A business built on purpose

For Michael, architecture was never just about buildings. It’s about improving lives and making housing more accessible.

“It should be your right to house yourself, clothe yourself, feed yourself, and provide for your family. Those are basic human needs,” says Michael. And with that philosophy at the heart of everything he does, Michael set out to build a business that put people first, and The Drawing Room was born.

An architect of flexibility

With twenty years in the construction game, Michael had plenty of experience to bring to the table. “I’ve always been in business for myself, but The Drawing Room was the first time we built something for our family.”

The motivation? “Flexibility,” he says. “I’m a family guy. I’ve got six kids. So being able to do school pickup, watch a race, have breakfast with my wife, that stuff matters.”

Originally intended as a semi-retirement gig, The Drawing Room quickly outgrew its kitchen-table beginnings. “We got more work than we could cope with, and with the kids, we welcomed more income, so the business grew fast”

Designing for complexity and community

Unlike your typical architecture firm, The Drawing Room doesn’t just draw pretty houses – they solve big, often complex problems.

“We’re a guide. We help people navigate the bureaucratic maze of building and compliance and try to ease the strain this can have on families and businesses,” Michael explains.

“We specialise in high-technical projects. Things like slip stability, foundation design, geotech challenges.” It’s not the glamorous end of the industry, but for Michael, it’s meaningful. “Being able to help people is what I enjoy. You’re not just building a structure. You’re solving a piece of someone’s life.”

And part of solving those problems is having everything, and everyone, in the same room. “We manage architecture, engineering and planning, all under one roof. Normally, those are separate businesses, but for us, it’s just leaning across the desk and going, ‘Hey bro, will that beam work?’ It cuts out so much hassle.” That tight-knit setup keeps projects moving and makes life easier for clients.

When cash flow clogs the pipeline

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Despite a solid client base and growing demand, cash flow challenges started limiting what was possible for the business. “Like every business, we pay contractors before the client pays us,” says Michael. “We needed a buffer. So, we talked to a mortgage broker, and they recommended Prospa.”

A Prospa Line of Credit became a key part of The Drawing Room’s growth. “The Line of Credit has helped us scale. We doubled our revenue faster than we would have without it.”

Fast funding, real people

For Michael, the customer service at  Prospa stood out from day one. “They didn’t make it hard. They looked at our holistic business, not just red tape and paperwork. We got approved within 24 hours.”

And the tech? “The app’s great. We mainly use the online platform, but when we’re out, the app is handy. We’ll be running the accounts, realise we need an extra $3K, log in and boom: it’s there.

“It’s fast, it’s reliable, and it’s helped us scale. That’s what matters.”

A person working at a desk in a bright office, using a computer while another person works in the background.

Looking forward but living now

While Michael knows his way around an architectural plan, he doesn’t have a five-year blueprint for the business. Instead, he takes each day as it comes. “We’ll enjoy the process, trust the journey, and see what comes next,” he says.

So, what’s the end game? “Cutting back my hours so I can spend more time with my family,” he smiles.