Fun retro metal chairs in the garden

Retro-style and metal rockers work and ‘play’ beautifully in your garden

Remember these colorful metal lawn chairs that Grandma and her friends would sit on chatting on a nice day. Referred to as “motel” chairs because they showed up near pools or outside the front offices of Route 66 motels, they are now highly desired in a Flea Market Garden! Do you have one?

Donna Threlkeld says, ‘We still have a few lawn chairs that came with a ‘tourist court’ my folks bought in 1959. There were nineteen cabins with car ports. Rooms rented for two dollars a night for one, four dollars for two. Three cabins had air conditioners, the 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 Settles says, “I was lucky enough to be given these a few weeks ago. One of them is a rocker! I have managed to get them all scraped and wire brushed so they are ready for new “dresses” of sweet color. Two of them are by my fire pit and the other three grace my gazebo. Two of the stools are in the gazebo as well and one is on my front porch.”

 

Motel chairs, once found on front porches of funky back roads tourist cabins remind us of family vacations in our childhoods. They are authentic symbols of good times and simple fun of being outdoors with the family.  These chairs were designed to slide along the grass on their rockers instead of having chair legs stick into the grass.

 

Donna Roy I have four that were my parents. Red, yellow, navy blue and orange, the same colors they have always been. My Dad sat in them every day during the hot summer months in Kansas ( no air conditioning back then). My Dad was not a drinker but after cutting the lawn you could always see him sitting out there having a cold one. I love my chairs.

 

Christy Morrow says, “I was extremely lucky because a lady (now a friend) who came to the garden tour that featured our garden gave us 2 chairs and 1 glider (and other things). Here’s a picture of the glider. Obviously, I prefer rust!!”

 

 

 

Tina Root says, “This is my version of ‘Garden Art with Chairs!’  Took me 5 years to find one like this that I could afford.”

 

 

 

 

Janet Page I love this chair. It was given to me by my father in law many years ago. It now has a spot in the back yard of my office where I do a lot of flea market gardening.

 

Restoring antique chairs

1940’s metal lawn chairs were a familiar sight in many gardens and backyards in their day.  Now very collectible, the authentic bouncy metal chairs can add an instant vintage look to a garden vignette. Now, we can buy replicas in better shape to be functional seating as well.  Whether antique or a recent model, you’ll love the classic look like we do.

 

 

 

Loving Motel chair replicas

 

 

 

 

 

Decorating with your motel chair