Erica Blawat Architecture

Erica Blawat Architecture Design in Play was created to share resources and inspiration with parents and teachers as they design engaging spaces for children.

From historical renovations to modest home remodels to luxury new-construction homes, I approach each house as a unique design challenge to discover a creative and meaningful solution that is both beautiful and functional.

Excited to see this custom-designed new construction home come to life! Situated on a 50’ wide corner lot, this new home...
03/27/2026

Excited to see this custom-designed new construction home come to life!
Situated on a 50’ wide corner lot, this new home will blend efficient practicality with comfortable, yet elevated, livability. A thoughtful space plan layout utilizes the full lot coverage while still maintaining a generous backyard, offering corner lot curb appeal from all sides, and allowing for lots of natural light to enter the home from all sides.
Working collaboratively with has been a joy as we added cohesive features and refined the exterior finish selections to create an inviting exterior that is both timeless and unique, while steering away from so many over-used “trends.”
Stay tuned for more of this home design collaboration!
Renderings by .designstudio

Surrounded by trees on a surprisingly generous property, this new custom-designed home will not only meet all the owners...
03/23/2026

Surrounded by trees on a surprisingly generous property, this new custom-designed home will not only meet all the owners’ program goals, but also showcase views to the surrounding tree-filled landscape. Respecting the homeowner budget, we created an efficient and intentional floor plan that utilizes every inch and provides sun-filled spaces, framed interior and exterior views, and pleasing but practical features throughout.
A compact building footprint and a simple but balanced massing, creates a classic home exterior. Strategic use of masonry cladding and stained wood accents paired with lap siding, board & batten, and dark windows, blends traditional and contemporary elements for a timeless transitional aesthetic.
More to share soon!



Rendering by .designstudio

With a balanced layout, simple clean finishes, and a sunny southern exposure our primary bath is a small spa-like oasis ...
03/12/2026

With a balanced layout, simple clean finishes, and a sunny southern exposure our primary bath is a small spa-like oasis in our home. Generous vanities, a zero threshold shower, and a soaking tub elevate the space, while minimal finishes and simple details keep it budget-friendly without losing the spa appeal.
To keep it tidy and make the most of every bit of storage space, the talented applied their fantastic organizational skills to this space. Just adding two perfectly sized baskets at each vanity that blend with the room’s aesthetic, greatly increased the concealed storage in the room.

About one year ago, I was approached by to design a new store for a “retail experience.” The vision was to blend old a...
03/10/2026

About one year ago, I was approached by to design a new store for a “retail experience.” The vision was to blend old and new, with a touch of whimsy and magic, to create an enticing and inviting new shop in downtown Elmhurst.
The location - a vacant dry cleaning building and notorious eyesore in the heart of downtown. This undertaking was not for the easily intimidated. A vision, paired with creativity and tenacity would be required! The design process was the very definition of “finding opportunities in all challenges!”
During design and construction, we faced many obstacles in renovating and reimagining this modest 1200SF retail building. After exploring many options, we were delighted that our final design was arguably an improvement over our original version with more windows/natural light paired with enhanced curb appeal that still honored (and protected) the past.
In May, the Spark Scent Collective will open its doors, bringing a community space designed for creativity and connection to our town. Offering a curated candle and scent making experience as well as a rotating array of other classes and events, this new neighborhood destination aims to spark creativity and foster meaningful connections.
Swipe through to see renderings of the renovation versus where we began a year ago!





ebarchitecture
Rendering by .designstudio

One of my family’s favorite spaces is our three seasons room. While it’s used mostly early spring through late fall, th...
12/23/2025

One of my family’s favorite spaces is our three seasons room. While it’s used mostly early spring through late fall, the southern exposure paired with dark walls and radiant heat extend the enjoyment of this space into the winter season too, especially with unusually warmer temperatures this week.
All decked out for the holidays, this welcoming room was a showstopper both day and night! A big thanks to and a long time friend and client (you know who you are!) for contributing to my own decor and truly elevating the holiday magic here!




A common goal of most home additions: a primary suiteFor this 1890’s historic home, the new primary suite at the rear of...
11/21/2025

A common goal of most home additions:
a primary suite
For this 1890’s historic home, the new primary suite at the rear of the home made the most sense placement-wise in plan. However, the best location for the new door to the suite was the top of the existing stair landing, several steps below the rest of the second floor level. Lucky for this client, design challenges spark the best design opportunities and here was no exception!
A new set of French doors, (which match existing doors at the original first and second floor sunrooms), open into the stair landing revealing new steps up to the private primary suite beyond. At the top of the steps, an art niche situated in the dressing hall provides a pretty focal point while obscuring direct views into the new primary wing. To the right, the dressing hall passes between his and her walk-in closets, leading to a generous new sun-filled bedroom. To the left, the hall passes a built-in drybar with coffee station, leading to a light and bright primary bath. An efficient laundry closet is tucked within the bath behind a pocketing door for extra convenience, but clutter is hidden out of sight.




