diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj
index 2f33fb912d..6cc354bc00 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
     <Compile Include="AvaloniaXamlLoader.cs" />
     <Compile Include="PortableXaml\AvaloniaMemberAttributeProvider.cs" />
     <Compile Include="PortableXaml\AvaloniaNameScope.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="PortableXaml\AvaloniaDefaultTypeConverters.cs" />
     <Compile Include="PortableXaml\AvaloniaXamlObjectWriter.cs" />
     <Compile Include="PortableXaml\AvaloniaRuntimeTypeProvider.cs" />
     <Compile Include="PortableXaml\AvaloniaXamlSchemaContext.cs" />
@@ -274,6 +275,8 @@
     <Compile Include="Parsers\SelectorGrammar.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Parsers\SelectorParser.cs" />
     <Compile Include="PortableXaml\AvaloniaTypeAttributeProvider.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="PortableXaml\AvaloniaXamlType.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="PortableXaml\TypeDescriptorExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
     <Compile Include="AvaloniaXamlLoaderOmniXaml.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Styling\StyleInclude.cs" />
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Context/AvaloniaRuntimeTypeSource.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Context/AvaloniaRuntimeTypeSource.cs
index 762ffdb24b..dfc8fbceee 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Context/AvaloniaRuntimeTypeSource.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Context/AvaloniaRuntimeTypeSource.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Context
 {
+#if OMNIXAML
     using System;
     using System.Collections.Generic;
     using System.Linq;
@@ -88,4 +89,5 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Context
             return inner.GetAttachableMember(name, getter, setter);
         }
     }
+#endif
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Context/AvaloniaTypeFeatureProvider.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Context/AvaloniaTypeFeatureProvider.cs
index 7828934a62..d03fd2e72c 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Context/AvaloniaTypeFeatureProvider.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Context/AvaloniaTypeFeatureProvider.cs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ using OmniMetadata = OmniXaml.Typing.Metadata;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Context
 {
+#if OMNIXAML
     public class AvaloniaTypeFeatureProvider : ITypeFeatureProvider
     {
         private Dictionary<Type, OmniMetadata> _metadata =
@@ -177,4 +178,5 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Context
             RegisterTypeConverter(typeof(FontWeight), new FontWeightConverter());
         }
     }
+#endif
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter.cs
index 026217eacb..ae9339b299 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter.cs
@@ -4,12 +4,99 @@
 using System;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.Linq;
-using OmniXaml;
-using OmniXaml.TypeConversion;
-using Avalonia.Styling;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Converters
 {
+    using Avalonia.Styling;
+    using Portable.Xaml;
+#if !OMNIXAML
+
+    using Portable.Xaml.ComponentModel;
+    using Portable.Xaml.Markup;
+
+    public class AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter : TypeConverter
+    {
+        public override bool CanConvertFrom(ITypeDescriptorContext context, Type sourceType)
+        {
+            return sourceType == typeof(string);
+        }
+
+        public override object ConvertFrom(ITypeDescriptorContext context, CultureInfo culture, object value)
+        {
+            var s = (string)value;
+
+            string typeName;
+            string propertyName;
+            Type type = null;
+
+            ParseProperty(s, out typeName, out propertyName);
+
+            if (typeName == null)
+            {
+                var amb = context.GetService<IAmbientProvider>();
+                var sc = context.GetService<IXamlSchemaContextProvider>().SchemaContext;
+                var xamlStyleType = sc.GetXamlType(typeof(Style));
+                var ambValue = amb.GetFirstAmbientValue(xamlStyleType) as AmbientPropertyValue;
+
+                var style = ambValue?.Value as Style;
+                type = style.Selector?.TargetType;
+
+                if (type == null)
+                {
+                    throw new Exception(
+                        "Could not determine the target type. Please fully qualify the property name.");
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                //type = context.TypeRepository.GetByQualifiedName(typeName)?.UnderlyingType;
+
+                if (type == null)
+                {
+                    throw new Exception($"Could not find type '{typeName}'.");
+                }
+            }
+
+            // First look for non-attached property on the type and then look for an attached property.
