diff --git a/examples/desktop/main.cpp b/examples/desktop/main.cpp
index f5ef9b8d..38caf28a 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/desktop/main.cpp
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ int main( int argc, char* argv[] )
     SkinnyShortcut::enable( SkinnyShortcut::AllShortcuts );
 
     QskSubWindowArea* area = new QskSubWindowArea();
-    area->setGradient( QskGradient( QskGradient::Diagonal,
-        "DarkSlateGray", "LightSlateGray" ) );
+    area->setGradientHint( QskSubWindowArea::Panel,
+        QskGradient( QskGradient::Diagonal, "DarkSlateGray", "LightSlateGray" ) );
 
     QRectF windowRect( 0, 0, 250, 250 );
 
diff --git a/src/controls/QskSubWindowArea.cpp b/src/controls/QskSubWindowArea.cpp
index 620de113..0a06989e 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskSubWindowArea.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskSubWindowArea.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 
 #include "QskSubWindowArea.h"
 #include "QskSubWindow.h"
-#include "QskGradient.h"
 #include "QskFunctions.h"
 #include "QskEvent.h"
 
@@ -86,8 +85,6 @@ public:
     {
     }
 
-    QskGradient gradient;
-
     // data about the window being dragged
 
     bool isDraggableByHeaderOnly : 1;
@@ -108,33 +105,6 @@ QskSubWindowArea::~QskSubWindowArea()
 {
 }
 
-void QskSubWindowArea::setGradient( const QskGradient& gradient )
-{
-    if ( gradient != m_data->gradient )
-    {
-        m_data->gradient = gradient;
-
-        update();
-        Q_EMIT gradientChanged();
-    }
-}
-
-QskGradient QskSubWindowArea::gradient() const
-{
-    return m_data->gradient;
-}
-
-void QskSubWindowArea::resetGradient()
-{
-    if ( m_data->gradient.isValid() )
-    {
-        m_data->gradient.invalidate();
-        update();
-
-        Q_EMIT gradientChanged();
-    }
-}
-
 void QskSubWindowArea::geometryChangeEvent( QskGeometryChangeEvent* event )
 {
     if ( event->isResized() )
diff --git a/src/controls/QskSubWindowArea.h b/src/controls/QskSubWindowArea.h
index 67d9b4f2..f64e4d6b 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskSubWindowArea.h
+++ b/src/controls/QskSubWindowArea.h
@@ -16,9 +16,6 @@ class QSK_EXPORT QskSubWindowArea : public QskControl
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 
-    Q_PROPERTY( QskGradient gradient READ gradient
-        WRITE setGradient RESET resetGradient NOTIFY gradientChanged FINAL )
-
     using Inherited = QskControl;
 
 public:
@@ -27,14 +24,6 @@ public:
     QskSubWindowArea( QQuickItem* parent = nullptr );
     virtual ~QskSubWindowArea();
 
-    void setGradient( const QskGradient& gradient );
-    QskGradient gradient() const;
-    void resetGradient();
-
-
-Q_SIGNALS:
-    void gradientChanged();
-
 protected:
     virtual void geometryChangeEvent( QskGeometryChangeEvent* ) override;
 
diff --git a/src/controls/QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet.cpp b/src/controls/QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet.cpp
index 41cf665d..b7ac20f0 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet.cpp
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 
 #include "QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet.h"
 #include "QskSubWindowArea.h"
-#include "QskBoxOptions.h"
-#include "QskBoxNode.h"
 
 QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet::QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet( QskSkin* skin ):
     Inherited( skin )
@@ -22,9 +20,7 @@ QRectF QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet::subControlRect(
     const auto area = static_cast< const QskSubWindowArea* >( skinnable );
     
     if ( subControl == QskSubWindowArea::Panel )
-    {
         return area->contentsRect();
-    }
     
     return Inherited::subControlRect( skinnable, subControl );
 }
@@ -32,36 +28,13 @@ QRectF QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet::subControlRect(
 QSGNode* QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet::updateSubNode(
     const QskSkinnable* skinnable, quint8 nodeRole, QSGNode* node ) const
 {
-    const auto area = static_cast< const QskSubWindowArea* >( skinnable );
-
     switch( nodeRole )
     {
         case PanelRole:
-        {
-            return updatePanelNode( area, node );
-        }
+            return updateBoxNode( skinnable, node, QskSubWindowArea::Panel );
     }
 
     return Inherited::updateSubNode( skinnable, nodeRole, node );
 }
 
-QSGNode* QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet::updatePanelNode(
-    const QskSubWindowArea* area, QSGNode* node ) const
-{
-    const QRectF rect = subControlRect( area, QskSubWindowArea::Panel );
-
-    if ( !area->gradient().isValid() || rect.isEmpty() )
-        return nullptr;
-
-    auto boxNode = static_cast< QskBoxNode* >( node );
-    if ( boxNode == nullptr )
-        boxNode = new QskBoxNode();
-
-    QskBoxOptions options;
-    options.fillGradient = area->gradient();
-    boxNode->setBoxData( rect, options );
-
-    return boxNode;
-}
-
 #include "moc_QskSubWindowAreaSkinlet.cpp"