Flea Market collecting: Motel chairs

Whether you keep the crusty patina, or sandblast and paint, collecting ‘Motel chairs’ from the 1930s and 1940s to use in the garden can be addicting.  At one time, a pair of these distinctive rockers were commonly found in front of every motel room on the back roads and small towns of the USA.  How many could you use?

These are the best of the bunch from our Flea Market gardeners.

Tina Root’s ice cream colored collection “On the back patio” she says.

The appeal of ‘Motel chairs’

FMGer, Donna Threlkeld says, “We still have a few lawn chairs that came with a ‘tourist court’ my folks bought in 1959. There were 19 cabins with car ports and rooms rented for two dollars a night for one, four dollars for two.”

Three cabins had air conditioners, rest had large window fans. Some still had pull chain in middle of room for the light and the TVs were floor models. A few cabins were kitchenettes with tiny ranges and fridges. Those chairs bring back the memories of a most simple time.”

 

Karen Wilson’s deep red chairs are classic Flea Market Gardening!

Karen Wilson tells us, “These chairs were my great grandparents chairs. They sat on their porch in S. Phillie for many years. They traveled to my parents’ home in Toms River NJ and were painted light blue. Last year they came to my home in South Jersey, where they were painted a colonial red AGAIN…back to the color my MomMom and PopPop the Great had them. I am not going to torture you with anymore CHAIR photos!”

Jeanie Collins is considering painting these. Would you?

Tina Root’s primary colored chairs for the front garden

Tina Root is a collector.  She says, “I think I am up to 20 chairs although I haven’t restored them all yet..”

Loving rusty relics…

Nicole Hendrickson’s dilemma,…to paint or not to paint?

Lisa Lundin’s chair all have different patterns on the backs

Lisa Lundin says, ” These type of chairs are my passion.. Love the sharing..”

Just look at the patina on Shari Delgado-Nicsevic‘s old chairs!

Jeanie Collins want to refurbish her Grandma’s old green chair

Jeanie Collins  says, “My Grandma’s fave garden chair…also my next project!”

Barbara Casteel’s chairs wait until summer without damage

Barbara Casteel

Vintage charm in the garden

Shery Jespersen’s vintage summer vignette

Shery Jespersen says, “I have a couple of Motel chairs in my garden yard and I have a yellow/red one that goes with my ‘glamper.’  Here is a photo collage of mine at home and at a ‘glampsite’; also my girlfriend’s glamper with her old red chair. I love these old metal chairs and they get harder and harder to find.”

Mindy Hill’s Motel style glider adds zip to her vintage trailer vignette

Mindy Hill says, ” I sometimes use mine for seating by my vintage trailer. Love the colors!”

Jeannie Rhodes Here’s my $35 find

Jeannie Rhodes says, “I bought the glider for a song…only $35! It was a little rusty so I had it sandblasted and painted bright blue…my favorite color.”

Debbie McMurry added a bright pillow after painting her chair a vibrant yellow

Debbie McMurry says, “Here is one of my vintage chairs that I painted.”

Alisha Shaw’s line of chairs against the old shed

Sue Desmarais loves motel chairs…it’s a feeling.

Sue Desmarais Before and After

Sue Desmarais says, “Before and after! They need to be professionally sandblasted and then powder coated in the color of your choosing. Happy gliding!”

We love metal like Dan Kidwell’s chair,…because they last

Best for Last?   Ahhhhhh……

Tina Root’s perfect napping spot with Flea Market quilt coziness..