+            var property = AvaloniaPropertyRegistry.Instance.FindRegistered(type, s) ??
+                           AvaloniaPropertyRegistry.Instance.GetAttached(type)
+                           .FirstOrDefault(x => x.Name == propertyName);
+
+            if (property == null)
+            {
+                throw new Exception(
+                    $"Could not find AvaloniaProperty '{type.Name}.{propertyName}'.");
+            }
+
+            return property;
+        }
+
+        private void ParseProperty(string s, out string typeName, out string propertyName)
+        {
+            var split = s.Split('.');
+
+            if (split.Length == 1)
+            {
+                typeName = null;
+                propertyName = split[0];
+            }
+            else if (split.Length == 2)
+            {
+                typeName = split[0];
+                propertyName = split[1];
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                throw new Exception($"Invalid property name: '{s}'.");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+#else
+
+    using OmniXaml;
+    using OmniXaml.TypeConversion;
+
     public class AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter : ITypeConverter
     {
         public bool CanConvertFrom(IValueContext context, Type sourceType)
@@ -93,4 +180,5 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Converters
             }
         }
     }
+#endif
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/BrushTypeConverter.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/BrushTypeConverter.cs
index 45f835914f..0c256cf645 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/BrushTypeConverter.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/BrushTypeConverter.cs
@@ -3,11 +3,32 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.Globalization;
-using OmniXaml.TypeConversion;
+
 using Avalonia.Media;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Converters
 {
+#if !OMNIXAML
+
+    using Portable.Xaml.ComponentModel;
+
+    public class BrushTypeConverter : TypeConverter
+    {
+        public override bool CanConvertFrom(ITypeDescriptorContext context, Type sourceType)
+        {
+            return sourceType == typeof(string);
+        }
+
+        public override object ConvertFrom(ITypeDescriptorContext context, CultureInfo culture, object value)
+        {
+            return Brush.Parse((string)value);
+        }
+    }
+
+#else
+
+    using OmniXaml.TypeConversion;
+
     public class BrushTypeConverter : ITypeConverter
     {
         public bool CanConvertFrom(IValueContext context, Type sourceType)
@@ -30,4 +51,5 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Converters
             throw new NotImplementedException();
         }
     }
+#endif
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/SelectorTypeConverter.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/SelectorTypeConverter.cs
index 0970f42724..391663ed43 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/SelectorTypeConverter.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/SelectorTypeConverter.cs
@@ -3,11 +3,33 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.Globalization;
-using OmniXaml.TypeConversion;
 using Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Parsers;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Converters
 {
+#if !OMNIXAML
+
+    using Portable.Xaml.ComponentModel;
+
+    public class SelectorTypeConverter : TypeConverter
+    {
+        public override bool CanConvertFrom(ITypeDescriptorContext context, Type sourceType)
+        {
+            return sourceType == typeof(string);
+        }
+
+        public override object ConvertFrom(ITypeDescriptorContext context, CultureInfo culture, object value)
+        {
+            var parser = new SelectorParser((t, ns) => context.ResolveType(ns, t));
+
+            return parser.Parse((string)value);
+        }
+    }
+
+#else
+
+    using OmniXaml.TypeConversion;
+
     public class SelectorTypeConverter : ITypeConverter
     {
         public bool CanConvertFrom(IValueContext context, Type sourceType)
@@ -31,4 +53,6 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Converters
             throw new NotImplementedException();
         }
     }
+
+#endif
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaDefaultTypeConverters.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaDefaultTypeConverters.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e92b84b041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaDefaultTypeConverters.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Reflection;
+using Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Converters;
+using Avalonia.Media;
+using Avalonia.Media.Imaging;
+using Avalonia.Styling;
+
+namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.PortableXaml
+{
+    public class AvaloniaDefaultTypeConverters
+    {
+        private static Dictionary<Type, Type> _defaultConverters = new Dictionary<Type, Type>()
+        {
+            { typeof(IBitmap), typeof(BitmapTypeConverter)},
