Our house has a covered patio that runs close to the entire width of the house. Since our Kansas house had a busted deck, the whole notion of patio furniture is…weird.
What I eventually found, after some intense Craigslisting, were these:
Spun fiberglass chairs! I would really like to know a few things about these, because Google is giving me nada. How are they made? Why are they so abundant in South Florida? Why don’t they have a catchier name?
OK, the chairs actually looked really scary when we bought them, plus they came with a completely random (and ugly) wicker table that we later freecycled but had to cart home anyway. We sat in them once and they were full of fiberglass ickiness—you know, that itchy feeling that insulation gives you? I shudder just thinking about it. The table base we found at a junk shop shortly after the chairs. Six cans of spray paint later, they are a lot like these beauts from Pieces:
(Except, you know, a little cheaper).
Here’s a bunch around a table in Pieces owner Lee Kleinhelter’s former home:
Sally Bartz of Halsea has some too (check out her Design*Sponge house tour here):
Late last year it was big trash day and I was out of town. Ryan texted me while walking the dog, “OMG there are more of our chairs on the street. Take them?” (He may or may not have used the “OMG” but I definitely did when I responded.) Those chairs have yet to be subjected to a spray paint makeover and are currently looking like the shabby stepsisters.
Getting cushions made has finally moved up on my priorities list (now that the weather has turned to rain forest and I’ve discovered a giant snake in our backyard), which leads me to a conundrum. I thought I’d have cushions made in a solid Sunbrella, either in yellow or lime green, and have white piping added.
That is, until I ran by Calico Corners last week and found a ton of Trina Turk outdoor fabric. This trellis print, in particular, is talking to me:
So…print or solid? Help!
What a great find and I love how you gave them new life with spray paint! :o) I’m siding with a print–love the one you posted :o)
I am totally a believer now when it comes to spray paint. Watch out, world!
Score! Those chairs rock. I’m a big fan of patterns, so I would totally recommend the geometric pattern. Look how cute these look. They’re vaguely reminiscent of your patio furniture and the retro print looks rockin. Are you sewing the cushions yourself? How handy you are!
I found this site … which has very cute fabs. Better than average. I like Alexander Henry and Anna Maria Horner.
http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designers
Now maybe you can help me with my upholstery dilemma?!?!?
http://simpleculture.com/blog/2010/05/upholstering-a-thrifted-rocker/
Forgot the other link to Design Sponge! Whooops. Here are the similar chairs.
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/06/before-after-jamies-chair-gails-stools.html
J-money…
Am I sewing the cushions myself?
HA HA HA HA HA.
Although maybe I can get my mom to do them when she’s here next month?
Oh hey, you’re back!
So, I have almost the same chairs, which I also bought from (drumroll, please) craigslist. I think you can buy them new, too, but as I said before, who does that?
Anyway, I vote for print, but if you’re not making them/having them made, it may be hard to find cushions you like. I know this from sad, sad experience.
totally digging these chairs!! The print is gorgeous!!
we’re all on the same wave length! I too, tried to find the ‘official name’ and came up with “white, fiberglass wicker”. not too catchy. or the “Peacock chair” for the one that looks like a 70s Prom Prop.
I had no idea that Trina Turk was now at Calico Corners. What great news!
Maybe we need to start a fan page on Facebook. Or a like page. Whatever they’re calling it. I need to see more of these in the wild!
we manufacture fiberglass wicker for over 33 years , we are base in Holiday, fl
phone 727– 534– 9145
Go with Solid Sunbrella. The color is DYED into the yarn. The prints are beautiful but they fade. FAST! Suggestion: make BACK pillows. Easier to make and cheaper if you do it yourself.
The Spun Fiberglass chairs were manufactured in South Florida. Basically FIBERGLASS String intricately SPUN on a mold. There are nails at certain spots to wrap or catch the return corners. Sort of like weaving. Then dunk in a vat of setting resin. Same material is used to make boats.
See these chairs everywhere here. Just got a free chaise. Thinking of painting it Mediterranean Blue. White cushions
Or paint white with blue cushions