A furniture quote is only as useful as the information it's based on. Generic quotes — "$X per table, $Y per chair" — don't account for your room's dimensions, your age group, your programme philosophy, or your licensing requirements. A custom quote that accounts for all of these takes a bit more preparation, but it gives you something you can actually use to make a decision and plan a budget.
Space design with product placement — the difference you can see and feel over time
Here's exactly what to prepare before contacting Fern Kids Studio, and what the process looks like from initial contact to delivery.
Step 1: Know your room dimensions
Before any useful layout or quote conversation can happen, you need your room's actual dimensions — not your best guess, the real measurements. Measure: total floor area (length × width), ceiling height, window locations and dimensions, door locations and swing directions, any fixed features (pillars, built-ins, radiators), and the location of your sink or plumbing access points.
A simple hand-drawn sketch with dimensions noted is enough — you don't need an architectural drawing. Photos of the current room from all four corners are also very helpful.
Step 2: Know your specifics
Come to the conversation with answers to these questions:
Built for the long run: furniture that outlasts multiple cohorts of children
- Age group(s): Infant (0–18 months), toddler (18 months–3 years), preschool (3–6), or multi-age?
- Licensed capacity: How many children will be in this room at maximum capacity?
- Educator count: How many educators are working simultaneously? This affects storage and workspace needs.
- Programme philosophy: Montessori, Reggio-inspired, play-based, or conventional? This affects furniture type selection significantly.
- Timeline: When do you need furniture delivered and installed?
- Budget range: An honest range, not a floor. "Under $15,000" is not enough information. "$20,000–$28,000 with flexibility for the right solution" gives us something to work with.
Step 3: The initial conversation
Fern Kids consultations start with a 30–45 minute conversation — by phone, video call, or in person for GTA and surrounding area clients. We'll go through your room, your children, your programme, and your priorities. We'll ask about what's working in your current furniture setup and what isn't.
Within 5 business days of the initial conversation, we'll send a preliminary layout recommendation and a draft quote. This isn't a commitment from either side — it's a starting point for discussion.
Step 4: The quote document
A Fern Kids quote includes: an itemised list of every piece with dimensions and finish specification, lead time for each piece (typically 8–14 weeks for custom and 2–4 weeks for in-stock items), delivery and installation options and pricing, warranty terms, and a payment schedule. It's a transparent document — not a price list with asterisks.
Step 5: Revisions and finalisation
Most quotes go through 1–2 revision rounds as you work through priorities, make substitutions, and adjust to the budget. There's no pressure timeline — we want you to have time to think. When you're ready to proceed, a deposit starts the production process.
- Measure your room accurately before any quote conversation — actual dimensions, not estimates. An architectural drawing works great for this.
- Know your age group, licensed capacity, programme philosophy, timeline, and honest budget range
- Fern Kids consultations are 30–45 minutes and result in a preliminary layout and draft quote within 5 business days
- Quotes are fully itemised with dimensions, lead times, warranty terms, and payment schedules
- Most quotes go through 1–2 revision rounds — there's no pressure to decide quickly