diff --git a/src/args.jl b/src/args.jl
index 6197f26d..4ed57aaa 100644
--- a/src/args.jl
+++ b/src/args.jl
@@ -896,78 +896,75 @@ end
 
 # update attr from an input dictionary
 function _update_plot_args(plt::Plot, d_in::KW)
-    pargs = plt.attr
     for (k,v) in _plot_defaults
-        slice_arg!(d_in, pargs, k, v)
+        slice_arg!(d_in, plt.attr, k, v)
     end
 
     # handle colors
-    bg = convertColor(pargs[:background_color])
-    fg = pargs[:foreground_color]
+    bg = convertColor(plt.attr[:background_color])
+    fg = plt.attr[:foreground_color]
     if fg == :auto
         fg = isdark(bg) ? colorant"white" : colorant"black"
     end
-    pargs[:background_color] = bg
-    pargs[:foreground_color] = convertColor(fg)
-    # color_or_match!(pargs, :background_color_outside, bg)
-    color_or_nothing!(pargs, :background_color_outside)
+    plt.attr[:background_color] = bg
+    plt.attr[:foreground_color] = convertColor(fg)
+    # color_or_match!(plt.attr, :background_color_outside, bg)
+    color_or_nothing!(plt.attr, :background_color_outside)
 end
 
 
 # update a subplots args and axes
 function _update_subplot_args(plt::Plot, sp::Subplot, d_in::KW, subplot_index::Integer; remove_pair = true)
-    pargs = plt.attr
-    spargs = sp.attr
     anns = pop!(sp.attr, :annotations, [])
 
     # grab those args which apply to this subplot
     for (k,v) in _subplot_defaults
-        slice_arg!(d_in, spargs, k, v, subplot_index, remove_pair = remove_pair)
+        slice_arg!(d_in, sp.attr, k, v, subplot_index, remove_pair = remove_pair)
     end
 
     # extend annotations
     sp.attr[:annotations] = vcat(anns, sp[:annotations])
 
     # handle legend/colorbar
-    spargs[:legend] = convertLegendValue(spargs[:legend])
-    spargs[:colorbar] = convertLegendValue(spargs[:colorbar])
-    if spargs[:colorbar] == :legend
-        spargs[:colorbar] = spargs[:legend]
+    sp.attr[:legend] = convertLegendValue(sp.attr[:legend])
+    sp.attr[:colorbar] = convertLegendValue(sp.attr[:colorbar])
+    if sp.attr[:colorbar] == :legend
+        sp.attr[:colorbar] = sp.attr[:legend]
     end
 
     # background colors
-    # bg = color_or_match!(spargs, :background_color_subplot, pargs[:background_color])
-    color_or_nothing!(spargs, :background_color_subplot)
-    bg = sp[:background_color_subplot]
-    spargs[:color_palette] = get_color_palette(spargs[:color_palette], bg, 30)
-    # color_or_match!(spargs, :background_color_legend, bg)
-    color_or_nothing!(spargs, :background_color_legend)
-    # color_or_match!(spargs, :background_color_inside, bg)
-    color_or_nothing!(spargs, :background_color_inside)
+    # bg = color_or_match!(sp.attr, :background_color_subplot, plt.attr[:background_color])
+    color_or_nothing!(sp.attr, :background_color_subplot)
+    bg = convertColor(sp[:background_color_subplot])
+    sp.attr[:color_palette] = get_color_palette(sp.attr[:color_palette], bg, 30)
+    # color_or_match!(sp.attr, :background_color_legend, bg)
+    color_or_nothing!(sp.attr, :background_color_legend)
+    # color_or_match!(sp.attr, :background_color_inside, bg)
+    color_or_nothing!(sp.attr, :background_color_inside)
 
     # foreground colors
-    # fg = color_or_match!(spargs, :foreground_color_subplot, pargs[:foreground_color])
-    color_or_nothing!(spargs, :foreground_color_subplot)
-    # color_or_match!(spargs, :foreground_color_legend, fg)
-    color_or_nothing!(spargs, :foreground_color_legend)
-    # color_or_match!(spargs, :foreground_color_grid, fg)
-    color_or_nothing!(spargs, :foreground_color_grid)
-    # color_or_match!(spargs, :foreground_color_title, fg)
-    color_or_nothing!(spargs, :foreground_color_title)
+    # fg = color_or_match!(sp.attr, :foreground_color_subplot, plt.attr[:foreground_color])
+    color_or_nothing!(sp.attr, :foreground_color_subplot)
+    # color_or_match!(sp.attr, :foreground_color_legend, fg)
+    color_or_nothing!(sp.attr, :foreground_color_legend)
+    # color_or_match!(sp.attr, :foreground_color_grid, fg)
+    color_or_nothing!(sp.attr, :foreground_color_grid)
+    # color_or_match!(sp.attr, :foreground_color_title, fg)
+    color_or_nothing!(sp.attr, :foreground_color_title)
 
