On the Road: A Sourcing Journey Across England
Some of the most meaningful work we do at Arven House happens far from the studio. It's finding ourselves on winding country roads, in old barns and antique centers, and in quiet conversations with dealers who have spent decades collecting beautiful things.
Our recent sourcing trip took us across England—from Somerset through East Devon and Cornwall, up to Manchester, then to the East Midlands before ending near London with friends and family. These trips are never just about finding furniture. They’re about discovering pieces with history, craftsmanship, and character that will eventually find their way into someone’s home.
Somerset: Quiet Finds in the Countryside
We began in Somerset, a landscape of rolling farmland, hedgerows, and small villages influenced by early gothic architecture that seem to hold antiques around every corner.
Holding the record for some of the oldest neighborhoods in Europe, Somerset has long been a wonderful place to source English furniture, particularly country pieces that have lived in farmhouses and cottages for generations. Dark pine dressers, oak tables, and simple cupboards often surface here, carrying the marks of long use.
There’s something special about these pieces. They were never meant to be decorative showpieces. They were built to work, to store dishes, gather families around meals, and serve the rhythm of everyday life.
Those qualities make them incredibly compelling today.
East Devon and Cornwall: Sourcing Along the Coast
From Somerset we continued into East Devon, where the countryside meets the sea and small towns are filled with quiet antique shops and long-standing dealers. This part of the journey was focused on sourcing, visiting showrooms, and tucked-away markets where hard-to-find kitchenware often surfaces.
East Devon has a wonderful mix of pieces: stacks of well-worn linens, hand-embroidered tablecloths, and cupboards filled with collected dishes and pottery. Many of these items have lived in nearby farmhouses and coastal homes for generations, carrying the soft fading, delicate repairs, and everyday wear that give them their character.
After several days of searching and selecting pieces, we made our way further into Cornwall to pause and recharge. Cornwall offers a different rhythm. It's wide coastal views, sloping farmland, and slower mornings that invite you to step away from the work for a moment.
Taking a few days there allowed us to reset before continuing the trip, enjoying the sea air and the quiet beauty of the coast before returning to the road.
From Cornwall to Manchester: A Quick Detour
Before heading toward the East Midlands, we hopped on a plane from Cornwall to Manchester to see Florence + the Machine for my birthday. It was truly a bucket list moment. The energy of the city, the music, and the change of pace made for a memorable pause in the middle of the trip before we continued on toward our final destination.
The East Midlands: A Treasure Trove of Antiques
Our final stretch of the trip took us through the East Midlands, a region that has quietly become one of the most rewarding places in England for sourcing antiques.
The countryside here is dotted with antique centers, dealer warehouses, and long-established markets where pieces from across the country eventually find their way. Many dealers in the region have spent decades collecting and trading, which means the range of objects you encounter can be remarkable.
Sourcing in the East Midlands often feels like moving through layers of English design history. Georgian chests, Victorian cabinets, worn leather chairs, antique mirrors, and small decorative objects appear around every corner, each carrying its own story and craftsmanship.
It’s the kind of place where patience is rewarded. The best pieces often reveal themselves slowly.
Bringing the Finds Home
Every sourcing trip leaves us with more than just the pieces we bring back. It reminds us why we care so much about antiques in the first place.
These objects have lived many lives before reaching us. They’ve stood in English kitchens, sat in country libraries, and gathered stories across generations. Our role at Arven House is simply to discover them and help them find their next home.
Because the most beautiful interiors aren’t created all at once.
They’re built through pieces that have been found, collected, and loved along the way.