diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 8579a57..2606997 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -51,11 +51,6 @@
       <artifactId>scala-library</artifactId>
       <version>${lib.scala-library.version}</version>
     </dependency>
-    <dependency>
-      <groupId>org.scalafx</groupId>
-      <artifactId>scalafx_2.10</artifactId>
-      <version>${lib.scalafx.version}</version>
-    </dependency>
   </dependencies>
 
   <build>
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sothr/imagetools/App.java b/src/main/java/com/sothr/imagetools/App.java
index a391519..c9c62e3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sothr/imagetools/App.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sothr/imagetools/App.java
@@ -1,23 +1,34 @@
 package com.sothr.imagetools;
 
+import com.sothr.imagetools.errors.ImageToolsException;
+import com.sothr.imagetools.ui.controller.AppController;
+import javafx.application.Application;
+import javafx.fxml.FXMLLoader;
+import javafx.scene.Parent;
+import javafx.scene.Scene;
+import javafx.stage.Stage;
 import org.apache.log4j.PropertyConfigurator;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Properties;
 
 /**
  * Hello world!
  *
  */
-public class App 
+public class App extends Application
 {
 
     private static Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(App.class);
 
+    private static final String MAINGUI_FXML = "fxml/mainapp/MainApp.fxml";
+
     public static void main( String[] args )
     {
+        //Logging Config
         File file = new File("log4j.properties");
         if (file.exists()) {
             PropertyConfigurator.configure("log4j.properties");
@@ -38,7 +49,8 @@ public class App
         logger.info("Image-Tools is starting");
 
         try {
-            System.out.println( "Hello World!" );
+            //try to run the UI
+            launch(args);
         } catch (Exception ex) {
             logger.error("A fatal error has occurred: ", ex);
             //show popup about the error to the user then exit
@@ -46,4 +58,27 @@ public class App
 
         logger.info("Image-Tools is shutting down");
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public void start(Stage primaryStage) throws Exception {
+        logger.info(String.format("Launching GUI with FXML file %s", MAINGUI_FXML));
+        ClassLoader cl = this.getClass().getClassLoader();
+        try {
+            Parent root = FXMLLoader.load(cl.getResource(MAINGUI_FXML));
+            primaryStage.setScene(new Scene(root));
+            primaryStage.setTitle("Image Tools");
+            primaryStage.setResizable(true);
+            primaryStage.show();
+        } catch (IOException ioe) {
+            String message = String.format("Unable to load FXML file: %s", MAINGUI_FXML);
+            ImageToolsException ite = new ImageToolsException(message, ioe);
+            logger.error(message, ioe);
+            throw ite;
+        } catch (Exception ex) {
+            String message = "An unhandled exception was thrown by the GUI";
+            ImageToolsException ite = new ImageToolsException(message, ex);
+            logger.error(message, ex);
+            throw ite;
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sothr/imagetools/errors/ImageToolsException.java b/src/main/java/com/sothr/imagetools/errors/ImageToolsException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b935788
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sothr/imagetools/errors/ImageToolsException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package com.sothr.imagetools.errors;
+
+/**
+ * Created by drew on 12/31/13.
+ */
+public class ImageToolsException extends Exception {
+
+    public ImageToolsException() { super(); }
+    public ImageToolsException(String message) { super(message); }
+    public ImageToolsException(String message, Throwable cause) { super(message, cause); }
+    public ImageToolsException(Throwable cause) { super(cause); }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/main/resources/fxml/mainapp/MainApp.fxml b/src/main/resources/fxml/mainapp/MainApp.fxml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..927c8f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/resources/fxml/mainapp/MainApp.fxml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<?language javascript?>
+<?import javafx.scene.control.*?>
+<?import javafx.scene.layout.*?>
+
+<StackPane fx:id="root" xmlns:fx="http://javafx.com/fxml" fx:controller="com.sothr.imagetools.ui.controller.AppController">
+    <children>
+        <Button fx:id="printBtn" onAction="controller.print()" />
+        <fx:script>printBtn.text = 'Click Me ' + controller.print() + '!';</fx:script>
+    </children>
+</StackPane>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/scala/com/sothr/imagetools/ui/controller/AppController.scala b/src/main/scala/com/sothr/imagetools/ui/controller/AppController.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..947ac8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/scala/com/sothr/imagetools/ui/controller/AppController.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package com.sothr.imagetools.ui.controller
+
+import javafx.fxml.Initializable
+import java.net.URL
+import java.util.ResourceBundle
+
+/**
+ * Created by drew on 12/31/13.
+ */
+class AppController extends Initializable {
+
+  def print():String = {
+    return "This method works";
+  }
+
+  def initialize(p1: URL, p2: ResourceBundle): Unit = {
+
+  }
+}