diff --git a/apps/tests/ui/view/view-tests-common.ts b/apps/tests/ui/view/view-tests-common.ts
index d0fcd9db3..48130cab5 100644
--- a/apps/tests/ui/view/view-tests-common.ts
+++ b/apps/tests/ui/view/view-tests-common.ts
@@ -494,13 +494,13 @@ export var test_binding_cssClass = function () {
     property_binding_test("cssClass", "class1", "class2");
 }
 
-//export var test_binding_style_color = function () {
-//    property_binding_style_test("color", "#FF0000", "#00FF00");
-//}
+export var test_binding_style_color = function () {
+    property_binding_style_test("color", new color.Color("#FF0000"), new color.Color("#00FF00"));
+}
 
-//export var test_binding_style_backgroundColor = function () {
-//    property_binding_style_test("backgroundColor", "#FF0000", "#00FF00");
-//}
+export var test_binding_style_backgroundColor = function () {
+    property_binding_style_test("backgroundColor", new color.Color("#FF0000"), new color.Color("#00FF00"));
+}
 
 export var test_binding_style_fontSize = function () {
     property_binding_style_test("fontSize", 5, 10);
diff --git a/ui/core/dependency-observable.d.ts b/ui/core/dependency-observable.d.ts
index 398e40888..3c10cab7b 100644
--- a/ui/core/dependency-observable.d.ts
+++ b/ui/core/dependency-observable.d.ts
@@ -13,20 +13,29 @@ declare module "ui/core/dependency-observable" {
          * @param name The name of the property.
          * @param ownerType The name of class that registers this property.
          * @param metadata The PropertyMetadata object associated with this property.
+         * @param valueConverter A function that can create an instance of the property type given a string. Used when parsing CSS and XML attribute values which are strings.
          */
-        constructor(name: string, ownerType: string, metadata: PropertyMetadata);
+        constructor(name: string, ownerType: string, metadata: PropertyMetadata, valueConverter?: (value: string) => any);
+        
         /**
          * Gets the name of the property. This is a read-only property.
          */
         name: string;
+        
         /**
          * Gets the id of the property. This is used for fast lookup. This is a read-only property.
          */
         id: number;
+        
         /**
          * Gets the PropertyMetadata object associated with the property. This is a read-only property.
          */
         metadata: PropertyMetadata;
+
+        /**
+         * Gets the valueConverter function associated with the property. This is a read-only property.
+         */
+        valueConverter: (value: string) => any
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/ui/core/dependency-observable.ts b/ui/core/dependency-observable.ts
index a447f065e..16f09bf30 100644
--- a/ui/core/dependency-observable.ts
+++ b/ui/core/dependency-observable.ts
@@ -108,8 +108,9 @@ export class Property implements definition.Property {
     private _name: string;
     private _ownerType: string;
     private _id: number;
+    private _valueConverter: (value: any) => any;
 
-    constructor(name: string, ownerType: string, metadata: PropertyMetadata) {
+    constructor(name: string, ownerType: string, metadata: PropertyMetadata, valueConverter?: (value: string) => any) {
         // register key
         this._key = generatePropertyKey(name, ownerType, true);
 
@@ -132,6 +133,8 @@ export class Property implements definition.Property {
 
         // generate a unique numeric id for each property (faster lookup than a string key)
         this._id = propertyIdCounter++;
+
+        this._valueConverter = valueConverter;
     }
 
     public get name(): string {
@@ -155,6 +158,10 @@ export class Property implements definition.Property {
         return true;
     }
 
+    public get valueConverter(): (value: string) => any {
+        return this._valueConverter;
+    }
+
     public _getEffectiveValue(entry: PropertyEntry): any {
         if (types.isDefined(entry.localValue)) {
             entry.valueSource = ValueSource.Local;
@@ -359,6 +366,12 @@ export class DependencyObservable extends observable.Observable {
     }
 
     private _setValueInternal(property: Property, value: any, source: number) {
+        
+        // Convert the value to the real property type in case it is coming as a string from CSS or XML.
+        if (types.isString(value) && property.valueConverter) {
+            value = property.valueConverter(value);
+        }
+
         var entry: PropertyEntry = this._propertyEntries[property.id];
         if (!entry) {
             entry = new PropertyEntry(property);
diff --git a/ui/core/view-common.ts b/ui/core/view-common.ts
index 523c288f0..7dcd4b09e 100644
--- a/ui/core/view-common.ts
+++ b/ui/core/view-common.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import bindable = require("ui/core/bindable");
 import styleScope = require("ui/styling/style-scope");
 import enums = require("ui/enums");
 import utils = require("utils/utils");
+import color = require("color");
 
 export function getViewById(view: View, id: string): View {
     if (!view) {
@@ -157,6 +158,50 @@ export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements definition.View, definiti
         return <T>getViewById(this, id);
     }
 
