindings: {
+    'instance.host.hostname': {
+      type: 'text',
+      hook: 'hostname'
+    },
+    'instance.build.version': {
+      type: 'text',
+      hook: 'version'
+    },
+    numCollections: {
+      type: 'text',
+      hook: 'num-collections'
+    },
+    numDatabases: {
+      type: 'text',
+      hook: 'num-databases'
+    },
+    is_fetching: {
+      type: 'booleanClass',
+      hook: 'refresh-icon',
+      yes: ['fa-refresh', 'fa-spin'],
+      no: 'fa-repeat'
+    }
+  },
+  events: {
+    'click button[data-hook=refresh-button]': 'onRefreshButtonClicked'
+  },
+  initialize: function() {
+    this.listenTo(app.instance, 'sync', this.onInstanceFetched);
+  },
+  onInstanceFetched: function() {
+    // delay switching the spinner back to static for 500ms, otherwise the reload is not noticable
+    _.delay(function() {
+      this.is_fetching = false;
+    }.bind(this), 500);
+    this.numDatabases = app.instance.databases.length;
+    this.numCollections = app.instance.collections.length;
+  },
+  onRefreshButtonClicked: function() {
+    app.instance.fetch();
+    this.is_fetching = true;
+  }
+});
+
+module.exports = InstancePropertiesView;
diff --git a/styles/palette.less b/styles/palette.less
index 840a0261318..29d27c15da6 100644
--- a/styles/palette.less
+++ b/styles/palette.less
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
 @gray7: #ebebed;
 @gray8: #f5f6f7;
 
-@slate0: #4c5259;
-@slate1: #70757a;
+@slate0: #42494f;
+@slate1: #4c5259;
+@slate2: #70757a;
 
 @blue3: #5b81a9; // TODO: deprecate
 @blue4: #84a1bf; // TODO: deprecate
diff --git a/styles/sidebar.less b/styles/sidebar.less
index 90cd562b8d5..00c0940b4aa 100644
--- a/styles/sidebar.less
+++ b/styles/sidebar.less
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-@sidebar-bg: @slate0;
+@sidebar-bg: @slate1;
 @sidebar-width: 220px;
 
 .sidebar {
@@ -9,14 +9,70 @@
   margin-bottom: 0;
 
   .compass-logo {
-    background: @slate1 url("images/logo-compass-on-dark.png") center center no-repeat;
+    background: @slate0 url("images/logo-compass-on-dark.png") center center no-repeat;
     background-size: 162px 28px;
     width: @sidebar-width;
-    height: 72px;
+    height: 60px;
+  }
+
+  .instance-properties {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 78px;
+    left: 10px;
+
+    .hostname {
+      display: block;
+      font-size: 16px;
+      line-height: 16px;
+      font-weight: 200;
+      color: @pw;
+    }
+    .version {
+      display: block;
+      font-size: 13px;
+      line-height: 14px;
+      font-weight: normal;
+      color: @gray5;
+    }
+    .db-stats {
+      color: @gray5;
+      margin-top: 8px;
+      font-style: 13px;
+      line-height: 13px;
+
+      .num-databases,
+      .num-collections {
+        display: inline-block;
+        border-right: 1px solid @slate2;
+        padding-right: 10px;
+        margin-right: 10px;
+      }
+      strong {
+        color: @gray7;
+        font-weight: bold;
+      }
+      button.refresh-collections {
+        background: none;
+        border: none;
+        color: @gray7;
+        font-size: 13px;
+        border-radius: 2px;
+        padding: 4px 5px;
+        transition: all 150ms ease;
+
+        &:hover {
+          background: @slate0;
+          color: @pw;
+        }
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   .list-filter {
-    padding: 12px;
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 156px;
+    width: 100%;
+    // padding-bottom: 12px;
     box-shadow: 0 2px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
 
     i.search {
@@ -24,19 +80,41 @@
       position: absolute;
       margin-top: 9px;
       margin-left: 10px;
-      color: @gray5;
+      color: @gray7;
     }
+    // input {
+    //   padding: 0;
+    //   margin-left: 30px;
+    //   margin-top: 7px;
+    //   height: auto;
+    //   background: @slate1;
+    //   color: @pw;
+    //   width: 174px;
+    //   border: none;
+    //   border-bottom: 1px solid lighten(@slate1, 5%);
+    // }
+    // input[type=search] {
+    //   border-radius: 18px;
+    // }
     input {
-      padding: 5px 5px 5px 30px;
+      padding: 7px 5px 5px 30px;
       height: auto;
-      background: @slate0;
+      background: lighten(@slate1, 5%);
       color: @pw;
       width: 100%;
-      border: 1px solid lighten(@slate0, 5%);
+      border: none;
+      transition: all 150ms ease;
+
+      &:focus {
+        background: lighten(@slate1, 8%);
+      }
     }
-    input[type=search] {
-      border-radius: 18px;
+    input::-webkit-input-placeholder {
+      color: @gray5;
     }
+    // input[type=search] {
+    //   border-radius: 18px;
+    // }
   }
 
   .panel-title {
@@ -45,7 +123,7 @@
   .list-group {
     line-height: 24px;
     position: absolute;
-    top: 128px;
+    top: 189px;
     bottom: 0px;
     overflow-y: auto;
     width: 100%;
@@ -60,10 +138,10 @@
       color: @gray5;
 
       &:hover {
-        background: lighten(@slate0, 5%);
+        background: lighten(@slate1, 5%);
         a {
           color: @pw;
-          border-left: 4px solid lighten(@slate0, 5%);
+          border-left: 4px solid lighten(@slate1, 5%);
           text-decoration: none;
         }
       }