diff --git a/src/components/structures/BottomLeftMenu.js b/src/components/structures/BottomLeftMenu.js
index f357bede96..9e7442cd90 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/BottomLeftMenu.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/BottomLeftMenu.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /*
 Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
 
 Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,13 +15,15 @@ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 */
 
-'use strict';
+import React from 'react';
+import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
+import sdk from 'matrix-react-sdk';
+import dis from 'matrix-react-sdk/lib/dispatcher';
+import AccessibleButton from 'matrix-react-sdk/lib/components/views/elements/AccessibleButton';
+import Velocity from 'velocity-vector';
+import 'velocity-vector/velocity.ui';
 
-var React = require('react');
-var ReactDOM = require('react-dom');
-var sdk = require('matrix-react-sdk')
-var dis = require('matrix-react-sdk/lib/dispatcher');
-var AccessibleButton = require('matrix-react-sdk/lib/components/views/elements/AccessibleButton');
+const CALLOUT_ANIM_DURATION = 1000;
 
 module.exports = React.createClass({
     displayName: 'BottomLeftMenu',
@@ -39,6 +42,18 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         });
     },
 
+    componentWillMount: function() {
+        this._dispatcherRef = dis.register(this.onAction);
+        this._peopleButton = null;
+        this._directoryButton = null;
+        this._createRoomButton = null;
+        this._lastCallouts = {};
+    },
+
+    componentWillUnmount: function() {
+        dis.unregister(this._dispatcherRef);
+    },
+
     // Room events
     onDirectoryClick: function() {
         dis.dispatch({ action: 'view_room_directory' });
@@ -103,6 +118,30 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         this.setState({ settingsHover: false });
     },
 
+    onAction: function(payload) {
+        let calloutElement;
+        switch (payload.action) {
+            // Incoming instruction: dance!
+            case 'callout_start_chat':
+                calloutElement = this._peopleButton;
+                break;
+            case 'callout_room_directory':
+                calloutElement = this._directoryButton;
+                break;
+            case 'callout_create_room':
+                calloutElement = this._createRoomButton;
+                break;
+        }
+        if (calloutElement) {
+            const lastCallout = this._lastCallouts[payload.action];
+            const now = Date.now();
+            if (lastCallout == undefined || lastCallout < now - CALLOUT_ANIM_DURATION) {
+                this._lastCallouts[payload.action] = now;
+                Velocity(ReactDOM.findDOMNode(calloutElement), "callout.bounce", CALLOUT_ANIM_DURATION);
+            }
+        }
+    },
+
     // Get the label/tooltip to show
     getLabel: function(label, show) {
         if (show) {
@@ -111,31 +150,46 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         }
     },
 
