Design & planning notes / Toronto & GTA
Better questions. Clearer decisions.
Complimentary planning guide / PDF
Before you build.
Know what to consider.
A practical checklist for designing and building a restaurant, retail store or office—from the first questions to the final handover.
The brief & the site
The budget & the programme
The layout & the experience
The details & the documentation
The contractors & the procurement
The build & the opening
Restaurant / café
Restaurant renovation costs: what to budget for
Understand restaurant construction allowances, kitchen scope, exclusions and the decisions to make before requesting contractor quotes in Toronto and the GTA.
Office / retail
Commercial renovation costs: scope before square footage
Plan an office or retail fit-out budget in Toronto and the GTA, understand construction versus additional costs, and prepare a scope contractors can price.
Restaurant / article
What does a restaurant design package cost in Toronto?
Restaurant design package costs in Toronto and the GTA: typical construction ranges, what a design package includes and why design fees of 8–15% reduce project risk.
Restaurant / article
Restaurant permit requirements in Ontario: what owners need to know
Restaurant permits in Ontario explained: building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, sign and patio permits, fire review, accessibility and how to avoid delays.
Millwork / article
The ultimate millwork package checklist for hospitality projects
What a complete hospitality millwork package should include: drawings, elevations, sections, materials, hardware, lighting and trade coordination before tender.
Restaurant / article
How long does it take to open a restaurant in Toronto?
A realistic restaurant opening timeline for Toronto and the GTA: lease, design, permits, construction, inspections and handover—and what causes delays.
Lease / article
What to check before signing a commercial lease
A pre-lease checklist for restaurants, retail stores and offices in Toronto and the GTA: zoning, services, ventilation, landlord work and fit-out responsibilities.
Retail / article
Retail store design costs in Toronto
What drives retail store design and fit-out costs in Toronto and the GTA: construction benchmarks, custom fixtures, lighting, signage and what to budget separately.
Office / article
Office fit-out guide for Toronto businesses
Plan an office fit-out in Toronto and the GTA: workplace brief, layout, budget benchmarks, technology, furniture and how to keep the project on schedule.
Wellness / article
Spa and Pilates studio design: what to plan for
Planning a spa, wellness or Pilates studio in Toronto and the GTA: layout, change rooms, flooring, acoustics, ventilation, storage and custom millwork.
Fabrication / article
Shop drawings vs. design drawings: what’s the difference?
The difference between design drawings and shop drawings for commercial interiors and millwork, who prepares them, and why both matter for pricing and fabrication.
Hospitality / design
Custom hospitality design
Custom hospitality design consulting in Toronto and the GTA: connect guest experience, materials, millwork and contractor coordination with Consultony.
Restaurant / café
Custom restaurant interiors
Custom restaurant interior design consulting for Toronto and GTA cafés, bars and dining spaces, with practical layouts, material choices and fabrication coordination.
Retail / office
Bespoke commercial interiors
Bespoke commercial interior design consulting in Toronto and the GTA for retail stores and offices, connecting brand, layout, custom fixtures and practical detailing.
Design / fabrication
Fabrication-informed design
What fabrication-informed design means for commercial interiors: connect material choices, assembly, detailing and installation with Consultony’s consulting approach.
Details / coordination
Design detailing for commercial interiors
Understand commercial interior design detailing: material junctions, edge conditions, hardware and interfaces that help communicate design intent to contractors and fabricators.
Documentation / scope
Construction documentation for commercial interiors
What commercial interior construction documentation does, how it differs from concept presentations and shop drawings, and how to define professional responsibilities.
Millwork / fabrication
Shop drawings: from design intent to fabrication
What shop drawings are, how they differ from construction drawings, and what to discuss when reviewing commercial millwork and custom fixtures with a consultant.
Budget / design decisions
Value engineering for commercial interiors
Value engineering explained for commercial interiors: compare materials, assemblies and scope alternatives while protecting function and design intent—not just cutting costs.