     # for k in (:left_margin, :top_margin, :right_margin, :bottom_margin)
-    #     if spargs[k] == :match
-    #         spargs[k] = spargs[:margin]
+    #     if sp.attr[k] == :match
+    #         sp.attr[k] = sp.attr[:margin]
     #     end
     # end
 
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
         # get (maybe initialize) the axis
         axissym = Symbol(letter, :axis)
-        axis = if haskey(spargs, axissym)
-            spargs[axissym]
+        axis = if haskey(sp.attr, axissym)
+            sp.attr[axissym]
         else
-            spargs[axissym] = Axis(sp, letter)
+            sp.attr[axissym] = Axis(sp, letter)
         end
 
         # grab magic args (for example `xaxis = (:flip, :log)`)
@@ -987,7 +984,8 @@ function _update_subplot_args(plt::Plot, sp::Subplot, d_in::KW, subplot_index::I
             # then get those args that were passed with a leading letter: `xlabel = "X"`
             lk = Symbol(letter, k)
             if haskey(d_in, lk)
-                kw[k] = slice_arg(pop!(d_in, lk), subplot_index)
+                # kw[k] = slice_arg(pop!(d_in, lk), subplot_index)
+                kw[k] = slice_arg(d_in[lk], subplot_index)
             end
         end
 
@@ -1007,10 +1005,10 @@ function _update_subplot_args(plt::Plot, sp::Subplot, d_in::KW, subplot_index::I
         # TODO: need to handle linking here?
     end
 
-    # now we can get rid of the axis keys without a letter
-    for k in keys(_axis_defaults)
-        delete!(d_in, k)
-    end
+    # # now we can get rid of the axis keys without a letter
+    # for k in keys(_axis_defaults)
+    #     delete!(d_in, k)
+    # end
 end
 
 
diff --git a/src/layouts.jl b/src/layouts.jl
index e66d60bf..bdcb5755 100644
--- a/src/layouts.jl
+++ b/src/layouts.jl
@@ -97,19 +97,12 @@ bbox!(layout::AbstractLayout, bb::BoundingBox) = (layout.bbox = bb)
 Base.parent(layout::AbstractLayout) = layout.parent
 parent_bbox(layout::AbstractLayout) = bbox(parent(layout))
 
-# NOTE: these should be implemented for subplots in each backend!
-# they represent the minimum size of the axes and guides
-min_padding_left(layout::AbstractLayout)   = 0mm
-min_padding_top(layout::AbstractLayout)    = 0mm
-min_padding_right(layout::AbstractLayout)  = 0mm
-min_padding_bottom(layout::AbstractLayout) = 0mm
+# padding_w(layout::AbstractLayout) = left_padding(layout) + right_padding(layout)
+# padding_h(layout::AbstractLayout) = bottom_padding(layout) + top_padding(layout)
+# padding(layout::AbstractLayout) = (padding_w(layout), padding_h(layout))
 
-padding_w(layout::AbstractLayout) = left_padding(layout) + right_padding(layout)
-padding_h(layout::AbstractLayout) = bottom_padding(layout) + top_padding(layout)
-padding(layout::AbstractLayout) = (padding_w(layout), padding_h(layout))
-
-_update_position!(layout::AbstractLayout) = nothing
-update_child_bboxes!(layout::AbstractLayout) = nothing
+update_position!(layout::AbstractLayout) = nothing
+update_child_bboxes!(layout::AbstractLayout, minimum_perimeter = [0mm,0mm,0mm,0mm]) = nothing
 
 width(layout::AbstractLayout) = width(layout.bbox)
 height(layout::AbstractLayout) = height(layout.bbox)
@@ -204,6 +197,12 @@ rightpad(layout::GridLayout)  = layout.minpad[3]
 bottompad(layout::GridLayout) = layout.minpad[4]
 
 
+# here's how this works... first we recursively "update the minimum padding" (which 
+# means to calculate the minimum size needed from the edge of the subplot to plot area)
+# for the whole layout tree.  then we can compute the "padding borders" of this
+# layout as the biggest padding of the children on the perimeter.  then we need to
+# recursively pass those borders back down the tree, one side at a time, but ONLY
+# to those perimeter children.
 
