Wonderful chairs? Deserve careful thought. I am thinking. Bbl

Do you have dogs or cats who shed?

No we have no pets!

I’ve thought about a striped material. Would it clash with the painting? Should I add some color to the room?

Ok,this query made me look at a lot of channel back chairs. All price ranges...the only thing I've eliminated from my mental inventory is stripes. One question,do you want the chairs to be the stars or play a more supporting role?

You could do a white velvety fabric with black piping and then you could do some kind of pillow that combined your colors. I would paint the wood a semi-gloss black, but only if you don't need to preserve the original finish. Once you paint you will reduce the value of the antique tremendously, but for your pleasure, I would do it to help bring them back to life and work well in your room. btw, by doing the white with black piping, they could also work in another home because they will be more "neutral" and could fit in a living room or even a dining room. So, I always think "next house" when spending the kind of money you will need to spend on quality reupholstering these neat chairs!

Stripes can be challenging to get straight on a chair with lots of curves so if you were inclined to go the black-and-white-stripe route, you could consider a less linear animal print. Otherwise, you could consider a less bold and softer print.

I love contrasting a traditionally shaped chair with modern upholstery. A gold leopard print?

I agree! I have a light gold and black animal print chair and love it.

An Asian print could also be nice...

I would do something totally unexpected.

Love that, and I was going to mention that I would do the backs and sides a different fabric that the seat and back inside portion of the chair. If the chair has the lines to do that. Can really tell from the photo. Could you post a photo of the sides and back of the chairs?

To answer a few comments, I wouldn’t mind if the chairs were the stars because everything else kind of blends together - it would be nice if they stand out. I like the idea of painting the wood another color, but I’d have to run it by my husband (the chairs are his grandmas and I can’t even get him to paint any wood trim in the house).
I LOVE doing the chairs a different fabric on back than in front, I planned on trying that. I don’t have any more pictures of them, they are not in my house yet. I initially purchased an emerald green velvet chair but it just didn’t do anything for the room. What about that color but maybe a print?

I would leave the wood natural and do the upholstery in dark gold velvet. It's a very traditional look, but that will provide a great contrast for the contemporary feel of the rest of the room.

I'm no fabric expert but I found this chair on the sidewalk and fixed it up.

Great find wacokid and beautiful refurbish.

Would this be totally off the wall?

With the size and repeat of the fabric, a lot of the design will get lost in the channels if you keep them. I'm also not really a fan of the print, but you have to like it, not me!

Dont pay that price though lol

https://www.joann.com/upholstery-fabric-fabricut-finder-jade/14437396.html

If you use that for back and sides with a solid velvet in the aqua. That could look amazing! And pipe it with the print.

Love groveraxel example. Light cream frame, solid light velvet inside (green, blue, something in between) and outside print with similar color, print in silky color. I think it would be nice to have contemporary fabric outside as with ornate frame it would be too much classic fabric. BTW i love your bedroom, not many people do contemporary right.

The print looks way better in person, it almost has some gold hues rather than the yellow looking color. I thought about using it for a chaise lounge chair on our balcony, but something like it I think would work in this room.
Thank you everyone for the input!! And thanks for the compliment sofikbr!!

Some more ideas.

The tufting in your chair would be something to play up and maybe have some fun with. that last photo used white piping and buttons in the tufting for highlighting the shape. Just depends on the look that appeals to you! Great little project to design.

I love the white piping and buttons!! And I really like the color on he last photo, a nice bright color might make a statement in the room. Thanks to much Flo Mangan, you’ve been very helpful. I’ve checked out your page and you do some nice work!