+    // START Style property shortcuts
+
+    get color(): color.Color {
+        return this.style.color;
+    }
+    set color(value: color.Color) {
+        this.style.color = value;
+    }
+
+    get backgroundColor(): color.Color {
+        return this.style.backgroundColor;
+    }
+    set backgroundColor(value: color.Color) {
+        this.style.backgroundColor = value;
+    }
+
+    get fontSize(): number {
+        return this.style.fontSize;
+    }
+    set fontSize(value: number) {
+        this.style.fontSize = value;
+    }
+
+    get textAlignment(): string {
+        return this.style.textAlignment;
+    }
+    set textAlignment(value: string) {
+        this.style.textAlignment;
+    }
+
+    get minWidth(): number {
+        return this.style.minWidth;
+    }
+    set minWidth(value: number) {
+        this.style.minWidth = value;
+    }
+
+    get minHeight(): number {
+        return this.style.minHeight;
+    }
+    set minHeight(value: number) {
+        this.style.minHeight = value;
+    }
+
     get width(): number {
         return this.style.width;
     }
@@ -171,20 +216,76 @@ export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements definition.View, definiti
         this.style.height = value;
     }
 
-    get minHeight(): number {
-        return this.style.minHeight;
+    get margin(): string {
+        return this.style.margin;
     }
-    set minHeight(value: number) {
-        this.style.minHeight = value;
+    set margin(value: string) {
+        this.style.margin = value;
     }
 
-    get minWidth(): number {
-        return this.style.minWidth;
+    get marginLeft(): number {
+        return this.style.marginLeft;
     }
-    set minWidth(value: number) {
-        this.style.minWidth = value;
+    set marginLeft(value: number) {
+        this.style.marginLeft = value;
     }
 
+    get marginTop(): number {
+        return this.style.marginTop;
+    }
+    set marginTop(value: number) {
+        this.style.marginTop = value;
+    }
+
+    get marginRight(): number {
+        return this.style.marginRight;
+    }
+    set marginRight(value: number) {
+        this.style.marginRight = value;
+    }
+
+    get marginBottom(): number {
+        return this.style.marginBottom;
+    }
+    set marginBottom(value: number) {
+        this.style.marginBottom = value;
+    }
+
+    get padding(): string {
+        return this.style.padding;
+    }
+    set padding(value: string) {
+        this.style.padding = value;
+    }
+
+    get paddingLeft(): number {
+        return this.style.paddingLeft;
+    }
+    set paddingLeft(value: number) {
+        this.style.paddingLeft = value;
+    }
+
+    get paddingTop(): number {
+        return this.style.paddingTop;
+    }
+    set paddingTop(value: number) {
+        this.style.paddingTop = value;
+    }
+
+    get paddingRight(): number {
+        return this.style.paddingRight;
+    }
+    set paddingRight(value: number) {
+        this.style.paddingRight = value;
+    }
+
+    get paddingBottom(): number {
+        return this.style.paddingBottom;
+    }
+    set paddingBottom(value: number) {
+        this.style.paddingBottom = value;
+    }
+    
     get horizontalAlignment(): string {
         return this.style.horizontalAlignment;
     }
@@ -199,34 +300,6 @@ export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements definition.View, definiti
         this.style.verticalAlignment = value;
     }
 
-    public get marginLeft(): number {
-        return this.style.marginLeft;
-    }
-    public set marginLeft(value: number) {
-        this.style.marginLeft = value;
-    }
-
-    public get marginTop(): number {
-        return this.style.marginTop;
-    }
-    public set marginTop(value: number) {
-        this.style.marginTop = value;
-    }
-
-    public get marginRight(): number {
-        return this.style.marginRight;
-    }
-    public set marginRight(value: number) {
-        this.style.marginRight = value;
-    }
-
-    public get marginBottom(): number {
-        return this.style.marginBottom;
-    }
-    public set marginBottom(value: number) {
-        this.style.marginBottom = value;
-    }
-
     get visibility(): string {
         return this.style.visibility;
     }
@@ -234,6 +307,15 @@ export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements definition.View, definiti
         this.style.visibility = value;
     }
 
