French café and Wire chairs in the garden

The Romance of French folding chairs…12 ideas!

Vintage French-style folding chairs can be found in antique stores, flea markets, estate sales and perhaps even a thrift store. They last a long time outdoors, remind you of a real or imaginary trip to Paris and simply add charm to your garden.

With an old set of wire chairs, spray paint can easily transform them every few years for a different look. What color do you think this year?

Jane Krauter’s flowery French cafe chair

Jane Krauter tells says, “Notice how every neighborhood has one of those ‘lower-the-value-of-the-neighborhood’ embarrassing junky houses? I’ve been peeking over that neighbor’s fence for twenty years!

Finally, he said, ‘Come get whatever you want.’ I grabbed two arms full, including two of these chairs! Now, someone needs to accidentally drop a cell phone over that fence again!”

This chair has a secret, Jane says

“Guess what’s hiding in the bushes?” Jane asks with a smile, “a flowered porta-potty with the plant on it!”

Connie Farris’s icy ice cream chairs

Pam Klocek’s very unique Bistro set

Pam Klocek has another way to treat her ice crem set of chairs. She says, this is the moss covered Bistro set in my garden! Eye candy for the passers-by!”

Beth Anderson of The Silk Purse gardens “…a lovely place to sit for coffee in the morning and listen to the birds!”

Dean’s chairs could be from any era

Dean McCall “My old rusty table & chairs sits peacefully amongst my posies….”

Billie’s charming ‘coffee’ table She says, “Changing things around again. Table for two??”

Billie Hayman says, ” Couldn’t decide what color to paint, sooooo…”

Tips for renovating metal chairs

The most enduring way is to have the chairs sandblasted and sprayed with a professional powder coat.

Sanding and spray paint is how many of us would restore these chairs. This will take elbow grease!

Some of us like the rust, so there are sprays that will arrest the rust and preserve it it just the way it is for the longest time.

With chairs used only for decoration, you can always leave well enough alone.

Summer planting! Jane Krauter’s photos always tell a story…

Sydney Minor found chairs for her small children’s garden

Sydney Minor “I couldn’t find a table for my granddaughter’s garden, so I painted a little iron end table that worked perfectly. The umbrella faded, so I bought an extra on sale. I intend to let her print some designs on this one with paint dipped cut celery ends, potato prints, or a duck cut from a sponge.”

Long lasting charm

Lisa Rice found her table and chair set at a consignment shop when it was all fresh white paint. Now it’s rusty here and there and just getting into shape as far as we’re concerned. What she likes about them is they last well out in the elements. Custom chair cushions in a succulent pattern are on her shopping list and will protect clothing from any rust when sitting.

: Martha Palmieri’s chair has a rusty ‘patina’

Stephanie Riggs charming lounge waits until summer

From Tallulah’s Antique Closet “Here is Tallulah looking at the sunset just as it goes behind the hills of our home.”

More chairs in the garden

Vintage, metal, and bouncy, motel chairs in the garden

Sitting Pretty – Using old chairs in the garden

Sherry’s perfect pallet chairs

How to plant flowers in an old wicker chair

Tags: cafe chairsflea market gardenfrench café chairsfrench floding chairsgardenGarden junkJunk gardenJunk gardeningvintage metal chairs

10 years ago

Sue Langley

Sue Langley, a passionate gardener and photographer lives and gardens with her husband and Corgi, Maggie on 7 acres just south of Yosemite, Zone 7 at 3000 feet. She manages the Flea Market Gardening Facebook page and website.