+    _collectPeopleButton: function(e) {
+        this._peopleButton = e;
+    },
+
+    _collectDirectoryButton: function(e) {
+        this._directoryButton = e;
+    },
+
+    _collectCreateRoomButton: function(e) {
+        this._createRoomButton = e;
+    },
+
     render: function() {
-        var TintableSvg = sdk.getComponent('elements.TintableSvg');
+        const HomeButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.HomeButton');
+        const StartChatButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.StartChatButton');
+        const RoomDirectoryButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.RoomDirectoryButton');
+        const CreateRoomButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.CreateRoomButton');
+        const SettingsButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.SettingsButton');
+
+        var homeButton;
+        if (this.props.teamToken) {
+            homeButton = <HomeButton tooltip={true} />;
+        }
+
         return (
             <div className="mx_BottomLeftMenu">
                 <div className="mx_BottomLeftMenu_options">
-                    <AccessibleButton className="mx_BottomLeftMenu_homePage" onClick={ this.onHomeClick } onMouseEnter={ this.onHomeMouseEnter } onMouseLeave={ this.onHomeMouseLeave } >
-                        <TintableSvg src="img/icons-home.svg" width="25" height="25" />
-                        { this.getLabel("Welcome page", this.state.homeHover) }
-                    </AccessibleButton>
-                    <AccessibleButton className="mx_BottomLeftMenu_people" onClick={ this.onPeopleClick } onMouseEnter={ this.onPeopleMouseEnter } onMouseLeave={ this.onPeopleMouseLeave } >
-                        <TintableSvg src="img/icons-people.svg" width="25" height="25" />
-                        { this.getLabel("Start chat", this.state.peopleHover) }
-                    </AccessibleButton>
-                    <AccessibleButton className="mx_BottomLeftMenu_directory" onClick={ this.onDirectoryClick } onMouseEnter={ this.onDirectoryMouseEnter } onMouseLeave={ this.onDirectoryMouseLeave } >
-                        <TintableSvg src="img/icons-directory.svg" width="25" height="25"/>
-                        { this.getLabel("Room directory", this.state.directoryHover) }
-                    </AccessibleButton>
-                    <AccessibleButton className="mx_BottomLeftMenu_createRoom" onClick={ this.onRoomsClick } onMouseEnter={ this.onRoomsMouseEnter } onMouseLeave={ this.onRoomsMouseLeave } >
-                        <TintableSvg src="img/icons-create-room.svg" width="25" height="25" />
-                        { this.getLabel("Create new room", this.state.roomsHover) }
-                    </AccessibleButton>
-                    <AccessibleButton className="mx_BottomLeftMenu_settings" onClick={ this.onSettingsClick } onMouseEnter={ this.onSettingsMouseEnter } onMouseLeave={ this.onSettingsMouseLeave } >
-                        <TintableSvg src="img/icons-settings.svg" width="25" height="25" />
-                        { this.getLabel("Settings", this.state.settingsHover) }
-                    </AccessibleButton>
+                    { homeButton }
+                    <div ref={this._collectPeopleButton}>
+                        <StartChatButton tooltip={true} />
+                    </div>
+                    <div ref={this._collectDirectoryButton}>
+                        <RoomDirectoryButton tooltip={true} />
+                    </div>
+                    <div ref={this._collectCreateRoomButton}>
+                        <CreateRoomButton tooltip={true} />
+                    </div>
+                    <span className="mx_BottomLeftMenu_settings">
+                        <SettingsButton tooltip={true} />
+                    </span>
                 </div>
             </div>
         );
diff --git a/src/components/structures/RoomSubList.js b/src/components/structures/RoomSubList.js
index 6490e4564c..afd7b8b211 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/RoomSubList.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/RoomSubList.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 /*
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
 Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
 
 Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
@@ -83,6 +84,8 @@ var RoomSubList = React.createClass({
         incomingCall: React.PropTypes.object,
         onShowMoreRooms: React.PropTypes.func,
         searchFilter: React.PropTypes.string,
+        emptyContent: React.PropTypes.node, // content shown if the list is empty
+        headerItems: React.PropTypes.node, // content shown in the sublist header
     },
 
     getInitialState: function() {
@@ -521,16 +524,15 @@ var RoomSubList = React.createClass({
 
     render: function() {
         var connectDropTarget = this.props.connectDropTarget;
-        var RoomDropTarget = sdk.getComponent('rooms.RoomDropTarget');
         var TruncatedList = sdk.getComponent('elements.TruncatedList');
 
         var label = this.props.collapsed ? null : this.props.label;
 
-        //console.log("render: " + JSON.stringify(this.state.sortedList));
-
-        var target;
-        if (this.state.sortedList.length == 0 && this.props.editable) {
-            target = <RoomDropTarget label={ 'Drop here to ' + this.props.verb }/>;
+        let content;
+        if (this.state.sortedList.length == 0) {
+            content = this.props.emptyContent;
+        } else {
+            content = this.makeRoomTiles();
         }
 