+    get opacity(): number {
+        return this.style.opacity;
+    }
+    set opacity(value: number) {
+        this.style.opacity = value;
+    }
+            
+    //END Style property shortcuts
+
     get isEnabled(): boolean {
         return this._getValue(View.isEnabledProperty);
     }
@@ -825,14 +907,14 @@ export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements definition.View, definiti
     }
 
     applyXmlAttribute(attributeName: string, attributeValue: any): boolean {
-        if (attributeName === "margin") {
-            this.style.margin = attributeValue;
-            return true;
-        }
-        else if (attributeName === "padding") {
-            this.style.padding = attributeValue;
-            return true;
-        }
+        //if (attributeName === "margin") {
+        //    this.style.margin = attributeValue;
+        //    return true;
+        //}
+        //else if (attributeName === "padding") {
+        //    this.style.padding = attributeValue;
+        //    return true;
+        //}
 
         return false;
     }
diff --git a/ui/core/view.d.ts b/ui/core/view.d.ts
index 77eae896d..0424f8429 100644
--- a/ui/core/view.d.ts
+++ b/ui/core/view.d.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ declare module "ui/core/view" {
     import dependencyObservable = require("ui/core/dependency-observable");
     import proxy = require("ui/core/proxy");
     import gestures = require("ui/gestures");
+    import color = require("color");
+    import styling = require("ui/styling");
 
     /**
      * Gets a child view by id.
@@ -107,7 +109,7 @@ declare module "ui/core/view" {
      * This class is the base class for all UI components. 
      * A View occupies a rectangular area on the screen and is responsible for drawing and layouting of all UI components within. 
      */
-    export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements ApplyXmlAttributes {
+    export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject/* implements ApplyXmlAttributes*/ {
         /**
          * Represents the observable property backing the id property of each View.
          */
@@ -122,15 +124,27 @@ declare module "ui/core/view" {
 
         constructor(options?: Options);
 
-        /**
-         * Gets or sets the desired width of the view.
-         */
-        width: number;
+        //----------Style property shortcuts----------
 
         /**
-         * Gets or sets the desired height of the view.
+         * Gets or sets the color of the view.
          */
-        height: number;
+        color: color.Color;
+        
+        /**
+         * Gets or sets the background color of the view.
+         */
+        backgroundColor: color.Color;
+        
+        /**
+         * Gets or sets font-size style property.
+         */
+        fontSize: number;
+
+        /**
+         * Gets or sets text-alignment style property.
+         */
+        textAlignment: string;
 
         /**
          * Gets or sets the minimum width the view may grow to.
@@ -143,14 +157,19 @@ declare module "ui/core/view" {
         minHeight: number;
 
         /**
-         * Gets or sets the alignment of this view within its parent along the Horizontal axis.
+         * Gets or sets the desired width of the view.
          */
-        horizontalAlignment: string;
+        width: number;
 
         /**
-         * Gets or sets the alignment of this view within its parent along the Vertical axis.
+         * Gets or sets the desired height of the view.
          */
-        verticalAlignment: string;
+        height: number;
+
+        /**
+         * Gets or sets margin style property.
+         */
+        margin: string;
 
         /**
          * Specifies extra space on the left side of this view.
@@ -172,11 +191,53 @@ declare module "ui/core/view" {
          */
         marginBottom: number;
 
+        /**
+         * Gets or sets padding style property.
+         */
+        padding: string;
+
+        /**
+         * Specify the left padding of this view.
+         */
+        paddingLeft: number;
+
+        /**
+         * Specify the top padding of this view.
+         */
+        paddingTop: number;
+
+        /**
+         * Specify the right padding of this view.
+         */
+        paddingRight: number;
+
+        /**
+         * Specify the bottom padding of this view.
+         */
+        paddingBottom: number;
+
+        /**
+         * Gets or sets the alignment of this view within its parent along the Horizontal axis.
+         */
+        horizontalAlignment: string;
+
+        /**
+         * Gets or sets the alignment of this view within its parent along the Vertical axis.
+         */
+        verticalAlignment: string;
+
         /**
          * Gets or sets the visibility of the view.
          */
         visibility: string;
 
+        /**
+         * Gets or sets the opacity style property.
+         */
+        opacity: number;
+        
+        //----------Style property shortcuts----------
+
         /**
          * Gets or sets a value indicating whether the the view is enabled. This affects the appearance of the view.
          */
diff --git a/ui/styling/converters.ts b/ui/styling/converters.ts
index f2bc8ae43..dd4fec3ae 100644
--- a/ui/styling/converters.ts
+++ b/ui/styling/converters.ts
@@ -2,40 +2,40 @@
 import enums = require("ui/enums");
 import types = require("utils/types");
 
