This 1970s green patterned garden chair will feel familiar to many. With a tubular metal frame and collapsable function, these chairs were popular for their space saving properties, light-weight form, and bold floral fabric.
This chair belonged to British floral designer, Hazel Gardiner’s mother. Hazel fondly recalls her mother’s love of gardening and how this inspired her own career.
“I grew up with Mum who is the most incredible creative force. She used to match her outfits to the car! She’s a really talented gardener – I watched her transform our garden where we grew up in the suburbs of London. We used to visit garden centres and watch Gardeners World all the time! She’s from Grenada but loves those quintessential, English scenes – formal gardens and historic buildings.”
Hazel’s mum’s love of fashion clearly extended to her garden, demonstrated by the vibrant fabric on this chair which was typical of the period.
To most, this is a nostalgic piece of furniture which evokes the gardens of childhood, but to Hazel it holds special memories of her mum. It reminds us that gardens are not only designed landscapes, but also intimate spaces shaped by the people who inhabit them and the objects they use.
