diff --git a/examples/facets.ipynb b/examples/facets.ipynb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7a10999b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/facets.ipynb
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+{
+ "cells": [
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": 1,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [
+    {
+     "name": "stderr",
+     "output_type": "stream",
+     "text": [
+      "INFO: Recompiling stale cache file /home/tom/.julia/lib/v0.4/Plots.ji for module Plots.\n"
+     ]
+    },
+    {
+     "name": "stdout",
+     "output_type": "stream",
+     "text": [
+      "[Plots.jl] Default backend: immerse\n",
+      "[Plots.jl] Switched to backend: gadfly"
+     ]
+    }
+   ],
+   "source": [
+    "using Plots\n",
+    "gadfly()\n",
+    "default(leg=false);\n",
+    "#Plots._debugMode.on=true;"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": 2,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [
+    {
+     "ename": "LoadError",
+     "evalue": "LoadError: UndefVarError: GadflyPackage not defined\nwhile loading In[2], in expression starting on line 2",
+     "output_type": "error",
+     "traceback": [
+      "LoadError: UndefVarError: GadflyPackage not defined\nwhile loading In[2], in expression starting on line 2",
+      ""
+     ]
+    }
+   ],
+   "source": [
+    "# link the subplots together to share axes... useful for facet plots, cross-scatters, etc\n",
+    "function linkPlots(subplt::Plots.Subplot{GadflyPackage})\n",
+    "end"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": 3,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [
+    {
+     "name": "stdout",
+     "output_type": "stream",
+     "text": [
+      "\n",
+      "[Plots.jl] Initializing backend: gadfly"
+     ]
+    }
+   ],
+   "source": [
+    "y = linspace(0,1,100)\n",
+    "p = subplot(repmat(y,1,4),n=4);"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": 5,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [
+    {
+     "ename": "ErrorException",
+     "evalue": "type GridLayout has no field rowcounts",
+     "output_type": "error",
+     "traceback": [
+      "type GridLayout has no field rowcounts",
+      "",
+      " in buildGadflySubplotContext at /home/tom/.julia/v0.4/Plots/src/backends/gadfly.jl:497",
+      " in writemime at /home/tom/.julia/v0.4/Plots/src/backends/gadfly.jl:523",
+      " in base64encode at base64.jl:160",
+      " in display_dict at /home/tom/.julia/v0.4/IJulia/src/execute_request.jl:32"
+     ]
+    }
+   ],
+   "source": [
+    "i = 1\n",
+    "subplot!(ylabel=[\"y1\",\"y1\",\"y2\",\"y2\"], xlabel=[\"x1\",\"x2\",\"x1\",\"x2\"])\n",
+    "# findGuideAndSet(gplt, t::DataType, s::@compat(AbstractString))\n",
+    "for (i,(r,c)) in enumerate(p.layout)\n",
+    "# for (r,nc) in enumerate(p.layout.rowcounts)\n",
+    "#     for c in 1:nc\n",
+    "    gplt = p.plts[i].o\n",
+    "    if r < Plots.nrows(p.layout)\n",
+    "        push!(gplt.guides, Gadfly.Guide.xticks(label=false))\n",
+    "        Plots.findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.xlabel, \"\")\n",
+    "    end\n",
+    "    if c > 1\n",
+    "        push!(gplt.guides, Gadfly.Guide.yticks(label=false))\n",
+    "        Plots.findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.ylabel, \"\")\n",
+    "    end\n",
+    "end\n",
+    "#p1 = p.plts[1].o\n",
+    "#push!(p1.guides, Gadfly.Guide.xticks(label=false,ticks=nothing))\n",
+    "p"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "p.layout.rowcounts"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "\n",
+    "immutable FlexLayout \n",
+    "  numplts::Int\n",
+    "  rowcounts::AbstractVector{Int}\n",
+    "end\n",
+    "\n",
+    "immutable GridLayout \n",
+    "  nr::Int\n",
+    "  nc::Int\n",
+    "end"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "\n",
+    "\n",
+    "Base.length(layout::FlexLayout) = layout.numplts\n",
+    "Base.start(layout::FlexLayout) = 1\n",
+    "Base.done(layout::FlexLayout, state) = state > length(layout)\n",
+    "function Base.next(layout::FlexLayout, state)\n",
+    "  r = 1\n",
+    "  c = 0\n",
+    "  for i = 1:state\n",
+    "    c += 1\n",
+    "    if c > layout.rowcounts[r]\n",
+    "      r += 1\n",
+    "      c = 1\n",
+    "    end\n",
+    "  end\n",
+    "  (r,c), state + 1\n",
+    "end\n",
+    "\n",
+    "\n",
+    "Base.length(layout::GridLayout) = layout.nr * layout.nc\n",
+    "Base.start(layout::GridLayout) = 1\n",
+    "Base.done(layout::GridLayout, state) = state > length(layout)\n",
+    "function Base.next(layout::GridLayout, state)\n",
+    "  r = div(state, layout.nc)\n",
+    "  c = mod1(state, layout.nc)\n",
+    "  (r,c), state + 1\n",
+    "end"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "fl = FlexLayout(5, [2,1,2])\n",
+    "gl = GridLayout(3,2)"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": false
+   },
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "for (r,c) in gl\n",
+    "    @show r,c\n",
+    "end\n",
+    "length(gl)"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "metadata": {
+    "collapsed": true
+   },
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": []
+  }
+ ],
+ "metadata": {
+  "kernelspec": {
+   "display_name": "Julia 0.4.0-rc4",
+   "language": "julia",
+   "name": "julia-0.4"
+  },
+  "language_info": {
+   "file_extension": ".jl",
+   "mimetype": "application/julia",
+   "name": "julia",
+   "version": "0.4.0"
+  }
+ },
+ "nbformat": 4,
+ "nbformat_minor": 0
+}
diff --git a/src/backends/gadfly.jl b/src/backends/gadfly.jl
index 3ac8d9f5..56fee071 100644
--- a/src/backends/gadfly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gadfly.jl
@@ -431,15 +431,17 @@ function plot!(::GadflyPackage, plt::Plot; kw...)
 end
 
