I know what you mean.....so here's how I handle it. Do it! Cover the chair then if you don't like it....use a slip cover as the back up plan! It's the back up plan that gives you confidence to go forward!!! or.....photoshop it, it is the modern day of computers...or if you find what you love "on sale"...then a low price can be incentive to move forward! You have the fabric...so the price isn't holding you back.
I found this vase 80% off, price holds me back, I think I'm spending too much on a hobby so....score!{{!gwi}}

How could that fabric not look fabulous on anything?

So, you bought the fabric? Still love it........but the cold feet are keeping you from walking over to the upholsterer? Yes, I've been there. My 2nd set of dining chairs, (the ones my DD will claim when she gets her own place) survived the cold feet and got themselves done. No regrets. I worried about leopard print fabric on vintage chairs, but they look good, she loves them, and I did them myself. On the other hand, I got swept away with the Flax (pale blue with brown toile pattern) Bosporus fabric wave that came over many people here on the Decorating board last Fall and bought 12 yards. When it came time to make the drapes to go on the kitchen window, my instincts kept saying "Beautiful soft-colored fabric--perfect for a bedroom or lady's office, but out of place in a busy kitchen..." So, I got in my car, drove 3 minutes to JoAnns fabric, and bought the similar/but not so soft looking fabric that worked better for the kitchen. As a result, the kitchen makes me happy, and the bolt of Bosporus Toile is in my closet.

If you have the fabric, I have 2 suggestions. #1: Place the bolt behind the chair and then pull the fabric over the top of the chair, tucking it everywhere you can, making a slipcover of sorts. The rest of the bolt is hidden by the chair. Make sure the chair is in place in your room. Walk out, then, walk back in and see what you think. It's not a perfect fix, but it may help you decide whether to spend additional $$ on re-upholstery.
#2: Get the upholsterer to weigh in. Mine will tell me if a design is too big or won't work as well on the chair style as I thought it would. Either send him emailed photos or get your estimate done.

Red

As long as the rest of the room can stand up to that wonderful print, go for it. I feel that if you see something that makes your heart sing, you have to have it or you'll always regret it.

I agree with what the others have said. But if you want more input you can post pictures of the room and folks on this forum will give you an honest answer:-)

You'll just have to decorate the room around the chairs : )

I know I can count on you all for some enabling.

I always love bold dramatic prints but too chicken to try in my home. It's always easier to stick to the safer ground of neutral plain color. But I'm going to go with my gut instinct this time -- :-)

Go for it!!! you already have the fabric- you simply can't waste it! It will be fabulous!

Nope, I have never had cold feet about any decorating or design idea I've had.
If you are really worried about it can you have slipcovers made instead of having them re-upholstered?

"I really love it but don't know how it would look on an english roll arm chair, in my mediocre track home."

So the real question is, do you want to decorate for a mediocre track home? (Gosh, what would that look like?)

"Of course it looks so fantabulous here, on the Vogue cover."

I LOVE your word! Can I borrow fantabulous? :O)

The fabric is gorgeous and bold. When I looked at the Vogue picture I could not help but smile. I think the fabric will add character to your chairs and make you smile once you step out of your comfort zone.

paintchips: I'm feeling particularly generous today so, yes, you can have my word (j/k) :-D

Sometimes I need to reminds myself of the motto: design for the house you have, not the house you wish you have :-) I would be totally infatuated with a particular feature in a room and forgot a/b its context, all the other details which make that feature works. Of course when I try to bring it home, a lot is lost in translation. So then I'll have to change everything to make that thing works :-) I can see it happening already: new chairs = need for new sofa = need new rug = need new house. LOL

DH calls it the Angelina syndrome. A friend of mine went to a surgeon and came home with Angelina lips. Of course, they don't look very good on her face, so next she went back to get the nose, and then the eyes, and then the cheek bones -- etc.:-D

Justgotabeme: man - I'm so jealous of your decorating conviction. Wish I have an ounce of that -- yesterday, I found myself asking my 2yo DS: "baby - do you think mommy should go with Green Blue or Teresa's Green" to which he said, "Yellow" (his favorite color) -- Pretty pathetic, huh.

Red gave some great suggestopns (would love to see those leopard chairs Red!).

Bella - you have a super decorating style - trust yourself!

I agree with ttodd. Bella, you have great style. And it sounds as though your son already knows what he likes too.

I can thank my folks, mostly Mom, for my lack of cold feet in decorating at least. She was very much into decorating and fashion, I'd planned on being a fashion designer until I met, fell madly in love and married my wonderful hubby just over thirty years ago, so we did what we liked. Even after I married Mom and I helped each other in decorating our homes. All my life both of my folks, heck all my extended family too, were always very supportive of my art and creativity. The hardest part about decorating for me is finding what's in my head since it's rarely what's in the stores. So cold feet, nope. Not me. I was the girl at school that heard her own drummer and dressed her own way. Although I did do the Farrah hair though. Ha ha ha!

So Bella, if you love the fabric, go for it. Trust your gut. Don't second guess yourself. If you need a cheer leader, I'll be one of them, along with many others on this board I'm sure, so you can warm up those feet forever! Just make sure to buy some foot powder.

"design for the house you have, not the house you wish you have"
But what's the fun of that? LOL! I'm trying to make my 60s tract home look a hundred years older. So far, looks good to me ;)

You have a great eye, bellaflora. Love the fabric & your coral chandy. I see the makings of a really cool home.

As much as I love Magnaverdisms, I think his famous qoute should go, "design for the LIFE you have, not the LIFE you wish you had."

But also, what is the phrase Oprah used to say? You home should rise up to meet you?

Imagine a suburb. The 1960's subdivision is clad all in Brady Bunch, the 1980's tract homes are busy hoarding mauve, while the 1990's residents are making sure their cabinets are properly pickled.

I think the decor should reflect YOUR personality, not the house's.

You know paint chips you are probably right. I only say that because I love older homes and I hate to see their history destroyed. I've often wondered why someone buys a...let's say MCM home and then redoes it all to look new when there are so many ways to get a new home built? Well maybe not at the moment with the economy the way it is, but back in the day I really used to wonder that.
But here I am in a home we did, and are still doing, much of the work on that's a Victorian Revival and we're certainly not decorating it to match the exterior. But then again, the bones of the house are very reminiscent of the VICs.
Okay, in other words I don't know what the heck I'm talking about. LOL. I do what I want and so should everyone else. Like I've said before, if it works for you and your family and makes you happy, then go for it.

paintchip: decorating for the Life you have, that's IS his quote. I just play with it a bit. :-)

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I am going to have it done & I can't wait.