Sourcing pieces
Hunting objects that survive narrow stairs, beamed ceilings, and damp canal air.
Measuring the house before the market
We sketch door leaves, stair pitches, and ceiling heights on site in Brugge before any dealer call. A Flemish oak cupboard that looks modest in a warehouse can still fail a 78 cm turn on a medieval stair.
Clients receive a one-page clearance sheet with maximum depth, height, and diagonal for each room so sourcing stays honest.
Dealers from Ghent to the French border
Our short list includes small dealers in Ghent, Kortrijk, and northern France who will hold pieces for a 48-hour hold while we check dimensions. We avoid auction lots that cannot be inspected in person for worm trails or warped doors.
When a client already owns an heirloom, we reverse the process: find companion pieces that share timber colour and hardware scale.
Provenance notes without mythology
Labels, invoices, and family stories are recorded as they are — not inflated. Bruges buyers often inherit Belgian pieces from the 1800s; we note region and likely workshop when evidence exists, and leave gaps when it does not.
Digital copies stay with you. The studio keeps working files only for the length of the commission.
What we refuse to bring upstairs
Deep American sectionals, glass-heavy credenzas, and anything that needs a freight elevator rarely suit Steenstraat plots. We will say no early rather than force a return through a tourist street.
If your brief requires a large dining table, we look for extendable forms or trestle bases that travel in parts and assemble once upstairs.
Budget bands for a first sourcing list
A focused list of four to six objects for a two-room canal apartment typically lands between €2.400 and €6.800 excluding restoration, depending on timber quality and dealer margins.
A single statement cupboard with delivery planning alone often sits between €680 and €1.900. We quote object cost and studio fee separately so you see both clearly.