 # leftpad, toppad, rightpad, bottompad
 function _update_min_padding!(layout::GridLayout)
@@ -217,10 +216,11 @@ function _update_min_padding!(layout::GridLayout)
 end
 
 
-function _update_position!(layout::GridLayout)
-    map(_update_position!, layout.grid)
+function update_position!(layout::GridLayout)
+    map(update_position!, layout.grid)
 end
 
+# some lengths are fixed... we have to split up the free space among the list v
 function recompute_lengths(v)
     # dump(v)
     tot = 0pct
@@ -242,11 +242,11 @@ function recompute_lengths(v)
 end
 
 # recursively compute the bounding boxes for the layout and plotarea (relative to canvas!)
-function update_child_bboxes!(layout::GridLayout)
+function update_child_bboxes!(layout::GridLayout, minimum_perimeter = [0mm,0mm,0mm,0mm])
     nr, nc = size(layout)
 
-    # create a matrix for each minimum padding direction
-    _update_min_padding!(layout)
+    # # create a matrix for each minimum padding direction
+    # _update_min_padding!(layout)
 
     minpad_left   = map(leftpad,   layout.grid)
     minpad_top    = map(toppad,    layout.grid)
@@ -263,6 +263,12 @@ function update_child_bboxes!(layout::GridLayout)
     pad_bottom = maximum(minpad_bottom, 2)
     # @show pad_left pad_top pad_right pad_bottom
 
+    # make sure the perimeter match the parent
+    pad_left[1]     = max(pad_left[1], minimum_perimeter[1])
+    pad_top[1]      = max(pad_top[1], minimum_perimeter[2])
+    pad_right[end]  = max(pad_right[end], minimum_perimeter[3])
+    pad_bottom[end] = max(pad_bottom[end], minimum_perimeter[4])
+
     # scale this up to the total padding in each direction
     total_pad_horizontal = sum(pad_left + pad_right)
     total_pad_vertical   = sum(pad_top + pad_bottom)
@@ -303,8 +309,17 @@ function update_child_bboxes!(layout::GridLayout)
         child_height = pad_top[r] + plotarea_height + pad_bottom[r]
         bbox!(child, BoundingBox(child_left, child_top, child_width, child_height))
 
+        # this is the minimum perimeter as decided by this child's parent, so that
+        # all children on this border have the same value
+        min_child_perimeter = [
+            c == 1  ? layout.minpad[1] : 0mm,
+            r == 1  ? layout.minpad[2] : 0mm,
+            c == nc ? layout.minpad[3] : 0mm,
+            r == nr ? layout.minpad[4] : 0mm
+        ]
+
         # recursively update the child's children
-        update_child_bboxes!(child)
+        update_child_bboxes!(child, min_child_perimeter)
     end
 end
 
@@ -376,40 +391,21 @@ end
 
 layout_args(huh) = error("unhandled layout type $(typeof(huh)): $huh")
 
-# # pass the layout arg through
-# function build_layout(d::KW)
-#     build_layout(get(d, :layout, default(:layout)))
-# end
-#
-# function build_layout(n::Integer)
-#     nr, nc = compute_gridsize(n, -1, -1)
-#     build_layout(GridLayout(nr, nc), n)
-# end
-#
-# function build_layout{I<:Integer}(sztup::NTuple{2,I})
-#     nr, nc = sztup
-#     build_layout(GridLayout(nr, nc))
-# end
-#
-# function build_layout{I<:Integer}(sztup::NTuple{3,I})
-#     n, nr, nc = sztup
-#     nr, nc = compute_gridsize(n, nr, nc)
-#     build_layout(GridLayout(nr, nc), n)
-# end
-#
-# # compute number of subplots
-# function build_layout(layout::GridLayout)
-#     # recursively get the size of the grid
-#     n = calc_num_subplots(layout)
-#     build_layout(layout, n)
-# end
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 
 function build_layout(args...)
     layout, n = layout_args(args...)
     build_layout(layout, n)
 end
 