         if (this.state.sortedList.length > 0 || this.props.editable) {
@@ -540,8 +542,7 @@ var RoomSubList = React.createClass({
             if (!this.state.hidden) {
                 subList = <TruncatedList className={ classes } truncateAt={this.state.truncateAt}
                                          createOverflowElement={this._createOverflowTile} >
-                                { target }
-                                { this.makeRoomTiles() }
+                                { content }
                           </TruncatedList>;
             }
             else {
diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/_components.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/_components.scss
index 225fd35712..b1964dca04 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/_components.scss
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/_components.scss
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 @import "./matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_MemberEventListSummary.scss";
 @import "./matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_ProgressBar.scss";
 @import "./matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RichText.scss";
+@import "./matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RoleButton.scss";
 @import "./matrix-react-sdk/views/login/_InteractiveAuthEntryComponents.scss";
 @import "./matrix-react-sdk/views/login/_ServerConfig.scss";
 @import "./matrix-react-sdk/views/messages/_MEmoteBody.scss";
diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RoleButton.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RoleButton.scss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..094e0b9b1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RoleButton.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2107 Vector Creations Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+.mx_RoleButton {
+    margin-left: 4px;
+    margin-right: 4px;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    display: inline-block;
+}
+
+.mx_RoleButton object {
+    pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.mx_RoleButton_tooltip {
+    display: inline-block;
+    position: relative;
+    top: -25px;
+    left: 6px;
+}
diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/rooms/_RoomList.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/rooms/_RoomList.scss
index 110dcd5b6b..35787ca0c4 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/rooms/_RoomList.scss
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/rooms/_RoomList.scss
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /*
 Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+Copyright 2107 Vector Creations Ltd
 
 Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -37,3 +38,25 @@ limitations under the License.
 .mx_RoomList_scrollbar .gm-scrollbar.-vertical {
     z-index: 6;
 }
+
+.mx_RoomList_emptySubListTip {
+    font-size: 13px;
+    margin-left: 18px;
+    margin-right: 18px;
+    margin-top: 8px;
+    margin-bottom: 7px;
+    padding: 5px;
+    border: 1px dashed $accent-color;
+    color: $primary-fg-color;
+    background-color: $droptarget-bg-color;
+    border-radius: 4px;
+}
+
+.mx_RoomList_emptySubListTip .mx_RoleButton {
+    vertical-align: -3px;
+}
+
+.mx_RoomList_headerButtons {
+    position: absolute;
+    right: 60px;
+}
diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/vector-web/structures/_LeftPanel.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/vector-web/structures/_LeftPanel.scss
index d3bbce1b19..dbe745f799 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/vector-web/structures/_LeftPanel.scss
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/vector-web/structures/_LeftPanel.scss
@@ -64,43 +64,29 @@ limitations under the License.
     pointer-events: none;
 }
 
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_homePage,
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_directory,
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_createRoom,
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_people,
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_settings {
-    display: inline-block;
-    cursor: pointer;
-}
-
-.collapsed .mx_BottomLeftMenu_homePage,
-.collapsed .mx_BottomLeftMenu_directory,
-.collapsed .mx_BottomLeftMenu_createRoom,
-.collapsed .mx_BottomLeftMenu_people,
-.collapsed .mx_BottomLeftMenu_settings {
+.collapsed .mx_RoleButton {
     margin-right: 0px ! important;
     padding-top: 3px ! important;
     padding-bottom: 3px ! important;
 }
 
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_homePage,
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_directory,
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_createRoom,
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_people {
+.mx_BottomLeftMenu_options > div {
+    display: inline-block;
+}
+
+.mx_BottomLeftMenu_options .mx_RoleButton {
+    margin-left: 0px;
     margin-right: 10px;
 }
 
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_settings {
+.mx_BottomLeftMenu_options .mx_BottomLeftMenu_settings {
     float: right;
 }
 
+.mx_BottomLeftMenu_options .mx_BottomLeftMenu_settings .mx_RoleButton {
+    margin-right: 0px;
+}
+
 .mx_LeftPanel.collapsed .mx_BottomLeftMenu_settings {
     float: none;
 }
-
-.mx_LeftPanel .mx_BottomLeftMenu_tooltip {
-    display: inline-block;
-    position: relative;
-    top: -25px;
-    left: 6px;
-}