+            { typeof(IBrush), typeof(BrushTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(Color), typeof(ColorTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(Classes), typeof(ClassesTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(ColumnDefinitions), typeof(ColumnDefinitionsTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(DateTime), typeof(DateTimeTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(Geometry), typeof(GeometryTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(GridLength), typeof(GridLengthTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(KeyGesture), typeof(KeyGestureConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(AvaloniaList<double>), typeof(AvaloniaListTypeConverter<double>) },
+            //{ typeof(IMemberSelector), typeof(MemberSelectorTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(Point), typeof(PointTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(IList<Point>), typeof(PointsListTypeConverter) },
+            { typeof(AvaloniaProperty), typeof(AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(RelativePoint), typeof(RelativePointTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(RelativeRect), typeof(RelativeRectTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(RowDefinitions), typeof(RowDefinitionsTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(Size), typeof(SizeTypeConverter) },
+            { typeof(Selector), typeof(SelectorTypeConverter)},
+            //{ typeof(SolidColorBrush), typeof(BrushTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(Thickness), typeof(ThicknessTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(TimeSpan), typeof(TimeSpanTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(Uri), typeof(Converters.UriTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(Cursor), typeof(CursorTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(WindowIcon), typeof(IconTypeConverter) },
+            //{ typeof(FontWeight), typeof(FontWeightConverter) },
+        };
+
+        public static Type GetTypeConverter(Type type)
+        {
+            Type converterType;
+
+            Type curType = type;
+
+            while (curType != null)
+            {
+                if (_defaultConverters.TryGetValue(curType, out converterType))
+                {
+                    if (curType != type)
+                    {
+                        _defaultConverters[curType] = converterType;
+                    }
+
+                    return converterType;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    _defaultConverters[curType] = null;
+                }
+
+                curType = curType.GetTypeInfo().BaseType;
+            }
+
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaTypeAttributeProvider.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaTypeAttributeProvider.cs
index ba470d521d..1604fadf4b 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaTypeAttributeProvider.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaTypeAttributeProvider.cs
@@ -43,6 +43,25 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.PortableXaml
                          };
                 }
             }
+            else if (attributeType == typeof(TypeConverterAttribute))
+            {
+                var attribs = _type.GetTypeInfo().GetCustomAttributes(attributeType, inherit);
+
+                if (attribs?.Any() != true)
+                {
+                    var convType = AvaloniaDefaultTypeConverters.GetTypeConverter(_type);
+
+                    if (convType != null)
+                    {
+                        return new object[]
+                        {
+                            new TypeConverterAttribute(convType)
+                        };
+                    }
+                }
+
+                return (attribs as object[]) ?? attribs.ToArray();
+            }
 
             var attr = _type.GetTypeInfo().GetCustomAttributes(attributeType, inherit);
             return (attr as object[]) ?? attr.ToArray();
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaXamlSchemaContext.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaXamlSchemaContext.cs
index 75ca5dff37..818aa2e43b 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaXamlSchemaContext.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaXamlSchemaContext.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Reflection;
 using Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Context;
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.PortableXaml
                     type = base.GetXamlType(xamlNamespace, name, typeArguments);
                 }
             }
-            catch(Exception e)
+            catch (Exception e)
             {
                 //TODO: log or wrap exception
                 throw e;
@@ -66,5 +65,15 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.PortableXaml
 
         protected override ICustomAttributeProvider GetCustomAttributeProvider(MemberInfo member)
                                     => new AvaloniaMemberAttributeProvider(member);
+
+        public override XamlType GetXamlType(Type type)
+        {
+            if (type.FullName.StartsWith("Avalonia."))
