Studio Bly International, developed by James Bly, provides bespoke furniture commissions and design consultancy for collectors, interior designers and international clients. This service combines our workshop capabilities with global expertise and specialist consultancy.Our Interiors & Design service provides specialist consultancy for period property projects, heritage restorations, and interiors requiring authentic antique furniture. We offer complete project coordination or targeted expertise depending on client requirements.
With 134 years of antiques experience, we bring furniture expertise, sourcing capability, and workshop services to interior projects. The service suits clients restoring period properties, designers requiring specialist antiques input, and projects needing authenticated period furniture.
Service Approach
Full Project Coordination Complete interior schemes from concept through to installation. This includes furniture sourcing, decorative arts selection, coordinating specialist craftspeople, and project management through to completion.
Specialist Consultancy Targeted expertise on period furniture, authentication, or sourcing specific pieces. Suitable for projects where clients or designers need specialist antiques knowledge for particular elements.
Procurement Services Sourcing and acquisition coordination where clients know requirements but need access to our dealer network, authentication expertise, and logistics management.
What We Provide
Furniture Expertise Knowledge of Elizabethan, Jacobean, Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Deco furniture styles, construction techniques, and period authenticity. We identify appropriate pieces for historical periods and advise on furniture selection.
Sourcing Capability Access to our established dealer network across Britain, and Continental Europe and the USA. We locate pieces through private collections, estate sales, and specialist dealers.
Workshop Coordination Restoration, upholstery, and bespoke commissions handled through our in-house workshop. This provides integrated services without coordinating multiple external contractors.
Specialist Network We work with established craftspeople including silversmiths, carpet designers, soft furnishing specialists, lighting designers, and decorative painters who understand period work.
Typical Projects
Period Property Restoration Advising on historically appropriate furniture for Georgian townhouses, Victorian properties, or Edwardian homes. We source authenticated pieces and coordinate restoration to suit modern living requirements.
Heritage Projects Country houses, stately homes, or listed buildings requiring period-appropriate furnishing. We source furniture at scale for multiple rooms whilst maintaining historical authenticity.
Hotel & Hospitality Period furniture for country house hotels, boutique properties, or heritage buildings in hospitality use. We advise on durability alongside aesthetic appropriateness.
Contemporary Clients Seeking Period Character Sourcing antiques for modern interiors wanting collected character rather than contemporary furnishings. We blend authenticated pieces with appropriate selections.
Working With Designers
Many projects involve collaboration with interior designers or architects. We contribute specialist antiques expertise whilst respecting overall design direction.
We can attend design meetings, review furniture specifications, source specified pieces, provide authentication services, and coordinate furniture procurement alongside broader project elements.
Services We Coordinate
Consultancy work is tailored to individual client requirements. Some need ongoing collection advice, others require project-specific commissions for design schemes,We work on both retained consultancy arrangements and project-specific engagements depending on scope and client needs.
Bespoke Commission Process
Bespoke furniture commissions begin with discussing your requirements, intended setting, and specifications. For complex pieces, we can provide design development showing construction details and dimensions.
Materials selection covers timber species, hardware styles, finishing methods, and upholstery fabrics where relevant. Workshop production uses traditional hand-craft techniques.
International Scope
Studio Bly International serves clients across five continents. We handle all asepcts for international clients, coordinate shipping logistics for overseas deliveries, and provide consultancy for projects regardless of location.
Language capabilities include English and French, with working knowledge of Italian and Spanish for European dealer relationships.
Discretion & Confidentiality
Many clients value privacy. All consultancy work and acquisitions are handled with complete confidentiality.
Project Coordination
For full-service projects, we manage furniture sourcing, coordinate restoration and workshop services, schedule deliveries, work with multiple suppliers and craftspeople, and oversee installation.
This provides single-point coordination rather than clients managing relationships with multiple antiques dealers, restorers, upholsterers, and specialists separately.
Project Coordination
We understand historical interior arrangements—which furniture styles work together, what pieces suit specific periods, and how rooms were authentically arranged in different eras.
Furniture must suit contemporary life alongside period authenticity. We ensure pieces function for actual requirements—tables extend properly, seating provides comfort, storage is adequate.
Selection creates cohesive interiors that appear collected over time rather than purchased as matching sets. Pieces relate through period, style, timber, or decorative approach.
Why Work with John Bly
Period Knowledge Five generations of dealing in period furniture provides understanding of authentic styles, construction methods, and what constitutes quality pieces versus decorative but unremarkable examples.
Quality Standards Every piece is vetted for authenticity and quality. We apply the same standards we use for pieces we supply to our own clients.
Integrated Services Rather than coordinating multiple dealers and workshops separately, we provide sourcing, restoration, upholstery, and bespoke commission capability through integrated services.
Authentication Standards We've supplied museums and institutions, which reflects the authentication rigour we maintain across all work. John Bly's BBC Antiques Roadshow expertise informs our approach.
Project Scope
Interior projects vary from single-room furniture sourcing to complete property furnishing. We work on projects of different scales depending on requirements and scope.
Consultancy can be ongoing for collection building or project-specific for particular interior schemes. Arrangements adapt to client needs and project characteristics.
Getting Started
Contact us to discuss interior projects or consultancy requirements. We can arrange initial consultations to understand your project and outline how we might assist.
Site visits can be arranged for assessing properties and discussing furniture requirements in context.
Interiors & Design Enquiries:
Call: +44 (0) 1442 823030
Email: info@johnbly.com