diff --git a/app/controllers/config.controller.js b/app/controllers/config.controller.js
index 38f761e..3c26453 100644
--- a/app/controllers/config.controller.js
+++ b/app/controllers/config.controller.js
@@ -88,22 +88,12 @@ angular.module("umbraco").controller("Imulus.ArchetypeConfigController", functio
     
     //setup JSON.stringify helpers
     $scope.archetypeConfigRenderModel.toString = stringify;
-    setConfigPropertyToString();
     
     //encapsulate stringify (should be built into browsers, not sure of IE support)
     function stringify() {
         return JSON.stringify(this);
     }
     
-    function setConfigPropertyToString()
-    {
-        _.each($scope.archetypeConfigRenderModel.fieldsets, function(fieldset){
-            _.each(fieldset.properties, function(property){
-                property.config.toString = stringify;
-            });
-        });
-    }
-    
     //watch for changes
     $scope.$watch('archetypeConfigRenderModel', function (v) {
         //console.log(v);
@@ -111,17 +101,6 @@ angular.module("umbraco").controller("Imulus.ArchetypeConfigController", functio
             $scope.archetypeConfigRenderModel = JSON.parse(v);
             $scope.archetypeConfigRenderModel.toString = stringify;
         }
-
-        //add stringify back in
-        _.each($scope.archetypeConfigRenderModel.fieldsets, function(fieldset){
-            _.each(fieldset.properties, function(property){
-                if(typeof property.config === 'string')
-                {
-                    property.config = JSON.parse($scope.archetypeConfigRenderModel.fieldsets[i].properties[j].config);
-                    property.config.toString = stringify;
-                }
-            });
-        });
     }, true);
     
     //helper that returns if an item can be removed
diff --git a/app/directives/archetypeproperty.js b/app/directives/archetypeproperty.js
index 4d9a824..d62ad76 100644
--- a/app/directives/archetypeproperty.js
+++ b/app/directives/archetypeproperty.js
@@ -29,14 +29,47 @@
         var label = configFieldsetModel.properties[scope.propertyConfigIndex].label;
         var config = configFieldsetModel.properties[scope.propertyConfigIndex].config;
         var alias = configFieldsetModel.properties[scope.propertyConfigIndex].alias;
+        var defaultValue = configFieldsetModel.properties[scope.propertyConfigIndex].value;
         
-        /*
-        console.log(config);
+        //try to convert the config to a JS object
         if(typeof config == 'string'){
-            config = eval(config);
+            try{
+                if(scope.archetypeConfig.developerMode == '1'){
+                    console.log("Trying to eval config: " + config); 
+                }
+                config = eval("(" + config + ")");
+            }
+            catch(exception)
+            {
+                if(scope.archetypeConfig.developerMode == '1'){
+                    console.log("Failed to eval config."); 
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if(scope.archetypeConfig.developerMode == '1'){
+            console.log("Config post-eval: " + config); 
+        }
+
+        //try to convert the defaultValue to a JS object
+        if(typeof defaultValue == 'string'){
+            try{
+                if(scope.archetypeConfig.developerMode == '1'){
+                    console.log("Trying to eval default value: " + defaultValue); 
+                }
+                defaultValue = eval("(" + defaultValue + ")");
+            }
+            catch(exception)
+            {
+                if(scope.archetypeConfig.developerMode == '1'){
+                    console.log("Failed to eval defaultValue."); 
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if(scope.archetypeConfig.developerMode == '1'){
+            console.log("Default value post-eval: " + defaultValue); 
         }
-        angular.isObject(config);
-        */
 
         if (view)
         {
@@ -58,7 +91,7 @@
 
                     if (!renderModelPropertyIndex)
                     {
-                        scope.archetypeRenderModel.fieldsets[scope.fieldsetIndex].properties.push(eval("({alias: '" + alias + "', value:''})"));
+                        scope.archetypeRenderModel.fieldsets[scope.fieldsetIndex].properties.push(eval("({alias: '" + alias + "', value:'" + defaultValue + "'})"));
                         renderModelPropertyIndex = getPropertyIdByAlias(scope.archetypeRenderModel.fieldsets[scope.fieldsetIndex].properties, alias);
                     }
                     scope.model.value = scope.archetypeRenderModel.fieldsets[scope.fieldsetIndex].properties[renderModelPropertyIndex].value;
diff --git a/app/views/archetype.config.html b/app/views/archetype.config.html
index ddcfdea..596094c 100644
--- a/app/views/archetype.config.html
+++ b/app/views/archetype.config.html
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
                                     <div>
                                          <label>View</label><select ng-model="property.view" ng-options="view.path as view.name for view in availableViews"></select>
                                     </div>                            
-                                    <div ng-hide="true">
+                                    <div>
                                          <label>Default Value</label><input type="text" ng-model="property.value" />
                                     </div>
                                     <div>