+            {
+                return new AvaloniaXamlType(type, this);
+            }
+
+            return base.GetXamlType(type);
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaXamlType.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaXamlType.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ee1acbefa7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/AvaloniaXamlType.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Reflection;
+using Portable.Xaml;
+using Portable.Xaml.Schema;
+using am = Avalonia.Metadata;
+
+namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.PortableXaml
+{
+    public class AvaloniaXamlType : XamlType
+    {
+        public AvaloniaXamlType(Type underlyingType, XamlSchemaContext schemaContext) :
+            base(underlyingType, schemaContext)
+        {
+        }
+
+        protected override XamlMember LookupMember(string name, bool skipReadOnlyCheck)
+        {
+            var pi = UnderlyingType.GetRuntimeProperty(name);
+
+            var dependAttr = pi.GetCustomAttribute<am.DependsOnAttribute>();
+
+            if (dependAttr != null)
+            {
+                return new DependOnXamlMember(dependAttr.Name, pi, SchemaContext);
+            }
+
+            return base.LookupMember(name, skipReadOnlyCheck);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public class DependOnXamlMember : XamlMember
+    {
+        private string _dependOn;
+
+        public DependOnXamlMember(string dependOn,
+            PropertyInfo propertyInfo,
+            XamlSchemaContext schemaContext) :
+            base(propertyInfo, schemaContext)
+        {
+            _dependOn = dependOn;
+        }
+
+        private XamlMember _dependOnMember;
+
+        public XamlMember DependOnMember
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                return _dependOnMember ??
+                        (_dependOnMember = DeclaringType.GetMember(_dependOn));
+            }
+        }
+
+        protected override IList<XamlMember> LookupDependsOn()
+        {
+            return new List<XamlMember>() { DeclaringType.GetMember(_dependOn) };
+        }
+
+        protected override XamlMemberInvoker LookupInvoker()
+        {
+            return new DependOnInvoker(this);
+        }
+
+        private class DependOnInvoker : XamlMemberInvoker
+        {
+            public DependOnInvoker(XamlMember member) : base(member)
+            {
+            }
+
+            public override void SetValue(object instance, object value)
+            {
+                if (value is string &&
+                    (Member.UnderlyingMember as PropertyInfo).PropertyType != typeof(string))
+                {
+                    var dpm = (Member as DependOnXamlMember).DependOnMember.UnderlyingMember;
+                    var pi = (dpm as PropertyInfo);
+                    var avp = pi.GetValue(instance) as AvaloniaProperty;
+
+                    Type targetType = avp != null ? avp.PropertyType : pi.PropertyType;
+
+                    var xamTargetType = Member.DeclaringType.SchemaContext.GetXamlType(targetType);
+                    var ttConv = xamTargetType?.TypeConverter?.ConverterInstance;
+                    if (ttConv != null)
+                    {
+                        value = ttConv.ConvertFromString(value as string);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                base.SetValue(instance, value);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/TypeDescriptorExtensions.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/TypeDescriptorExtensions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..169befeb84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/PortableXaml/TypeDescriptorExtensions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+using System;
+using Portable.Xaml.Markup;
+
+namespace Portable.Xaml.ComponentModel
+{
+    internal static class TypeDescriptorExtensions
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the service from ITypeDescriptorContext
+        /// usually in TypeConverter in xaml reader context
+        /// examples:
+        /// context.GetService<IXamlTypeResolver>()
+        /// context.GetService<IXamlNamespaceResolver>()
+        /// context.GetService<IXamlNameProvider>()
+        /// context.GetService<INamespacePrefixLookup>()
+        /// context.GetService<IXamlSchemaContextProvider>()
+        /// context.GetService<IRootObjectProvider>()
+        /// context.GetService<IProvideValueTarget>()
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <typeparam name="T">Service Type</typeparam>
+        /// <param name="ctx">The TypeDescriptor context.</param>
+        /// <returns></returns>
+        public static T GetService<T>(this ITypeDescriptorContext ctx) where T : class
+        {
+            return ctx.GetService(typeof(T)) as T;
+        }
+
+        public static Type ResolveType(this ITypeDescriptorContext ctx, string namespacePrefix, string type)
+        {
+            var tr = ctx.GetService<IXamlTypeResolver>();
+
+            string name = string.IsNullOrEmpty(namespacePrefix) ? type : $"{namespacePrefix}:{type}";
+
+            return tr?.Resolve(name);
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file