 
-function findGuideAndSet(gplt, t::DataType, s::@compat(AbstractString))
+
+function findGuideAndSet(gplt, t::DataType, args...; kw...) #s::@compat(AbstractString))
   for (i,guide) in enumerate(gplt.guides)
     if isa(guide, t)
-      gplt.guides[i] = t(s)
-      # guide.label = s
+      gplt.guides[i] = t(args...; kw...)
     end
   end
 end
 
+
+
 function updateGadflyGuides(gplt, d::Dict)
   haskey(d, :title) && findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.title, d[:title])
   haskey(d, :xlabel) && findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.xlabel, d[:xlabel])
diff --git a/src/subplot.jl b/src/subplot.jl
index b766ba92..cdc2d50f 100644
--- a/src/subplot.jl
+++ b/src/subplot.jl
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
 
+function subplotlayout(sz::@compat(Tuple{Int,Int}))
+  # create a GridLayout
+  GridLayout(sz...)
+end
 
-# create a layout directly
-SubplotLayout(rowcounts::AbstractVector{Int}) = SubplotLayout(sum(rowcounts), rowcounts)
+function subplotlayout(rowcounts::AVec{Int})
+  # create a FlexLayout
+  FlexLayout(sum(rowcounts), rowcounts)
+end
+
+function subplotlayout(numplts::Int, nr::Int, nc::Int)
 
-# create a layout given counts... nr/nc == -1 implies we figure out a good number automatically
-function SubplotLayout(numplts::Int, nr::Int, nc::Int)
 
   # figure out how many rows/columns we need
   if nr == -1
@@ -18,6 +24,11 @@ function SubplotLayout(numplts::Int, nr::Int, nc::Int)
     nc = ceil(Int, numplts / nr)
   end
 
+  # if it's a perfect rectangle, just create a grid
+  if numplts == nr * nc
+    return GridLayout(nr, nc)
+  end
+
   # create the rowcounts vector
   i = 0
   rowcounts = Int[]
@@ -30,8 +41,68 @@ function SubplotLayout(numplts::Int, nr::Int, nc::Int)
   SubplotLayout(numplts, rowcounts)
 end
 