-# n is the number of subplots
+# # just a single subplot
+# function build_layout(sp::Subplot, n::Integer)
+#     sp, Subplot[sp], SubplotMap(gensym() => sp)
+# end
+
+# n is the number of subplots... build a grid and initialize the inner subplots recursively
 function build_layout(layout::GridLayout, n::Integer)
     nr, nc = size(layout)
     subplots = Subplot[]
@@ -644,7 +640,9 @@ end
 function link_axes!(a::AbstractArray{AbstractLayout}, axissym::Symbol)
     subplots = filter(l -> isa(l, Subplot), a)
     axes = [sp.attr[axissym] for sp in subplots]
-    link_axes!(axes...)
+    if length(axes) > 0
+        link_axes!(axes...)
+    end
 end
 
 # don't do anything for most layout types
diff --git a/src/plot.jl b/src/plot.jl
index 7ffeeb0d..b82a823e 100644
--- a/src/plot.jl
+++ b/src/plot.jl
@@ -102,6 +102,25 @@ function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
         end
     end
 
+    # just in case the backend needs to set up the plot (make it current or something)
+    _prepare_plot_object(plt)
+
+    # first apply any args for the subplots
+    for (idx,sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
+        _update_subplot_args(plt, sp, d, idx, remove_pair = false)
+    end
+
+    # # now we can get rid of the axis keys without a letter
+    # for k in keys(_axis_defaults)
+    #     delete!(d, k)
+    #     for letter in (:x,:y,:z)
+    #         delete!(d, Symbol(letter,k))
+    #     end
+    # end
+
+    # do we need to link any axes together?
+    link_axes!(plt.layout, plt[:link])
+
     # finish up
     current(plt)
     if get(d, :show, default(:show))
@@ -305,17 +324,17 @@ function _plot!(plt::Plot, d::KW, args...)
         end
     end
 
-    # merge in anything meant for plot/subplot
+    # merge in anything meant for plot/subplot/axis
     for kw in kw_list
         for (k,v) in kw
-            for defdict in (_plot_defaults, _subplot_defaults)
+            for defdict in (_plot_defaults,
+                            _subplot_defaults,
+                            _axis_defaults,
+                            _axis_defaults_byletter)
                 if haskey(defdict, k)
                     d[k] = pop!(kw, k)
                 end
             end
-            # if haskey(_plot_defaults, k) || haskey(_subplot_defaults, k)
-            #     d[k] = v
-            # end
         end
     end
 
@@ -351,9 +370,6 @@ function _plot!(plt::Plot, d::KW, args...)
     # this is it folks!
     # TODO: we probably shouldn't use i for tracking series index, but rather explicitly track it in recipes
     for (i,kw) in enumerate(kw_list)
-        # if !(get(kw, :seriestype, :none) in (:xerror, :yerror))
-        #     plt.n += 1
-        # end
         command_idx = kw[:series_plotindex] - kw_list[1][:series_plotindex] + 1
 
         # get the Subplot object to which the series belongs
@@ -393,15 +409,6 @@ function _plot!(plt::Plot, d::KW, args...)
         _apply_series_recipe(plt, kw)
     end
 
-    # # everything is processed, time to compute the layout bounding boxes
-    # _before_layout_calcs(plt)
-    # w, h = plt.attr[:size]
-    # plt.layout.bbox = BoundingBox(0mm, 0mm, w*px, h*px)
-    # update_child_bboxes!(plt.layout)
-    #
-    # # TODO just need to pass plt... and we should do all non-series updates here
-    # _update_plot_object(plt)
-
     current(plt)
 
     # note: lets ignore the show param and effectively use the semicolon at the end of the REPL statement
@@ -429,8 +436,15 @@ function prepare_output(plt::Plot)
 
     w, h = plt.attr[:size]
     plt.layout.bbox = BoundingBox(0mm, 0mm, w*px, h*px)
+
+    # One pass down and back up the tree to compute the minimum padding
+    # of the children on the perimeter.  This is an backend callback.
+    _update_min_padding!(plt.layout)
+
+    # now another pass down, to update the bounding boxes
     update_child_bboxes!(plt.layout)
 
+    # the backend callback, to reposition subplots, etc
     _update_plot_object(plt)
 end