-export function colorConverter(cssValue: any): color.Color {
-    return new color.Color(cssValue);
+export function colorConverter(value: string): color.Color {
+    return new color.Color(value);
 }
 
-export function fontSizeConverter(cssValue: any): number {
+export function fontSizeConverter(value: string): number {
     // TODO: parse different unit types
-    var result: number = parseFloat(cssValue);
+    var result: number = parseFloat(value);
     return result;
 }
 
-export function textAlignConverter(cssValue: any): string {
-    switch (cssValue) {
+export function textAlignConverter(value: string): string {
+    switch (value) {
         case enums.TextAlignment.left:
         case enums.TextAlignment.center:
         case enums.TextAlignment.right:
-            return cssValue;
+            return value;
             break;
         default:
-            throw new Error("CSS text-align \"" + cssValue + "\" is not supported.");
+            throw new Error("CSS text-align \"" + value + "\" is not supported.");
             break;
     }
 }
 
 export var numberConverter = parseFloat;
 
-export function visibilityConverter(cssValue: any): string {
-    if (types.isString(cssValue) && cssValue.toLowerCase() === enums.Visibility.collapsed) {
+export function visibilityConverter(value: string): string {
+    if (value.toLowerCase() === enums.Visibility.collapsed) {
         return enums.Visibility.collapsed;
     }
     return enums.Visibility.visible;
 }
 
-export function opacityConverter(cssValue: any): number {
-    var result = parseFloat(cssValue);
+export function opacityConverter(value: string): number {
+    var result = parseFloat(value);
     result = Math.max(0.0, result);
     result = Math.min(1.0, result);
 
diff --git a/ui/styling/css-selector.ts b/ui/styling/css-selector.ts
index 726469a15..49c648983 100644
--- a/ui/styling/css-selector.ts
+++ b/ui/styling/css-selector.ts
@@ -47,9 +47,8 @@ export class CssSelector {
             property = styleProperty.getPropertyByCssName(this._declarations[i].property);
             if (property) {
                 resolvedValue = this._declarations[i].value;
-                if (property.valueConverter) {
-                    resolvedValue = property.valueConverter(resolvedValue);
-                }
+                // The property.valueConverter is now used to convert the value later on in DependencyObservable._setValueInternal.
+                console.log(">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>");
                 callback(property, resolvedValue);
             }
         }
diff --git a/ui/styling/style-property.ts b/ui/styling/style-property.ts
index 84c0319ab..85903180c 100644
--- a/ui/styling/style-property.ts
+++ b/ui/styling/style-property.ts
@@ -51,13 +51,11 @@ export function eachInheritableProperty(callback: (property: Property) => void)
 
 export class Property extends observable.Property implements definition.Property {
     private _cssName;
-    private _valueConverter: (value: any) => any;
 
     constructor(name: string, cssName: string, metadata: observable.PropertyMetadata, valueConverter?: (value: any) => any) {
-        super(name, "Style", metadata);
+        super(name, "Style", metadata, valueConverter);
 
         this._cssName = cssName;
-        this._valueConverter = valueConverter;
 
         registerProperty(this);
     }
@@ -66,10 +64,6 @@ export class Property extends observable.Property implements definition.Property
         return this._cssName;
     }
 
-    public get valueConverter(): (value: any) => any {
-        return this._valueConverter;
-    }
-
     public _getEffectiveValue(entry: observable.PropertyEntry): any {
         if (types.isDefined(entry.visualStateValue)) {
             entry.valueSource = observable.ValueSource.VisualState;
diff --git a/ui/styling/style.ts b/ui/styling/style.ts
index b48a4701e..54cf12904 100644
--- a/ui/styling/style.ts
+++ b/ui/styling/style.ts
@@ -56,88 +56,18 @@ export class Style extends observable.DependencyObservable implements styling.St
         this._setValue(textAlignmentProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
     }
 
-    get verticalAlignment(): string {
-        return this._getValue(verticalAlignmentProperty);
+    get minWidth(): number {
+        return this._getValue(minWidthProperty);
     }
-    set verticalAlignment(value: string) {
-        this._setValue(verticalAlignmentProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    set minWidth(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(minWidthProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
     }
 
