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[blank]I have always admired those friends who know how to ‘furnish’ their gardens. You know what I mean: the seat that is placed in just the right position to enjoy the fragrance of a rose bower, the bench that catches the sunshine at the end of the day, or that invites you to pause and admire the view.[blank]
[blank]I love the slightly ramshackled garden seat. The one that stays outside all season, and who calls my name on a long summer afternoon, encouraging me to wander down, a good book and a couple of cushions in hand.
Just love these ‘re-structured’ chairs for the garden, available here [blank]
[blank]When life is busy, the sight of a garden chair gives the comforting feeling that time can be made available to rest.[blank]
[blank]I often come across old garden furniture in the flea markets here, and I’m looking for some new bits for my place this year. What I would love is a meridienne, an old iron daybed that could be left out year round, and dressed up for the summer.[blank]
[blank]Here are a few of my favourite chairs, tried and tested …[blank]
[blank]I wondered what style you prefer? Do you look for practicality, and like your chairs to look pristine, or do you think a little rust adds character?[blank]
[blank]All these pictures have been taken over the past year: in Normandy and in the South of France. Which do you like best?[blank]
19 comments
Definitely the chair with the carved legs (next to the rusty chicken). Looks like it was formerly upholstered. It looks great as it has weathered. Love all the treasures you saw this weekend! Thanks for the work you put into this blog. Love the variety and your constant creativity. Nina
I like all the weathered ones especially by the pool and the chairs with the rooster…nice post.
Rita
I love to look at slightly rusted metal furniture; I think the rust adds character. However, I'm terribly neurotic when it comes to sitting on such furniture; I immediately think, "Tetanus!" I suppose I prefer weathered wood, ultimately (for some reason I am not neurotic about the prospect of splinters). The garden furniture in my own garden is not terribly cohesive in style; it consists mostly of whatever has been cast off by my relatives who have moved house and decided they could do without this item or that. Something to work towards, I suppose…I do love the seat next to the metal rooster in the photo above. And what I really love is a garden swing. I spent an hour in one on my birthday a few weeks ago, just sitting and swinging. Pure delight.
I am a fan of such garden furnishings as well. I have a wooden glider that (though it shouldn't) stays out all season long. In the winter it holds a little cushion of snow (and underneath a dry haven for wandering kitties) and in the summer I enjoy the mornings in the sun with a cup of coffee. 🙂
Sharon,
Je ne doute pas que tu ait un bon endroit où s'installer à côté des rosiers odorants dans ton jardin…
J'aime bien sûr les meubles anciens et patinés, j'aime le fer pour son côté fin et élégant, mais aussi le bois pour un toucher et un contact plus agréable. Il y a aussi des rééditions pas mal. Je rêve aussi d'une chaise longue réellement bien confortable genre chaise de paquebot…
Bonne soirée,
Céline.
ME TOO! I admire outdoor seating in a spot that calls my name. Love the third picture ~ the chair with the carved legs ~ My favorite outdoor seating are my log swings on the porch and balcony ~ my husbands is the log bench in the vegetable garden where he can watch me do my favorite summer activity. Your blog is very enjoyable! Blessings, Cathy in Idaho
I too love lots of seating set out in different places around the garden. I do love a deck chair for snoozing in, but I must say my favourite chair you showed is definately the weathered one by the the hen. I can visualise it with lots of chintzy cushions. the rusty one is lovely too but wouldn't last long in my garden, my other half would throw it on the tip, or I would have to give it a coat of paint.
We are always on the search for a beautiful garden bench for the shop! I have several pieces at home but really need some to sell! They have quit making the reproduction bench that so many of my customers loved so we are in a bind! I guess I need to go back to the old…the antique…the ones with a little rust on them! That is what makes them beautiful in a real garden setting anyway! Thanks for sharing this! Hope you are doing well!
My favorite chairs in your photos are the ones in the last photo…white iron, holes in the seats for drainage, slatted curved backs that look like they are comfortable. Comfort is what I look for in any chair, including garden furniture.
But…I love looking at all the photos you have of various garden chairs, benches, etc…
Judith
I'll never, ever forgive myself for selling a metal bistro cafe table & 2 chair set at a yard sale in the late 80s! We had purchased a house & most of the contents which had been around since the 1940s. I didn't know what I had! I did keep an entire set of 4 metal chairs, bench & table from the same home and they have been several shades of paint in last 25 years. This year they will be out in my front yard, under a 200+ yr old maple tree by my new vegetable garden. For a while, I coveted Carre style steel button/sunburst chairs that I saw at an antique book/print store that I visited every summer at Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Although I love looking at the rusty furniture, I just can't bring myself to buy it & use it! I must say that my favorite "summer" furniture now is rattan. I have several vintage pieces including a leather topped card table with 4 chairs, a living room set, and porch furniture. I can envision relaxing in the low-slung wood chairs on the wood deck. They would be perfect on my front porch with some lovely floral cushions as I relax with a cool drink after hours spent in my perennial garden 😀
I love the worn, Sharon… the slightly shabby and broken down… I think they dress the garden beautifully… I like the less heavy pieces that I can move around..
I actually find that it's getting harder and harder to find the old iron pieces in the south… Good luck with the hunt… xv
I love the last photo for the curves, not too chipped, but ok if it is a little. Oh, and the first photo for the flowers, if I had flowers like that I would be hanging out there all the time. Fabulous.
I know it's not French but the most comfortable garden chairs ever – Adirondack chairs. A place for your beverage, a place for your book and the perfect angle to sit back and enjoy every last ray of sun. But if I had to choose one chair it would have to be the carved large wooden chair. Ps – it snowed here last night so if I want to sit in any chair today, I have to shovel the deck. Love the blog.
Love all the photos Sharon! Especially the bergere stripped down and outfitted with back support to throw a few cushions on-I must try this for my courtyard.
Thanks for the inspiration:).
XO Sarah
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I loved seeing these garden chairs, and I love benches like the one by the window. We have an old wooden bench that makes its home on our patio with newer wicker. I have photographed the bench throughout the seasons, loving its simplicity. I look forward to seeing photos of the meridienne you find!
You got me thinking where I should put mine.
My favorite garden furniture is a bench with a back that two cherished friends made around found driftwood; a sturdy, comfortable double hammock with a large pillow; and our wooden swing-for-two. As for the beautiful furniture in the photographs: I like the look of all of it and would have to choose based on comfort, after trying each piece out of course!
Love them all. Especially like the rusty wrought iron. We are also in the market for some 'new' old chairs for our garden. Two wooden bench seats, similar to your second to last pic, have just collapsed this summer after being 'left out' in all weather for about 8 years. Now chopped for firewood this wiinter, I need to pic something for us to sit on in the shade as we watch the children playing under the trees. We are missing them very much at the moment for all the reasons you say above, it really was a lovely spot in the garden where you did want to pause and look out … and at the moment have to keep on walking! Love to know what you find. I'm still searching.
Jen.