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Update: 16:37 09/07/2010 – For a more fuller explanation of how to do this see this post - http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dotnet/xamlconfig.aspx?msg=3409766#xx3409766xx

The following code snippet shows an example of how to load a Configuration class, from an associated XAML file. This can be done in any application that is referencing the PresentationFramework assembly C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\v3.0\PresentationFramework.dll. The benefits of this should be obvious with Visual Studio 2008, and Jet brains Reshaper 4.5 or greater providing free intellisense support.

private static Uri BuildDefaultConfigurationUri()
{
    const string UriFormat = "/{0};component/{1}";
    return
        new Uri(
            string.Format(
                UriFormat, Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Name, "Configuration/MyConfigFile.xaml"), 
            UriKind.Relative);
}

Then configuration can simply be loaded as follows...

uri = BuildDefaultConfigurationUri();
this.configuration = (Configuration)Application.LoadComponent(uri);

Example configuration then could be...

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Configuration xmlns="clr-namespace:MyNameSpace"
               xmlns:b="clr-namespace:MyNameSpace.Bins"
               xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
    <MyClass1 x:Name="Default" IsDefault="True">
        <MyClass2 x:Name="Main">
            <Property1>
                <b:MyClass3 />
            </Property1>
            <Property2>
                <b:MyClass4 />
                <b:MyClass5/>
                <b:MyClass6 />
            </Property2>
        </MyClass2>
    </MyClass1>
</Configuration>