-    get horizontalAlignment(): string {
-        return this._getValue(horizontalAlignmentProperty);
+    get minHeight(): number {
+        return this._getValue(minHeightProperty);
     }
-    set horizontalAlignment(value: string) {
-        this._setValue(horizontalAlignmentProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    get padding(): string {
-        return this._getValue(paddingProperty);
-    }
-    set padding(value: string) {
-        this._setValue(paddingProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    get margin(): string {
-        return this._getValue(marginProperty);
-    }
-    set margin(value: string) {
-        this._setValue(marginProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    public get marginLeft(): number {
-        return this._getValue(marginLeftProperty);
-    }
-    public set marginLeft(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(marginLeftProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    public get marginTop(): number {
-        return this._getValue(marginTopProperty);
-    }
-    public set marginTop(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(marginTopProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    public get marginRight(): number {
-        return this._getValue(marginRightProperty);
-    }
-    public set marginRight(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(marginRightProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    public get marginBottom(): number {
-        return this._getValue(marginBottomProperty);
-    }
-    public set marginBottom(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(marginBottomProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    public get paddingLeft(): number {
-        return this._getValue(paddingLeftProperty);
-    }
-    public set paddingLeft(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(paddingLeftProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    public get paddingTop(): number {
-        return this._getValue(paddingTopProperty);
-    }
-    public set paddingTop(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(paddingTopProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    public get paddingRight(): number {
-        return this._getValue(paddingRightProperty);
-    }
-    public set paddingRight(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(paddingRightProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
-    }
-
-    public get paddingBottom(): number {
-        return this._getValue(paddingBottomProperty);
-    }
-    public set paddingBottom(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(paddingBottomProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    set minHeight(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(minHeightProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
     }
 
     get width(): number {
@@ -154,18 +84,88 @@ export class Style extends observable.DependencyObservable implements styling.St
         this._setValue(heightProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
     }
 
-    get minWidth(): number {
-        return this._getValue(minWidthProperty);
+    get margin(): string {
+        return this._getValue(marginProperty);
     }
-    set minWidth(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(minWidthProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    set margin(value: string) {
+        this._setValue(marginProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
     }
 
-    get minHeight(): number {
-        return this._getValue(minHeightProperty);
+    get marginLeft(): number {
+        return this._getValue(marginLeftProperty);
     }
-    set minHeight(value: number) {
-        this._setValue(minHeightProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    set marginLeft(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(marginLeftProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get marginTop(): number {
+        return this._getValue(marginTopProperty);
+    }
+    set marginTop(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(marginTopProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get marginRight(): number {
+        return this._getValue(marginRightProperty);
+    }
+    set marginRight(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(marginRightProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get marginBottom(): number {
+        return this._getValue(marginBottomProperty);
+    }
+    set marginBottom(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(marginBottomProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get padding(): string {
+        return this._getValue(paddingProperty);
+    }
+    set padding(value: string) {
+        this._setValue(paddingProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get paddingLeft(): number {
+        return this._getValue(paddingLeftProperty);
+    }
+    set paddingLeft(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(paddingLeftProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get paddingTop(): number {
+        return this._getValue(paddingTopProperty);
+    }
+    set paddingTop(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(paddingTopProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get paddingRight(): number {
+        return this._getValue(paddingRightProperty);
+    }
+    set paddingRight(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(paddingRightProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get paddingBottom(): number {
+        return this._getValue(paddingBottomProperty);
+    }
+    set paddingBottom(value: number) {
+        this._setValue(paddingBottomProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get horizontalAlignment(): string {
+        return this._getValue(horizontalAlignmentProperty);
+    }
+    set horizontalAlignment(value: string) {
+        this._setValue(horizontalAlignmentProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
+    }
+
+    get verticalAlignment(): string {
+        return this._getValue(verticalAlignmentProperty);
+    }
+    set verticalAlignment(value: string) {
+        this._setValue(verticalAlignmentProperty, value, observable.ValueSource.Local);
     }
 
     get visibility(): string {
diff --git a/ui/styling/styling.d.ts b/ui/styling/styling.d.ts
index c0f8c7bed..01c64dc82 100644
--- a/ui/styling/styling.d.ts
+++ b/ui/styling/styling.d.ts
@@ -111,25 +111,25 @@ declare module "ui/styling" {
          */
         padding: string;
 
-        /**
-         * Specify the bottom padding of this view.
-         */
-        paddingBottom: number;
-
         /**
          * Specify the left padding of this view.
          */
         paddingLeft: number;
 
+        /**
+         * Specify the top padding of this view.
+         */
+        paddingTop: number;
+
         /**
          * Specify the right padding of this view.
          */
         paddingRight: number;
 
         /**
-         * Specify the top padding of this view.
+         * Specify the bottom padding of this view.
          */
-        paddingTop: number;
+        paddingBottom: number;
 
         /**
          * Gets or sets horizontal-alignment style property.