Slow Doen, Sit A Spell -- The Art Of Porch-Sitting Is Making A Comeback, And With It Are Old-Fashioned Swings And Gliders

Porch-sitting is becoming this country's new old pastime. Tired of being held prisoner to the television set and climate-controlled interiors, many people are rediscovering the quieter pleasures of an evening spent outdoors, chatting with neighbors or just watching the world go by.

Consequently, porch furniture - especially old-fashioned swings and gliders - are becoming more popular. If you don't have a porch, try hitching a swing to a sturdy tree limb or dragging a glider to a quiet spot in the yard. Some people are even bringing vintage gliders indoors to use in sun rooms or as part of an eclectic farmhouse look.

Down South, where porch-sitting long has been a way of life, folks value swings and gliders for the relief they offer from the sweltering heat, says Leeda Marting, owner of Charleston Gardens, a shop in Charleston, S.C. But there's much more to it than that. The gentle rocking motion also seems to slow down the day and soothe the soul, she says. "It makes us feel good about the world."

The rest of the country apparently is catching on. In New York, one antiques dealer recently reported having a waiting list of customers wanting to buy porch gliders from the '30s, '40s and '50s. In Los Angeles, celebrities such as Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman have bought vintage gliders for their homes. DeVito and Perlman painted them fire-engine red and put them out on the patio.

Cultural historians trace the demise of porch-sitting to the rise of suburbia in the late 1940s and '50s. That's when "the double whammy of television and air conditioning sucked people into their living room," says design professor Dennis Wood, author of "Home Rules" (Johns Hopkins University Press). At the same time, the automobile eliminated the need for sidewalks, and houses were being built with no front porches and farther from the street.

In the last decade, however, urban planners have revisited the virtues of pre-World War II neighborhoods. Sparked by the success of Seaside, Fla., and other "neo-traditional" neighborhoods, communities have sprouted up all over the country, emphasizing smaller yards and narrow streets, sidewalks and wide front porches. All designed to encourage people to slow down, sit a spell and get to know their neighbors.

Combine this trend with the current rage for gardening and outdoor living spaces, and it's easy to see why so many people are falling in love again with swings and gliders.

"It's so American. It's so evocative of summer and laziness and relaxing," says Sara Ruffin, home-furnishings editor for American Homestyle and magazine.

Ever since the first child tied a length of knotted rope or an old tire to a tree limb, swings of all descriptions have been in fashion. Gliders are a different story. A cross between a sofa and swing, gliders had their heyday in the late '30s through the early '50s when U.S. factories began cranking out mass-produced goods. Made of aluminum, wrought iron or steel, typically with lattice or other designs stamped or punched into the back, they moved on mounted ball bearings and seemed far more modern than the wicker and wood rockers they often replaced.

These days, people may picture old gliders rusting away on country porches propped up with cinder blocks. That declasse image, reinforced in movies such as "Fried Green Tomatoes," may be part of the appeal for many young buyers, says Vic Matich, owner of 20th Century Antiques in Atlanta. "They're kind of the antithesis to the rocking chair," he says. "It's reminiscent of their parents but on a lower economic scale."

Matich divides people into two porch camps: The formal, uptown people who fill their porches with white wicker rockers, swings and love seats. And the funkier, downtown people who go for gliders. Often they'll buy them used, sand them and repaint them in classic porch green or '50s pastels. One New York couple sand-blasted their glider to bare steel to create a high-tech design statement for their living room.

Garden-variety gliders from the '50s can be found for as little as $25 at flea markets and yard sales. Collectors often pay hundreds more for streamlined, Art Deco-inspired designs from the '30s and '40s. Most outdoor furniture companies still make gliders in a wide range of styles and materials. Some are even reproducing the old designs.

In response to consumer demand, Michigan-based Lloyd/Flanders Industries recently added a glider love seat and sofa to its 79-year-old wicker line. The company also offers a glider made of curved metal slats and one in stamped steel that's reminiscent of the brightly colored patio furniture often associated with Miami Beach motels. Lloyd/Flanders makes porch and canopy swings in some of the same styles as well.

When choosing a glider or swing for an exposed area, pick one that can stand up to the elements, experts suggest. Woods such as cypress and teak are good choices since they're naturally weatherproof and insect-resistant. Pressure-treated pine is a less expensive option. If you're buying metal porch furniture, make sure it has a rust-resistant finish. Outdoor wicker should have a protective sealer as well. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Some sources

-- Lloyd/Flanders Industries, (800) 526-9894.

-- Palecek, (800) 274-7730.

-- Smith & Hawken (catalog), (800) 776-3336.