diff --git a/libs/awmtk2.lua b/libs/awmtk2.lua
index 93a0fc8..7576541 100644
--- a/libs/awmtk2.lua
+++ b/libs/awmtk2.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,19 @@ local awmtk = {}
 
 -- {{{ Utils
 
-
+awmtk.subclass = function(parent_class,instance_overrides,name) 
+    return setmetatable(instance_overrides,{
+        __index = function(self,k)
+            if rawget(self,k) then
+                return rawget(self,k)
+            elseif type(beautiful[name]) == "table" and beautiful[name][k] then
+                return beautiful[name][k]
+            elseif parent_class[k] then
+                return parent_class[k]
+            end
+        end
+    })
+end
 
 -- }}}
 
@@ -17,7 +29,10 @@ local awmtk = {}
 -- Default namespace
 awmtk.default = setmetatable({}, {
     -- { Backgrounds
-
+    -- custom background color for highlighting elements
+    bg_highlight = beautiful.bg_highlight or beautiful.bg_focus
+    -- }
+    -- { 
 }, { __index = beautiful })