We've all been on a.... Summer Holiday!

As we all ease up a gear, and look back wistfully at our couple of weeks at leisure, I wonder if you ever thought of going to where the furniture came from?

Some non-descript factory in the middle of nowhere? Well I have news for you - just as the furniture we supply is beautiful, the places it is made are also beautiful, and often surrounded by water, mountains or excellent restaurants! How about a visit next year, to the home of B&B Italia, Riva 1920 or Punt Mobles?

Here are some suggestions: Milan, Cantu and the Northern Lakes. Milan is an architectural gem, with its cathedral, its grand central station as well as exceptional buildings from almost every decade of the last 100 years. In addition, it is full of sumptious showrooms belonging to every Furniture maker of note (Italian ones at least!) B&B, Cassina, Baleri, Driade, Kartell, Flos, Edra, MDF, and the list goes on and on! Not far from Milan, chill out on one of the Lakes, only an hour's drive from the centre of Milan, with grand hotels on every shore to suit all budgets. This area is also the hinterland of many manufacturers, and as long as you are not visiting in August (!) we can often arrange a visit to the Centre of Research at B&B, or the Museum of Wood at Riva 1920.

Valencia on the other hand is the host city for the America's Cup, and has therefore been spruced up over the last few years - as well as having benefited from Cavaltrava's master plan, and the new Science Museum also designed by him. The Central Market is worth a visit as are the many restaurants in the old town, which are pedestrianised and come alive in the evenings. A couple of hours up the coast is their more famous neighbour Barcelona - need I say more? Also the home of Mobles 114, and the delightful showroom of BD edicione.

Closer to home... ..is Enfield - hosting the impressive factory of Hitch Mylius. It may not sound very glamorous, but it has been there since Roman times (Enfield, not the factory!) and the site of Elsyng Palace - near the grand estate of Forty Hall - was the centre of Henry VIII's forays into the hunting grounds north of London. Although it appears to be a sprawling mass of houses for London commuters, the official web site makes it sound very interesting: It is bordered by two major roads - the London orbital and the North Circular, as well as four rail lines and one Tube line, being only twelve miles from the centre of London - perhaps all these transport links would help you escape should you feel the urge!

Wherever you chose to go this year, we hope you had a good one. We know its hard being back so if there is any project you are working on that we can help with, give yourself a break and let us do some of the work for you! For information about any of the products we sell or any product you are looking to source but don't see or can't find, please contact us on 020 8838 0400 or contracts@purves.co.uk