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..
6 Comments
Fantastic. I love the garden chairs and the gliders. My granny had the metal chairs and glider and I wished that I had been able to get them before she was gone. Thank you for sharing. If you get a chance come by the blog, I am just now getting started back blogging after a years vacation! Thanks.
I have 2 beauties on a back patio & 2 under 3 oak trees. Love them.
I just love them restored I don’t personally like them left rusted, they are very beautiful all redone wonderful job, everyone:)
I have three of these chairs that belonged to my parents. I cleaned them up and had them painted this year, one red, one white and one blue.
Here in Texas, we’ve always called these clam back chairs. Sure wish I had the ones we spent our childhood in at my grandmother’s house.
Have 3 from my parents that my husband stripped in his cleaning tank at work. Have a couple of places he will have to patch will car filler stuff. I know powder coating is the best finish, but has anyone done Rust-Oleum or something else for refinishing? Prices for powder coating in your area? Will be on a nirth facing front porch, but wind, leaves & dust bad. Thanks for any help – advice!