In the Spotlight- Elliot Flaws

Kandice Korte
Morgante Wilson Architects

Mar 23, 2020 - 5 min read

In the Spotlight- Elliot Flaws

In the spotlight this month: Elliot Flaws, an architectural project manager and five-year veteran of MWA. Read on to learn about Elliot’s many interests, and the role automobiles play in his life (you’ll be surprised, we promise!).

This month, we’re going to start by asking you about school.

I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture and Design with a minor in photography from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. I got my Master of Architecture degree from the University of Wisconsin.

If you hadn’t gotten an architecture degree, what might you be doing for a living instead?

I’d mostly likely be in a trade where I could use my hands to build something.

Let’s talk about your house: What’s the last thing you bought for it?

Probably tools. I love tools, and I’m always looking for an excuse to buy more. I worked eight years as a carpenter; combine that with remodeling my own home, my passion for fine woodworking, and just designing and building things in general, how could I not buy more tools? You can never have too many tools in your shop.

We’re getting the sense your dream home would have a fantastic wood shop. What else would it have?

All the latest and greatest technology. It would definitely be a modern, minimalistic house with a lot of glass to blur the lines between inside and out, and would be tucked away in the woods on 100-plus acres. It would have a dedicated wood shop, yes, and a garage mahal.

Did you say garage mahal?

I did. (Laughs.) Every house needs a kickass garage. Granted, that’s partially the auto enthusiast in me talking, but automobiles are such a big part of our lives and I take pride in what I own and drive. It doesn’t have to be big, but I think a lot of people play down the garage as a place to just park a car and collect junk. For me, the garage should showcase the automobile.

Clearly you’re into cars, too.

Believe it or not, I was named after a car. I grew up with my dad collecting classic British sports cars. The story goes that when I was born and after I was named, my mom expressed to my dad that she was surprised he didn’t pick a name related to a car, like Austin, Carroll, Aston, or one of those. But he got one up on her and told her that well, actually, he did: An Austin Healey Elliot Saloon, which was made between 1946 and 1950. So yes, I’m into cars!

Kandice Korte

Morgante Wilson Architects