While a home addition may originate as only a request for adding much needed space to a house, when designed with intent...
11/14/2025

While a home addition may originate as only a request for adding much needed space to a house, when designed with intention the renovation can elevate the feel and function of the entire home. Seamless connections between existing and new, attention to natural light and views, and pretty but practical storage solutions all work together in a thoughtful home addition and renovation.
Here, a set of French doors creates a new passageway between the formerly dark and isolated living room (swipe to see before) and the new family room. Aligning new doors with existing windows brings balance to the layout so it feels original to the house while maximizing natural light in the core of the home. To better organize the room without losing any of its former function, a new built-in bar is recessed in into a wall and flanked by symmetrical passages leading to the new kitchen. This allows the family room to feel both open but defined as a separate space from the surrounding rooms. Two steps down from the rest of the first floor, the family room also features 10’ high ceilings and offers a more gentle transition between interior and exterior entertaining to the walk out stone patio beyond.
Outside, the two-sided fireplace offers a focal point and brings warmth to the patio overlooking the back yard.

An original 1890’s butler’s wood and glass door remains in place in this home renovation. Swipe to see the same view bef...
11/11/2025

An original 1890’s butler’s wood and glass door remains in place in this home renovation. Swipe to see the same view before the transformation!
The old kitchen was dark, awkward in configuration, and undersized for a family of five. A new rear addition includes a generous sun-filled kitchen and breakfast nook, while much of the old kitchen was purposefully reconfigured to provide this formal butler’s passage and a walk-in pantry. These spaces offer function and storage perfectly located between the original formal dining room and the new kitchen, while enhancing the historic character and traditional charm of the home.
Swipe thru to see the “before,” plus more views of the butler’s passage, pantry, kitchen, breakfast nook and the before and after plans of this space.



An original 1890’s butler’s wood and glass door remains in place in this home renovation. Swipe to see the same view bef...
11/11/2025

An original 1890’s butler’s wood and glass door remains in place in this home renovation. Swipe to see the same view before the transformation!
The old kitchen was dark, awkward in configuration, and undersized for a family of five. A new rear addition includes a generous sun-filled kitchen and breakfast nook, while much of the old kitchen was purposefully reconfigured to provide this formal butler’s passage and a walk-in pantry. These spaces offer function and storage perfectly located between the original formal dining room and the new kitchen, while enhancing the historic character and traditional charm of the home.
Swipe thru to see the “before,” plus more views of the butler’s passage, pantry, kitchen, breakfast nook and the before and after plans.



For the retail renovation, we started by researching the history of the building. With records and photos providing a ...
11/04/2025

For the retail renovation, we started by researching the history of the building. With records and photos providing a glimpse of the building’s 100+ year history, we knew that the original brick structure was buried under the current exterior facade.
During our first site visit, we discovered that the existing plywood, wood shake and asphalt shingle exterior both covered the original storefront and enclosed a “room” that was technically an outdoor space. The false facade also covered signage adhered to the building from past decades. (See previous post for a view of all these layers + historic photos.) Due to plaster and paint applied directly to the face of the original masonry, it was no longer salvageable to leave exposed as-is and too fragile to strip or clean as initially planned. (Swipe to see pics).
A redesign began to embrace and celebrate the historic retail architecture of the building’s original era. Fire-rated trim and paneling would cover/protect the damaged masonry, while the now exposed and highly-visibly side “courtyard” would still showcase original brick. The new exterior would reflect the building’s original era and use, while complimenting the new retail aesthetic and meet current building codes (unlike the materials we removed!)
After countless obstacles to renovate and reimagine this tiny 1200SF building on a former dry cleaner site, we were delighted that our new design was arguably an improvement over our original version - more windows/natural light paired with enhanced curb appeal that still honored (and protected) the past.

Unfortunately, we were recently informed by the city that we may need to redesign this facade yet again - this time to meet a rigid interpretation of local “amendments” that assign required percentages of exterior cladding materials for “downtown consistency” without a defined reason or rationale.
What are your thoughts on this proposed renovation and the existing + new architecture of downtown Elmhurst?


Address

Elmhurst, IL

Website

http://www.designinplay.com/

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