+# # create a layout directly
+# SubplotLayout(rowcounts::AbstractVector{Int}) = SubplotLayout(sum(rowcounts), rowcounts)
+
+# # create a layout given counts... nr/nc == -1 implies we figure out a good number automatically
+# function SubplotLayout(numplts::Int, nr::Int, nc::Int)
+
+#   # figure out how many rows/columns we need
+#   if nr == -1
+#     if nc == -1
+#       nr = round(Int, sqrt(numplts))
+#       nc = ceil(Int, numplts / nr)
+#     else
+#       nr = ceil(Int, numplts / nc)
+#     end
+#   else
+#     nc = ceil(Int, numplts / nr)
+#   end
+
+#   # create the rowcounts vector
+#   i = 0
+#   rowcounts = Int[]
+#   for r in 1:nr
+#     cnt = min(nc, numplts - i)
+#     push!(rowcounts, cnt)
+#     i += cnt
+#   end
+
+#   SubplotLayout(numplts, rowcounts)
+# end
+
+
+Base.length(layout::FlexLayout) = layout.numplts
+Base.start(layout::FlexLayout) = 1
+Base.done(layout::FlexLayout, state) = state > length(layout)
+function Base.next(layout::FlexLayout, state)
+  r = 1
+  c = 0
+  for i = 1:state
+    c += 1
+    if c > layout.rowcounts[r]
+      r += 1
+      c = 1
+    end
+  end
+  (r,c), state + 1
+end
+
+nrows(layout::FlexLayout) = length(layout.rowcounts)
+ncols(layout::FlexLayout, row::Int) = row < 1 ? 0 : (row > nrows(layout) ? 0 : layout.rowcounts[row])
+
+Base.length(layout::GridLayout) = layout.nr * layout.nc
+Base.start(layout::GridLayout) = 1
+Base.done(layout::GridLayout, state) = state > length(layout)
+function Base.next(layout::GridLayout, state)
+  r = div(state, layout.nc)
+  c = mod1(state, layout.nc)
+  (r,c), state + 1
+end
+
+nrows(layout::GridLayout) = layout.nr
+ncols(layout::GridLayout) = layout.nc
 
-Base.length(layout::SubplotLayout) = layout.numplts
 
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -70,14 +141,14 @@ function subplot(args...; kw...)
 
   # figure out the layout
   layoutarg = get(d, :layout, nothing)
-  # if haskey(d, :layout)
   if layoutarg != nothing
-    layout = SubplotLayout(layoutarg)
+    layout = subplotlayout(layoutarg)
   else
-    if !haskey(d, :n) || d[:n] < 0
+    n = get(d, :n, -1)
+    if n < 0
       error("You must specify either layout or n when creating a subplot: ", d)
     end
-    layout = SubplotLayout(d[:n], get(d, :nr, -1), get(d, :nc, -1))
+    layout = subplotlayout(n, get(d, :nr, -1), get(d, :nc, -1))
   end
 
   # initialize the individual plots
@@ -128,9 +199,10 @@ function subplot!(subplt::Subplot, args...; kw...)
 
   d = Dict(kw)
   preprocessArgs!(d)
-  for k in keys(_plotDefaults)
-    delete!(d, k)
-  end
+  # for k in keys(_plotDefaults)
+  #   delete!(d, k)
+  # end
+  dumpdict(d, "After subplot! preprocessing")
 
   kwList, xmeta, ymeta = createKWargsList(subplt, args...; d...)
 
@@ -140,6 +212,7 @@ function subplot!(subplt::Subplot, args...; kw...)
     subplt.n += 1
     plt = getplot(subplt)  # get the Plot object where this series will be drawn
     di[:show] = false
+    dumpdict(di, "subplot! kwList $i")
     plot!(plt; di...)
   end
 
@@ -149,6 +222,19 @@ function subplot!(subplt::Subplot, args...; kw...)
     subplt.initialized = true
   end
 
+
+  # add title, axis labels, ticks, etc
+  for (i,plt) in enumerate(subplt.plts)
+    di = copy(d)
+    for (k,v) in di
+      if typeof(v) <: AVec
+        di[k] = v[mod1(i, length(v))]
+      end
+    end
+    dumpdict(di, "Updating sp $i")
+    updatePlotItems(plt, di)
+  end
+
   # set this to be current
   current(subplt)
 
diff --git a/src/types.jl b/src/types.jl
index 19d20f98..103aaffd 100644
--- a/src/types.jl
+++ b/src/types.jl
@@ -18,7 +18,14 @@ type Plot{T<:PlottingPackage} <: PlottingObject{T}
 end
 
 
-type SubplotLayout
+abstract SubplotLayout
+
+immutable GridLayout <: SubplotLayout
+  nr::Int
+  nc::Int
+end
+
+immutable FlexLayout <: SubplotLayout
   numplts::Int
   rowcounts::AbstractVector{Int}
 end