diff --git a/src/args.jl b/src/args.jl
index fed22366..76721f7b 100644
--- a/src/args.jl
+++ b/src/args.jl
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ PLOT_DEFAULTS[:xticks] = true
 PLOT_DEFAULTS[:yticks] = true
 PLOT_DEFAULTS[:size] = (600,400)
 
+PLOT_DEFAULTS[:args] = []     # additional args to pass to the backend
+PLOT_DEFAULTS[:kwargs] = []   # additional keyword args to pass to the backend
+                              # note: can be Vector{Dict} or Vector{Tuple} 
+
 # TODO: x/y scales
 
 
diff --git a/src/backends/gadfly.jl b/src/backends/gadfly.jl
index bd8fcd52..7a292500 100644
--- a/src/backends/gadfly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gadfly.jl
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ function plot!(::GadflyPackage, plt::Plot; kw...)
   push!(plt.seriesargs, d)
 
   # add the layer to the Gadfly.Plot
-  prepend!(plt.o.layers, Gadfly.layer(unique(gfargs)...; x = x, y = d[:y]))
+  prepend!(plt.o.layers, Gadfly.layer(unique(gfargs)..., d[:args]...; x = x, y = d[:y], d[:kwargs]...))
   plt
 end